S (ARRT) - Registered Technologist in Sonography (ARRT)

The Registered Technologist in Sonography (R.T.(S)) certification offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is a professional credential for technologists specializing in sonography or ultrasound technology. This certification validates a sonographer's expertise in using ultrasound equipment to capture diagnostic images. It’s designed for healthcare professionals with training in sonography and seeking to demonstrate their proficiency in this specialized imaging modality, including patient care, equipment operation and interpretation of ultrasound results.

Eligibility

Candidates may earn R.T.(S)(ARRT) registration and certification through the primary eligibility pathway. To qualify, they must:

• Earn an associate degree or higher in any subject from an accredited institution recognized by ARRT 

  • Can be before, during or after the completion of a radiography program

  • Beginning January 1, 2025, a degree must be earned no more than 3 years after completing a radiography education program

• Complete an educational program in sonography

• Completed Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements

• Apply for ARRT certification and registration within 3 years

Completion Time: 7 hours and 20 minutes total

Cost: Primary application: $225 / Re-application: $200

Exam Format

You have three years and three attempts to pass ARRT’s R.T.(VI) exam. It’s a computer-based test administered by Pearson VUE and includes 360 scored questions and 40 unscored. Scored content includes the following number of questions in these categories:

• Patient Care: 26

• Image Production: 118

• Procedures: 216

Due to the length of this exam, it’s given in 2 sessions over a total of 7 hours and 20 minutes. You have 4 hours to complete Session 1 covering procedures and 2.5 hours to complete Session 2 covering patient care and image production, with a 30-minute break in between sessions. The additional time includes an 8-minute tutorial, 2 minutes to sign the nondisclosure agreement and a 10-minute survey.

You receive a preliminary score at the end of the exam that doesn’t indicate whether you passed or failed. Within 30 days, you receive an official score report in the mail from ARRT. The Verify Credentials page on ARRT will reflect your certification and registration status within approximately 4 weeks of completing your exam. 

ARRT uses a scaled scoring system, not raw scores. You must earn a scaled score of 75 or greater to pass. If you fail on your first or second attempt, a reapply button appears on your ARRT dashboard to allow you to apply to take the exam again. If you fail a third time, you’re no longer eligible to sit for the exam and receive details in your account on how to requalify.

Application Process

1. Create an account on arrt.org

2. Apply for the registration and certification exam

   1. Paper Application: Pay fee with a check or money order, allow 30 days for processing

   2. Online Application: Pay fee with a credit card, receive Candidate Status Report in online account within 2 business days

3. Request ADA accommodations if applicable

4. Sign the Agreement of Candidates

5. Undergo an ethics review

6. Receive Candidate Status Report

7. Wait 24 hours to schedule your examine

8. Take the R.T.(S) certification exam within the 365-day window

Sonography RTs must renew their credentials every year, complete continuing education every 2 years and fulfill continuing qualification requirements every 10 years. Annual renewal requirements include being current on your biennial continuing education (CE) requirements. The annual renewal deadline is always the last day of your birth month and can be completed online. 

Renewal Fees

• First Discipline: $30

• Additional Disciplines: $15

• First Discipline without ARRT supporting category: $45

• Additional Disciplines without ARRT supporting category: $15

Maintaining R.T.(S)(ARRT) certification requires ongoing education in radiographic science, technology updates and patient care, with continuing education (CE) requirements every 2 years. CE can be achieved through workshops, seminars, approved online classes and self-study, with 24 CE hours required. Report CE activities every 2 years by the last day of the month prior to your birth month every other year as part of the annual renewal process. Your CE deadline and annual renewal deadline are different dates.

• Primary Eligibility Pathway Handbook

• Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements

• Sonography Task Inventory

• Sonography Exam Content

• Overview of Computer-Based Testing

Besides sonography certification, ARRT currently supports 14 additional credentials in a range of disciplines, including:

• Bone Densitometry (BD)

• Breast Sonography (BS)

• Cardiac Interventional Radiography (CI) 

• Cardiovascular Interventional Radiography (CV)

• Computed Tomography (CT) 

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 

• Mammography (M) 

• Nuclear Medicine Technology (N)

• Quality Management (QM)

• Radiation Therapy (T) 

• Radiography (R)

• Registered Radiologist Assistant (R.R.A.) 

• Vascular-Interventional Radiography RT (VI)

• Vascular Sonography (VS)