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Specialty Exam Recommendation: Advance Your Expertise in Abdominal and OB/GYN Imaging
Based on your survey responses, we recommend pursuing both the APCA Abdomen Specialty Exam and the APCA Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Specialty Exam to strengthen your skills and broaden your professional capabilities. These certifications are designed to enhance your proficiency in abdominal and OB/GYN imaging, aligning with your career goals and ensuring you remain a trusted expert in diagnostic medical imaging.
Earning these credentials demonstrates your dedication to excellence in patient care and equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to provide precise and dependable diagnostic insights. By achieving these certifications, you will join a community of professionals recognized for their expertise and commitment to advancing healthcare standards.
Take the next step in your professional journey by pursuing these certifications today and solidify your position as a leader in abdominal and OB/GYN imaging.
Obstetrics ＆ Gynecology (OB/GYN)
If you are not a physician but are interested in applying for the ARDMS RDMS credential with an OB/GYN specialty, please visit the OB/GYN specialty page on the ARDMS website.
The Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) examination tests the requisite obstetrics and gynecology knowledge, skills and abilities essential to sonographer-level professionals.
As a physician, you are eligible to take many of the examinations offered by the APCA companion council, ARDMS. While ARDMS manages the OB/GYN examination and the associated Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification, APCA, its companion council created exclusively to serve physicians, will be your destination to apply, prepare for, schedule and maintain all your certifications. You will log into MY ARDMS/MY APCA for information regarding the examination and to apply online.
To earn the ARDMS Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification with an OB/GYN specialty, you must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the OB/GYN examination within five years. After passing the SPI examination, you can earn additional ARDMS certifications without having to retake the SPI examination, provided you maintain active status.
You must wait 60 days before you can retake the OB/GYN examination if you do not pass it however, you are welcome to reapply after 3 days.
OB/GYN Examination Review
The OB/GYN examination assesses the knowledge, skills and abilities in the areas of the female reproductive system as well as the fetus in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
We periodically conduct an OB/GYN Practice Analysis and update the OB/GYN examination to reflect the frequency and importance of OB/GYN tasks being performed by sonographer-level professionals. The latest OB/GYN Practice Analysis was conducted in 2014.
Click to view the 2014 OB/GYN Practice Analysis Results.
All questions on the Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN) examination will fall under the domains and subdomains listed in the OB content outline. It is essential that you review the OB content outline to understand what will be covered in the examination.
Question Format & Duration
The Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) examination is three hours, including a five-minute survey, and contains approximately 170 questions, which include hotspot and PACSim questions. The hotspot questions are Advanced Item Type questions that assess and measure your practical sonography skills. To learn more about our PACSim questions.
To earn a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification from ARDMS with an OB/GYN specialty, you must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the OB/GYN examination within five years.
After passing the SPI examination, you can earn additional certifications without having to retake the SPI examination, provided you maintain active status.
Impartiality
ARDMS functions under policies intended to demonstrate impartiality, high ethical standards and validity of its certification assessments.
ARDMS does not restrict Applicants, Candidates or becoming a Registrant/Certificant based on limiting conditions, such as membership of an association or professional society of any organization. ARDMS will not unfairly impede or inhibit access to its certification to Applicants, Candidates or Registrants/Certificants who meet our stated policies regarding qualification requirements, renewal requirements and/or passing ARDMS’ psychometrically sound certification assessments.
Five-Year Rule
Candidates must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the corresponding specialty examination within five years, regardless of sequence. Candidates who do not complete both examinations within five years must retake the examination previously passed.
Note: The five-year rule does not apply to Registrants seeking additional specialties under a certification already earned. For example, if you have the RDMS certfication with AB, the five-year rule is not applicable if you want to add another RDMS specialty (OB/GYN, BR, FE, PS). There is no time limit to add additional specialties to a certification already earned, provided you maintain Active status.
However, if you earned the RDMS with the old UPI physics examination and AB (or any other RDMS specialty), and then passed the SPI examination, you would need to pass one of the RDCS, RVT or RMSKS specialties to meet the five-year rule requirement for the SPI examination. In this situation, adding an additional RDMS specialty after passing the SPI examination (or vice versa) would not meet the five-year rule requirement since you would be adding a specialty to a certification already earned.
The five-year rule is based on the calendar year (January 1 through December 31). The five-year period begins the day the first examination is passed, and it includes any time that remains in that year plus the next five years. For example, a candidate who passed the first ARDMS examination on June 6, 2011, is required to pass the second examination by December 31, 2016.
Re-Applicant
1. If you were previously approved to sit for any of the following Sonographer-level specialty examinations:
- Abdomen (AB)
- Adult Echocardiography (AE)
- Breast (BR)
- Fetal Echocardiography (FE)
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)
- Pediatric Echocardiography (PE)
- Pediatric Sonography (PS)
- Vascular Technology (VT)
2. If you were previously approved to sit for the SPI examination under a prerequisite (excludes approval of the SPI examination under the SPI Examination Requirement).
