Fetal Echo: RDMS vs RDCS
Compare fetal echo under RDMS and RDCS: permanent credential choice, eligibility, MFM versus cardiac careers, employer requirements, and next specialties.
Sonography Board Exam Prep Blog
The Ultrasound Analytics blog publishes long-form, evidence-based articles on every aspect of board exam preparation and professional development for sonography students and practicing registered sonographers. Each article is written by our editorial team, reviewed for clinical accuracy, and updated as registry content outlines and pass-rate data change.
Specialty-specific study plans cover Abdomen, Breast, Fetal Echocardiography, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatric Sonography, Vascular Technology, and Sonography Principles and Instrumentation. Recent posts include a complete SPI physics study guide, a vendor-neutral knobology and image optimization walkthrough, an honest 90-day registry study plan for working sonographers, the top five mistakes students make studying for boards, and a data-driven analysis of pass rates across all seven specialty examinations.
Career-focused articles compare credentials such as RDMS versus RVT, explain how to add a new specialty registration as a working sonographer, walk through the first year as a registered tech, and demystify the differences between the two major credentialing bodies in medical imaging. Salary guides include a regional Southern California breakdown of base pay, per diem rates, and combined-income scenarios for staff and travel sonographers.
For sonography program directors and educators, dedicated articles cover how to track student board readiness with cohort analytics, why schools are turning to AI-powered board exam prep, and how to spot at-risk students before they sit for their first registry attempt. Methodology posts explain the science behind spaced repetition, the SM-2 algorithm, distributed practice, and how concept-level analytics show you where to focus.
First-Trimester Ultrasound Exam Guide
A visual first-trimester ultrasound guide: dating, early anatomy, viability criteria, and board-question pitfalls without overcalling uncertain findings.
Doppler Waveforms: A Visual Guide
Learn to read spectral Doppler waveforms, from arterial resistance and venous phasicity to aliasing, angle correction, and common board-exam traps.
Ultrasound Artifacts: 14 You Will See
Every testable ultrasound artifact in one visual guide — physics, B-mode appearance, board relevance, and how to recognize each one fast.
Ultrasound Knobology Guide
A vendor-neutral, physics-first walkthrough of every ultrasound control and the trade-offs you accept each time you turn a knob.
SoCal Sonographer Salary Guide
Compare base pay, benefits, and per diem rates across 14 SoCal sonography employers — with combined-income scenarios that can clear $200K/year.
ARDMS Pass Rates: 2025 Data
Official ARDMS data shows repeat test-takers pass at much lower rates. We break down the 2025 numbers by specialty and what they mean for your study plan.
Sonography Schools and AI Board Prep
How sonography programs can build AI-powered study tools into board prep, and what the evidence does and doesn't show about first-time pass rates.
OB/GYN Boards: A Study Plan
A structured, evidence-based study plan for the ARDMS OB/GYN exam — for students approaching boards and practicing sonographers adding the credential.
Vascular Registry: Key RVT Concepts
A guide to the highest-yield vascular concepts on the ARDMS RVT exam, with targeted study strategies for new graduates and experienced sonographers alike.
How AI Is Changing ARDMS Study
What AI-powered study platforms do for ARDMS candidates, what the research on spaced practice shows, and where traditional resources still fit.
Fetal Echo Boards: High-Yield Topics
The ARDMS Fetal Echocardiography credential is highly specialized. This guide focuses on the high-yield FE topics and how to build mastery in this exam.
Abdominal Registry: What to Expect
A detailed guide to the ARDMS Abdomen exam — covering high-yield organs, pathology patterns, and a structured prep approach for students and sonographers.
Adding an ARDMS Specialty
Already credentialed? Here is what to know about adding a new ARDMS specialty — eligibility, planning, and studying around a busy clinical schedule.
Top 5 Mistakes Students Make
Avoid the prep pitfalls that derail hardworking students. Five common mistakes that can sink ARDMS exam day, and how to fix each before it costs you.
RDMS vs. RVT: Which to Pursue?
Understanding the RDMS vs. RVT credentials — scope, exam structure, clinical use, and career impact — is essential when planning a certification path.
How to Pass the ARDMS SPI Exam
The SPI exam is a prerequisite for ARDMS credentials and one of the most misunderstood. What to study, how to study it, and exam-day strategy in one guide.
The Science Behind Spaced Repetition
How spaced practice and active recall work together to improve long-term retention and make better use of study time while preparing for ARDMS exams.
The Future of Ultrasound and AI
Explore how artificial intelligence is changing ultrasound imaging and what it means for sonographers at every stage of their career.
Using AI Quizzes for ARDMS Success
AI practice quizzes do more than test knowledge: they show your gaps and bring back what you miss. The science of spaced-repetition ARDMS prep.
ARDMS Exam: Test-Taking Strategies
Study routines and test-taking strategies, grounded in learning research, to help you prepare for and sit your ARDMS exams.
MSK Ultrasound: Is It Right for You?
Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a growing application. What the credential involves, who should pursue it, and how it can shape a career.
CME for Your ARDMS Credential
Earning your ARDMS credential is just the start. Understanding how CME requirements work, and planning strategically, matters for every sonographer.
Tracking Student Board Readiness
Board pass rates matter for accreditation, reputation, and student careers. How program directors can use data-driven tools to monitor readiness early.
Sonography Student to RDMS: Year One
The transition from sonography student to registered professional is exciting and challenging. An honest guide to your first year of registered practice.
ARDMS vs. ARRT: A Comparison
Two major bodies offer ultrasound-related certifications. Understanding ARDMS vs. ARRT helps students and sonographers make informed career decisions.
Mastering SPI Physics for ARDMS
Ultrasound physics is not just a prerequisite — it shows up throughout every ARDMS specialty exam. The physics topics every candidate must truly master.
Build a 90-Day ARDMS Study Plan
Preparing for an ARDMS exam while working full-time is one of the hardest credentialing challenges. This 90-day framework makes it manageable and clear.
Pediatric Sonography Boards Guide
The ARDMS Pediatric Sonography credential covers some of the most specialized content in diagnostic ultrasound. What makes PS unique, and how to prep.
Breast Registry: High-Yield Topics
The ARDMS Breast exam tests breast anatomy, BI-RADS categories, and the spectrum of benign and malignant pathology. A guide to the highest-yield content.