Ultrasound Board Exams: Study Tips and Test Tricks
As fellow sonographers, we know this career path is no joke. Competitive programs, tough coursework, and lots of clinical hours are big hurdles to overcome. And when all of that is over, there are… board exams.
Don’t freak out. Board exams are important milestones, and we know they can feel daunting, but you can approach them confidently. Here, we’ve gathered our best study tips, test tricks, and preparation strategies to help you get over the finish line.
First, let’s review what board exams are and why they’re important.
The Basics of Certification
Board exams are administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Passing boards are how you get credentialed and receive fancy letters like RDMS, RDCS, and RVT to put after your name.
The goal of certification is to establish a baseline for quality care in the field of sonography and to make sure credentialed sonographers are continuing to learn and apply best practices. Certification elevates our field and ensures that no matter where a patient gets an ultrasound, they’re getting the same level of care and competency. In short, it keeps us sharp and our patients safe.
The SPI Exam
Whether you’ve already got a specialty in mind or are still honing in on your favorite types of ultrasound scans, one thing is certain: you’ll have to take the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) exam first. Also known as the ultrasound physics registry, the SPI tests your knowledge of physics principles, ultrasound instruments, and how to use them.
This test is a prerequisite to every specialty. There’s no getting around it, so we recommend taking it right after you complete your physics course. You will need to pass the class with a C grade or higher to sit for the exam, and yes, you can take this one while you’re still a student! Trust us, you don’t want all your hard-earned physics knowledge to slip away before you pass this exam, so get it scheduled and completed ASAP.
Specialty Exams
Once you pass the SPI, your next board exam will be for your ultrasound specialty. Passing both boards is what will earn you those fancy letters that signify you’re a credentialed sonographer. Specialty exams will test your knowledge, skill, and ability to recognize normal and abnormal findings within a particular area.
Each specialty exam has its own set of prerequisites, but they all require a Clinical Verification (CV) form from a sponsor sonographer. Your sponsor will work with you to practice your specialty ultrasounds and ensure you’re ready to take the test. If you already know what specialty you want to pursue, try to identify a mentor with those credentials who could act as your sponsor in the future!
The Five-Year Rule
You must pass both the SPI and your chosen specialty exam within a five-year period. It’s called the five-year rule, and it's one of the reasons we recommend taking the SPI and specialty exam as soon as you can. You don’t want to stress yourself out by waiting until the last minute or let all your DMS program knowledge start to fade before you get these out of the way.
There is one caveat. The five-year rule does not apply to specialties under a credential you have already earned. For instance, if you have the RDMS credential with the AB specialty, you can go back at any time to earn breast, fetal echo, obstetrics & gynecology, or pediatric specialties. If you have the RDCS credential with an adult echo specialty, you can go back at any time to add fetal or pediatric echo.
How to Study for ARDMS Exams
Now that we understand board exams—and we know to take them as soon as possible—let’s look at our best tips for effective studying:
Prioritize it: We know studying gets old, but you must prioritize it. Get your test date scheduled and plan to spend time studying, even if it’s at the expense of a few social events.
Let it sink in: Cramming in too much information too fast overwhelms our brains. Study thoroughly, then take a break (especially between concepts) so you have time to process and commit the information to memory.
Aim to understand concepts: The test will use different words and phrases to test your knowledge. This can trip you up if you memorize definitions instead of studying for comprehension.
Study during scans: Use clinical hours and time scanning to remember the concepts you’re studying and recognize how they work together in real-life applications.
Use study strategies: Find a study strategy that works for you. You can try writing down concepts in your own words, ‘teaching’ a classmate or coworker, reviewing flashcards, and forming a study group with others taking the same test.
Get another perspective: Read about the same concept from a few different authors. Often, particular words or phrases will unlock the concept for you! Try review books (we recommend Julia Drose BA, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, FAIUM, FDMS, and Sidney K Edelman Ph.D.) or exchange notes with a classmate or coworker.
How to Practice for ARDMS Exams
Practice tests and questions are super helpful and should be part of your study schedule, especially as you get closer to your test date. Here are some of the best ways to practice:
Take ARDMS practice tests: These are available via the Application Center in your MY ARDMS account. You can familiarize yourself with the testing interface, get comfortable navigating the test, and get a good idea of the question-and-answer formats used.
Use review books: These books often have questions, quizzes, and practice tests throughout.
Ask your professor: If you’re struggling with a particular topic, ask your professor for additional test questions related to that topic. Chances are, they have a stash of test questions at their disposal to help you practice and reach comprehension.
Look online: Plenty of mock exams exist online, both in free and paid versions. Some of these are gold, and some aren’t worth your time—or money. Ask fellow students or coworkers which practice sites helped them most!
Get in the mood: As you get comfortable with practice tests, try to put yourself in a similar situation to your test environment and time yourself. If your schedule allows, practice how you’ll prepare the day of your test and then take a mock exam at your exact testing time.
How to Take ARDMS Exams
Speaking of, let’s talk about how to take these tests! Here are our recommendations:
Determine the best environment for you: Most exams are available to take at home now, so if you struggle with test anxiety, this might be a great way to lower your stress. If you are easily distracted, an in-person test might help you focus better.
Make a quick first pass: Your test is timed, so you don’t want to waste time feeling stuck. Read a question and mark your answer if you know it. If you don’t, flag it for further review and move on to the next question. The goal is to get through all the questions and answer the easy ones first, then return to think through the ones that stumped you.
Think it through: As you go back through the questions you haven’t answered yet, use strategies like the process of elimination to identify all the wrong answers. Even if you can only eliminate two out of four, a 50% chance of being right is better than a 25% chance of being right! And remember, if two answers mean the same thing, they both can’t be right, which means they’re both wrong.
Make your best guess: If none of the test’s answers match up with the one in your head, eliminate the ones you can and then make your best guess. Choose the answer that’s closest to what you were thinking originally.
And most importantly... trust yourself: You’ve studied hard. You know what you’re doing. Don’t second guess yourself, and don’t go back to change your answers. You’ve got this!
Additional Study Resources
We love free resources, and there are a few you won’t want to miss. ARDMS publishes content outlines for each test, so check out the ones that apply to you. If you’re considering the purchase of a study resource, look for published reviews before spending any money. And finally, don’t forget about BB Imaging’s free on-demand webinars! They provide real-world examples and pathology reviews.
In closing, we want to reiterate that we know studying and sitting for these exams is a lot of work. But we also know you can do it! Take advantage of these tips and resources and reach out if you have any questions.
P.S. Did you know BB Imaging has a team dedicated to helping our sonographers learn and grow? If you’re looking for scanning experience, growth resources, and a great workplace all in one, you can work (and study) with us!