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ARDMS SPI Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name: | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation |
| Exam Number: | SPI |
| Passing Score: | 555 (scaled score, range 300–700) |
| Exam Price: | $225 USD |
| Related Certifications: | RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist) RMSKS (Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer) RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer) RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) |
| Available Languages: | English |
| Real Exam Qty: | Approx. 110 |
| Exam Duration: | 120 minutes |
| Certificate Validity Period: | 5 years from passing date |
| Exam Format: | Multiple-choice questions, Computer-based exam |
| Recommended Training: | ARDMS Official SPI Resources |
| Exam Registration: | ARDMS Official Registration Pearson VUE Scheduling |
| Sample Questions: | ![]() |
| Exam Way: | Computer-based testing at Pearson VUE authorized centers; online proctoring suspended |
| Pre Condition: | Completion of college-level physics course (grade C or higher), or graduate from accredited sonography program, or meet education/clinical experience requirements per ARDMS prerequisites |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://www.ardms.org/get-certified/spi/ |
ARDMS SPI Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Topic 1: Apply Doppler Concepts | 34% | - Hemodynamics and flow measurement - Pulsed wave, continuous wave, color Doppler - Doppler effect and shift principles - Doppler optimization and artifacts |
| Topic 2: Manage Ultrasound Transducers | 7% | - Frequency selection and beam characteristics - Resolution concepts - Transducer types and applications - Transducer construction and piezoelectric effect |
| Topic 3: Perform Ultrasound Examinations | 23% | - Artifact recognition and correction - Sound-tissue interaction principles - Imaging protocols and ergonomics - Patient care and safety protocols |
| Topic 4: Optimize Sonographic Images | 26% | - Instrumentation controls: gain, depth, focus, TGC - Preprocessing and postprocessing techniques - Resolution and image quality optimization - Physical principles: frequency, wavelength, propagation speed |
| Topic 5: Provide Clinical Safety & Quality Assurance | 10% | - Documentation and regulatory compliance - Bioeffects and safety standards - Quality assurance testing and equipment performance - Infection control and patient safety |
ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation Preparation: Focused, Supported, Calm
- Provide Clinical Safety & Quality Assurance (10%)
- Apply Doppler Concepts (34%)
- Perform Ultrasound Examinations (23%)
ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation Sample Questions:
Which effect does spatial compounding have on ultrasound images?
- A. Decreases shadowing
- B. Increases shadowing
- C. Increases propagation speed
- D. Decreases propagation speed
Correct Answer: A 🗳️
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Which feature is a characteristic of continuous wave Doppler?
- A. Aliasing
- B. Dedicated transmit and receive crystals
- C. Low thermal index
- D. Range specificity
Correct Answer: B 🗳️
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What does this image demonstrate?
- A. Presence of flow
- B. Color inversion
- C. Direction of flow
- D. Color aliasing
Correct Answer: D 🗳️
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Which situation can cause color Doppler noise to overwrite an anechoic or hypoechoic area?
- A. Color pulse repetition frequency (PRF) set too high
- B. Color packet size set too low
- C. Color gain set too high
- D. Color priority set too low
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
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Why is a higher frequency transducer a better choice for imaging superficial structures?
- A. Improved axial resolution
- B. Decreased attenuation
- C. Longer spatial pulse length
- D. Increased pulse repetition period
Correct Answer: A 🗳️
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