Sonographer/Technologist: Breast Ultrasound (Revised 12-12-19)
Modified on: Fri, 13 Dec, 2019 at 8:05 AM
All sonographers or technologists performing breast ultrasound examinations must meet the minimum criteria in the table below. The ACR recommends that technologists be certified and actively registered in the modality they perform.
| Initial Qualifications |
Registered by one of the following:
- American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)
- American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) with post-primary certification and current registration in breast sonography
- ARRT (or unrestricted state license) and meets MQSA requirements for mammography technologists
AND 5 CEUs specific to breast ultrasound
|
| Continuing Experience |
Regular performance of breast ultrasound exams
|
| Continuing Education |
Registered technologists:
- In compliance with the CE requirements of their certifying organization for the imaging modality in which they perform services
- CE includes credits pertinent to technologist’s ACR accredited clinical practice
|
State licensed technologists:
- 24 hours of CE every 2 years
- CE is relevant to imaging and the radiologic sciences, patient care
- CE includes credits pertinent to technologist’s ACR accredited clinical practice
|
All others:
- 24 hours of CE every 2 years
- CE is relevant to imaging and the radiologic sciences, patient care
- CE includes credits pertinent to technologist’s ACR accredited clinical practice
|
The facility should not submit proof of certification and/or continuing education as part of the application for breast ultrasound accreditation. Keep all documentation verifying that your personnel meet accreditation requirements on file at your facility. The information should be available upon request.
The physician is not required to be present during breast ultrasound examinations performed by RDMS sonographers or ARRT technologists with certification in breast sonography. However, the physician must be in the department during breast ultrasound examinations performed by ARRT technologists without an advanced registry in breast sonography. In all situations, the physician is ultimately responsible to see that the appropriate images are obtained.
For facilities at which breast ultrasound examinations are performed by qualified radiologists, with technologists only assisting by setting up the room, it is not necessary that the technologists meet the qualifications specified above in order for the facility to be accredited in breast ultrasound. Likewise, for a facility to apply for the Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy Module, the technologist need not be RDMS-certified, as this program is designed to evaluate the physician’s skills, and only qualified physicians (not technologists) may independently perform ultrasound guided breast biopsy procedures at facilities accredited by the ACR.
Additional information regarding acceptable credits for and documentation of continuing education is available here.
Revision History for this Article |
Date | Section | Description of Revision(s) |
12-12-19 | All | Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes |
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