Sonographer/Technologist: Ultrasound (Revised 1-31-2022)

Katie Albus

Modified on: Tue, 17 Jan, 2023 at 8:40 AM

Revision History

All technologists independently performing ultrasound must meet the minimum criteria in the table below. Facility credentialing requirements and facility grace periods do not supersede ACR technologist requirements. If these criteria are not met, accreditation will not be granted.

Initial Qualifications

One of these:

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS): RDMS(AB), (OB/GYN), or (PS), and/or RVT(VT); [Breast (BR) specialty earned prior to 2011 will be accepted; RMSKS credential is not accepted]
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): RT(S) or RT(VS); [Breast (BS) specialty earned prior to 2011 will be accepted]
Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI): RVS
Performing ultrasound prior to and continuously since October 1996 AND evaluated by responsible physician to assure competence

Sites applying for Vascular Ultrasound Accreditation must have at least one technologist who has one of the following working on-site during the performance of vascular examinations:

ARDMS – RVT
ARRT – RT(VS)
CCI – RVS

We realize there are a variety of ways departments are staffed that may be affected by the vascular technologist requirement. Please see examples of common scenarios at the end of this article.*

Continuing Education

Registered technologists:

In compliance with the ARDMS, ARRT or CCI requirements for continuing education
CE includes credits pertinent to the 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 the technologist’s ACR accredited clinical practice

PRN technologists should meet all accreditation requirements. PRN technologists who are not credentialed may not be used at an accredited facility for more than two consecutive weeks and may not be used more than a total of three weeks per calendar year.

*Vascular Accreditation: Common Scenarios

Scenario #1: Outpatient Only Site

A registered vascular technologist MUST be on site during all vascular exams. Any registered technologist may perform the exam.

Scenario #2: Hospital with After Hours On-Call Only

All technologists go home for the day and call is covered by a technologist who does not hold a vascular credential:

A routine order for an inpatient is placed for a vascular exam. The exam MUST wait until morning when a registered vascular technologist is on site. Any registered technologist may perform the exam. If a tech is called in to perform this routine exam, it MUST be performed by a registered vascular technologist, or a registered vascular technologist must be on site.
A stat order for an inpatient or ED patient is placed for a vascular exam. The on-call technologist may perform the exam. The on-call technologist may be a registered vascular technologist or a general registered technologist.

Scenario #3: Hospital with 24/7 US Technologist Coverage

All first shift technologists go home for the day. Second and third shift technologists do not hold a vascular credential:

A routine order for an inpatient is placed for a vascular exam. The exam MUST wait until morning to be performed when a registered vascular technologist is on site. Any registered technologists may perform the exam.
A stat order for an inpatient or ED patient is placed for a vascular exam. Any registered technologist may perform the exam.

*If your specific scenario is not listed or if you have any questions regarding technologist credentialing requirements, please contact the ACR.

Revision History for this Article
Date	Section	Description of Revision(s)
12-12-19	All	Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes
1-29-2020		Clarified technologist qualifications
2-3-2020	Vascular	Added scenarios clarifying vascular requirements
11-30-2020		Added (PS) to initial qualifications
1-21-2022		Added statement about facility credentialing and removed "routine" for vascular ultrasound
1-31-2022		Added "independently" to first sentence

Previous: Interpreting Physician: Ultrasound

Next: Graduate Technologist: Ultrasound

Revision History

All technologists independently performing ultrasound must meet the minimum criteria in the table below. Facility credentialing requirements and facility grace periods do not supersede ACR technologist requirements. If these criteria are not met, accreditation will not be granted.

Initial Qualifications

One of these:

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS): RDMS(AB), (OB/GYN), or (PS), and/or RVT(VT); [Breast (BR) specialty earned prior to 2011 will be accepted; RMSKS credential is not accepted]

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): RT(S) or RT(VS); [Breast (BS) specialty earned prior to 2011 will be accepted]

Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI): RVS

Performing ultrasound prior to and continuously since October 1996 AND evaluated by responsible physician to assure competence

Sites applying for Vascular Ultrasound Accreditation must have at least one technologist who has one of the following working on-site during the performance of vascular examinations:

ARDMS – RVT

ARRT – RT(VS)

CCI – RVS

We realize there are a variety of ways departments are staffed that may be affected by the vascular technologist requirement. Please see examples of common scenarios at the end of this article.*

Continuing Education

Registered technologists:

In compliance with the ARDMS, ARRT or CCI requirements for continuing education

CE includes credits pertinent to the 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 the technologist’s ACR accredited clinical practice

PRN technologists should meet all accreditation requirements. PRN technologists who are not credentialed may not be used at an accredited facility for more than two consecutive weeks and may not be used more than a total of three weeks per calendar year.

*Vascular Accreditation: Common Scenarios

Scenario #1: Outpatient Only Site

A registered vascular technologist MUST be on site during all vascular exams. Any registered technologist may perform the exam.

Scenario #2: Hospital with After Hours On-Call Only

All technologists go home for the day and call is covered by a technologist who does not hold a vascular credential:

A stat order for an inpatient or ED patient is placed for a vascular exam. The on-call technologist may perform the exam. The on-call technologist may be a registered vascular technologist or a general registered technologist.

Scenario #3: Hospital with 24/7 US Technologist Coverage

All first shift technologists go home for the day. Second and third shift technologists do not hold a vascular credential:

A routine order for an inpatient is placed for a vascular exam. The exam MUST wait until morning to be performed when a registered vascular technologist is on site. Any registered technologists may perform the exam.

A stat order for an inpatient or ED patient is placed for a vascular exam. Any registered technologist may perform the exam.

*If your specific scenario is not listed or if you have any questions regarding technologist credentialing requirements, please contact the ACR.

Revision History for this Article

Date

Section

Description of Revision(s)

12-12-19

All

Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes

1-29-2020

Clarified technologist qualifications

2-3-2020

Vascular

Added scenarios clarifying vascular requirements

11-30-2020

Added (PS) to initial qualifications

1-21-2022

Added statement about facility credentialing and removed "routine" for vascular ultrasound

1-31-2022

Added "independently" to first sentence

Related Articles