RDMS - BR - RDMS - Breast (ARDMS)

The Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in Breast (RDMS-BR) certification, offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), is a specialized credential for sonographers focusing on breast sonography. This certification validates the holder's expertise in breast imaging and diagnostics, essential for working in women's health and diagnostic imaging centers.

Completion Time: 3 hours

Cost: The BR exam fee is $275, includes a nonrefundable $100 processing fee. There is an additional $50 non-refundable fee if you schedule your exam outside of the United States, Canada or Mexico. The SPI exam fee is $250.

Exam Format

The RDMS-BR certification process involves passing two examinations: 

• Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) Exam: Tests basic knowledge and skills essential to sonography professionals. Applicants have 2 hours to complete the exam, including a 3-minute survey. The exam has approximately 110 multiple-choice questions.

• Breast Sonography Exam: Assesses specific knowledge in breast sonography, including anatomy, pathology and image evaluation. Applicants have 3 hours to complete the exam, including a 5-minute survey. The exam has approximately 170 multiple-choice questions, including Advanced Item Type/Hotspot questions that assess and measure the applicant’s practical sonography skills. 

Both exams initially receive a Pass/Fail grade, but test takers also receive a scaled score, ranging from 300 to 700, with a score of 555 required to pass on all ARDMS exams.

Eligibility

To sit for the RDMS-BR examination, first-time applicants must select a prerequisite meeting their education and clinical experience, which includes:

• Prerequisite 1: Complete a 2-year patient-care-related allied health education program and 12 months of full-time clinical ultrasound experience

• Prerequisite 2: Graduated from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) education program that conducts programmatic accreditation for diagnostic medical sonography.

• Prerequisite 3A: Bachelor’s degree in any major and 12 months of full-time clinical ultrasound experience

• Prerequisite 3B: Bachelor’s degree in sonography technology.

• Prerequisite 5: Hold active Sonography or Breast Sonography certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

The BR certification must renewed annually by attesting that you’re in compliance with all ARDMS policies and remain in good standing. Renewal includes accruing the required number of ARDMS-accepted credit hours by the end of the appropriate three-year Continuing Medical Education (CME) period.

Renewal Fees

Renewal fees must be paid online with a credit card. Renewal fees are due annually and include:

• $105 due by December 31st

• $105 + $150 Administrative Fee for late renewals submitted by February 28/29th

• $105 + $300 Reinstatement Fee for late renewals submitted by August 1st

BR certification holders must complete CME requirements in 3-year cycles. The minimum required number of ARDMS/APCA-accepted CMEs to maintain the BR certification is 30 if renewal is submitted by the December 31st deadline. For those who renew late after the February 28/29th deadline, CME credits increase to 40.

ARDMS offers an RDMS-BR Practice Test simulating the computer interface used in the actual test center. This practice test review has 30 sample questions, is 30 minutes long and costs $45. Applicants may register for the practice test from their online account. Other ARDMS resources include:

• Practice Test FAQs

• BR Exam Content Outline

• Video on How to Answer Hotspot Questions

The ARDMS also offers the following:

• RDMS Abdomen (AB)

• RDMS Fetal Echocardiography (FE)

• RDMS Pediatric Sonography (PS)

• RDMS Musculoskeletal Sonography (RDMS-RMSKS)

• Registered Vascular Technologist - Vascular Technology (RVT - VT)

• RDMS Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN)

• Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI)

• RDCS: Pediatric Echocardiography (PE)