The Sonographer Attachment Programme At USA Report : Credentialing And Formal Education

1.1       Credentialing And Formal Education

Credentialing

ASE believes that, to achieve minimum standards of competence, a cardiac sonographer must be credentialed. Examinations recognized by the ASE are provided by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS) in adult, pediatric, or fetal echocardiography (RDCS, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer), and by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) for the specialty of cardiac sonography (RCS, Registered Cardiac Sonographer). Separate credentialing requirements apply for adult and pediatric applications of cardiac ultrasound. ASE also recommends that a cardiac sonographer who performs ultrasound in other modalities examples like vascular, abdominal and  obstetric acquire the appropriate credential in each area of practice.

Formal Education

The ASE recognizes that several pathways are available to provide formal instruction to cardiac sonographers, including programs that solely focus on cardiac ultrasound, programs that offer cardiac and general diagnostic ultrasound, and programs that introduce participants to a broad array of cardiovascular technologies. The ASE has adopted specific recommendations for education and training curricula and believes that, to achieve minimum competency, cardiac sonographers entering the field should obtain education and training that are consistent with these recommendations.