Applying as a Re-applicant:
- If you have a current OB/GYN Clinical Verification (CV) Form on file, you will need to submit the application and examination fee only. The application will automatically be approved and you will be able to schedule within a day.
- If you do not have a current OB/GYN CV Form on file, you will need to submit the application, the examination fee and a current OB/GYN CV Form. To access your active CV Forms, please log into MY ARDMS/MY APCA and click on “Clinical Verification Form” under “Application Center.”
You must wait 60 days before you can retake the OB/GYN examination if you do not pass it however, you are welcome to reapply after 3 days.
Prerequisites
1
OB/GYN Prerequisites
To sit for the OB/GYN examination and earn the RDMS certification, First-Time physician applicants must meet the education/licensure and clinical requirement of the physician prerequisite.
If you are not a physician or do not meet the requirements of the physician prerequisite, please visit the OB/GYN specialty page on the ARDMS website to review the SPI Requirement and General Prerequisites chart. The prerequisites vary based on education and clinical experience.
Click to view the SPI Requirement and General Prerequisites.
2
Prerequisite Prep Tool
To earn an ARDMS credential, Applicants must choose and meet the requirements of a prerequisite. Review the Prerequisite Prep tool to help guide you through the prerequisite selection process and to select a prerequisite that best meets your education and clinical ultrasound experience.
Re-Applicant – A re-applicant is a Candidate or Registrant who has previously applied and been approved by ARDMS to take or has taken an ARDMS examination and who is applying to take another examination; this does not include an individual who has only been approved for MSKS, MW examinations and approval of the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination under the SPI Examination Requirement Pathway. Re-applicants should apply as such and thus this guide isn’t necessary for you.
Re-Applicant Information
To verify whether or not you are a Re-applicant for this examination, please log into MY ARDMS/MY APCA and view your “Current Status.” Please follow the key below:
- Candidate: Re-applicant
- First-time Applicant: First-time Applicant
- Non-member: First-time Applicant
- Registrant: Re-applicant
- Student: Please contact the ARDMS office to verify your status
You will be considered a Re-applicant for the OB/GYN examination:
- If you were previously approved to sit for any specialty examination (excluding MSK and
PVI) - If you were previously approved to sit for the SPI examination under a prerequisite
(excludes approval of the SPI examination under the SPI Examination Requirement)
To apply as a Re-applicant:
- If you have a current OB/GYN Clinical Verification (CV) Form on file, you will need to
submit the application and examination fee only. The application will automatically be
approved. - If you do not have a current OB/GYN CV Form on file, you will need to submit the
application, the examination fee and a current OB/GYN CV Form. To access your active CV
Forms, please log into MY ARDMS/MY APCA and click on “Clinical Verification Form” under
“Application Center.”
OB/GYN Examination Fee
Includes a $100 USD non-refundable processing fee.- If you take an ARDMS examination at an international test center (outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico), you will be charged an additional non-refundable $50 USD fee when you schedule your examination. This fee is subject to change without notice.
- Learn more about the GI Reimbursement Program for United States Armed Forces Veterans.
100% Online Assessment
Globally Recognized APCA Certification
You’ll receive a certificate of completion upon passing the assessment.
Unlock a APCA Digital Badge
Help promote your accomplishment with digital badges for each certification your complete.
Better Care - Better Future
Join our network of providers in their goals to provide safe ultrasound practices around the globe.
Ready to Get Started?
Register for your assessment today on APCA Portal and see why over 85% of users would recommend APCA Certification Academy to their Colleagues.
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) –
Abdomen Specialty Exam
If you are not a physician but are interested in applying for the ARDMS RDMS credential with an AB specialty, please visit the AB specialty page on the ARDMS website.
The Abdomen (AB) examination tests the requisite abdomen knowledge, skills and abilities essential to sonographer-level professionals.
As a physician, you are able to pursue many of the examinations offered by the APCA companion council, ARDMS. While ARDMS manages the AB examination and the associated Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification, APCA, its companion council created exclusively to serve physicians, will be your destination to apply, prepare for, schedule and maintain all your certifications. You will log into MY ARDMS/MY APCA for information regarding the examination and to apply online.
To earn the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification from ARDMS with an AB specialty, you must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the AB examination within five years. After passing the SPI examination, you can earn additional ARDMS specialties without having to retake the SPI examination, provided you maintain active status.
You must wait 60 days before you can retake the AB examination if you do not pass it however, you are welcome to reapply after 3 days.
AB Examination Review
The AB examination assesses the knowledge, skills and abilities in the areas of soft tissues, blood vessels and organs of the abdominal cavities.
We periodically conduct an AB Practice Analysis and update the AB examination to reflect the frequency and importance of AB tasks being performed by sonographer-level professionals. The latest AB Practice Analysis was conducted in 2017.
Click to view the 2017-2018 AB Practice Analysis Results.
All questions on the Abdomen (AB) examination will fall under the domains and subdomains listed in the AB content outline. It is essential that you review the AB content outline to understand what will be covered in the examination.
