Ultrasound Tech Certification

Licensing Requirements

Although no state requires licensure in diagnostic medical sonography, there are several organizations that certify the competency of sonographers through registration. Because registration provides an independent, objective measure of an individual's professional standing, many employers prefer to hire registered sonographers.

Certification

In order to sit for the national certification exam given by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) you must have an associate's or bachelor's degree from an accredited program. Upon passing the exam, sonographers become registered diagnostic medical sonographers (RDMS).

Registration with ARDMS requires passing a general physical principles and instrumentation examination, in addition to passing an exam in a specialty such as obstetric and gynecologic sonography, abdominal sonography, or neurosonography.

To keep their registration current, sonographers must complete continuing education to stay abreast of technological advances related to the occupation. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) also tests and certifies medical sonographers and administers continuing education and ethics requirements for annual registration.