Question Format & Duration
The Abdomen (AB) examination is three hours, including a five-minute survey, and contains approximately 170 multiple-choice questions, which include hotspot questions. The hotspot questions are Advanced Item Type questions that assess and measure your practical sonography skills.
To earn a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification from ARDMS with an AB specialty, you must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the AB examination within five years.
After passing the SPI examination, you can earn additional certifications without having to retake the SPI examination, provided you maintain active status.
Impartiality
ARDMS functions under policies intended to demonstrate impartiality, high ethical standards and validity of its certification assessments.
ARDMS does not restrict Applicants, Candidates or becoming a Registrant/Certificant based on limiting conditions, such as membership of an association or professional society of any organization. ARDMS will not unfairly impede or inhibit access to its certification to Applicants, Candidates or Registrants/Certificants who meet our stated policies regarding qualification requirements, renewal requirements and/or passing ARDMS’ psychometrically sound certification assessments.
Five-Year Rule
Candidates must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the corresponding specialty examination within five years, regardless of sequence. Candidates who do not complete both examinations within five years must retake the examination previously passed.
Note: The five-year rule does not apply to Registrants seeking additional specialties under a certification already earned. For example, if you have the RDMS certfication with AB, the five-year rule is not applicable if you want to add another RDMS specialty (OB/GYN, BR, FE, PS). There is no time limit to add additional specialties to a certification already earned, provided you maintain Active status.
However, if you earned the RDMS with the old UPI physics examination and AB (or any other RDMS specialty), and then passed the SPI examination, you would need to pass one of the RDCS, RVT or RMSKS specialties to meet the five-year rule requirement for the SPI examination. In this situation, adding an additional RDMS specialty after passing the SPI examination (or vice versa) would not meet the five-year rule requirement since you would be adding a specialty to a certification already earned.
The five-year rule is based on the calendar year (January 1 through December 31). The five-year period begins the day the first examination is passed, and it includes any time that remains in that year plus the next five years. For example, a candidate who passed the first ARDMS examination on June 6, 2011, is required to pass the second examination by December 31, 2016.
Prerequisites
1
AB Requirements
To sit for the AB examination and earn the RDMS certification, First-Time physician applicants must meet the education/licensure and clinical requirement of the physician prerequisite.
If you are not a physician or do not meet the requirements of the physician prerequisite, please visit the AB specialty page on the ARDMS website to review the SPI Requirement and General Prerequisites chart. The prerequisites vary based on education and clinical experience.
Click to view the SPI Requirement and General Prerequisites.
2
Prerequisite Prep Tool
To earn an ARDMS credential, Applicants must choose and meet the requirements of a prerequisite. Review the Prerequisite Prep tool to help guide you through the prerequisite selection process and to select a prerequisite that best meets your education and clinical ultrasound experience.
Re-Applicant – A re-applicant is a Candidate or Registrant who has previously applied and been approved by ARDMS to take or has taken an ARDMS examination and who is applying to take another examination; this does not include an individual who has only been approved for MSKS, MW examinations and approval of the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination under the SPI Examination Requirement Pathway. Re-applicants should apply as such and thus this guide isn’t necessary for you.
3
Re-Applicant Information
You will be considered a Re-applicant for the AB examination:
- If you were previously approved to sit for any of the following Sonographer-level specialty examinations:
- Abdomen (AB)
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)
- Breast (BR)
- Fetal Echocardiography (FE)
- Pediatric Sonography (PS)
- Adult Echocardiography (AE)
- Pediatric Echocardiography (PE)
- Vascular Technology (VT)
- If you were previously approved to sit for the SPI examination under a prerequisite (excludes approval of the SPI examination under the SPI Examination Requirement)
Applying as a Re-applicant:
- If you have a current AB Clinical Verification (CV) Form on file, you will need to submit the application and examination fee only. The application will automatically be approved and you will be able to schedule within a day.
- If you do not have a current AB CV Form on file, you will need to submit the application, the examination fee and a current AB CV Form. To access your active CV Forms, please log into MY ARDMS/MY APCA and click on “Clinical Verification Form” under “Application Center.”
You must wait 60 days before you can retake the AB examination if you do not pass it however, you are welcome to reapply after 3 days.
Abdomen (AB) Examination Fee
Includes a $100 USD non-refundable processing fee.- If you take an ARDMS examination at an international test center (outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico), you will be charged an additional non-refundable $50 USD fee when you schedule your examination. This fee is subject to change without notice.
- Click to view the ARDMS General Prerequisites
100% Online Assessment
Globally Recognized APCA Certification
You’ll receive a certificate of completion upon passing the assessment.
Unlock a APCA Digital Badge
Help promote your accomplishment with digital badges for each certification your complete.
Better Care - Better Future
Join our network of providers in their goals to provide safe ultrasound practices around the globe.
Ready to Get Started?
Register for your assessment today on APCA Portal and see why over 85% of users would recommend APCA Certification Academy to their Colleagues.