AB vs FE: ARDMS Exam Comparison
This page compares the ARDMS Abdomen (AB) and Fetal Echocardiography (FE) exams side by side. They differ in clinical scope, content focus, career setting, and 2025 pass-rate data.
AB vs FE: Exam Comparison
| Factor | Abdomen (AB) | Fetal Echocardiography (FE) |
|---|---|---|
| Credential earned | RDMS | RDMS |
| Question count | 165 | 145 |
| Exam duration | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 555/700 | 555/700 |
| 2025 first-time pass rate | 73% | 75% |
| 2025 repeat pass rate | 45% | 41% |
| 2025 overall pass rate | 67% | 68% |
| Difficulty level | Moderate | Moderate |
Source: ARDMS/APCA Global Exam Performance Summary Report, 2025. First-time and repeat rates describe different candidate groups and do not by themselves establish exam difficulty.
About the Abdomen (AB) Exam
The ARDMS Abdomen (AB) specialty exam covers the liver, gallbladder, biliary system, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, retroperitoneum, and abdominal vasculature. It is one of the most commonly pursued RDMS specialty registrations and rewards systematic, organ-by-organ preparation aligned to the official content outline.
About the Fetal Echocardiography (FE) Exam
The ARDMS Fetal Echocardiography (FE) specialty exam is among the most clinically specialized credentials in diagnostic ultrasound. It covers normal fetal cardiac development, the full spectrum of congenital heart defects, fetal arrhythmias, cardiac Doppler assessment, and genetic associations with structural heart disease.
Key Topics Compared
AB Key Topics
- Liver segmental anatomy
- Hepatic pathology
- Biliary system
- Gallbladder disease
- Pancreatic anatomy
- Splenic pathology
- Renal anatomy
- Urinary system
- Retroperitoneal structures
- Abdominal vasculature
- GI tract sonography
- Thyroid and neck structures
- Scrotum and testes
FE Key Topics
- Four-chamber view
- Outflow tracts
- Ventricular septal defects
- Atrial septal defects
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Transposition of great arteries
- Coarctation of aorta
- Hypoplastic left heart
- Fetal arrhythmias
- Ebstein anomaly
- Fetal Doppler hemodynamics
- Ductus arteriosus
Among 2025 candidates, AB first-time and repeat pass rates were 73% and 45% (a 28-point gap); FE rates were 75% and 41% (a 34-point gap). These are separate groups, not a measure of individual improvement.
Which Exam Should You Take First?
The right choice depends on your clinical background, your current employer's needs, and your long-term career goals. Sonographers with strong clinical experience in abdomen imaging should consider the AB exam first, as applied clinical knowledge transfers directly to board performance. Similarly, those working predominantly in fetal echocardiography settings will find the FE exam more immediately supported by their daily practice.
- Career goals: The RDMS (AB) and RDMS (FE) serve different clinical roles. Consider which aligns better with your desired work environment.
- Where to start: Fetal Echocardiography is a subspecialty exam, so it is usually taken after core experience rather than as a first exam. Pass rates compare separate candidate groups, not the inherent difficulty of an exam.
- Clinical experience: Take the exam that aligns with your strongest clinical rotations or work experience. Hands-on scanning experience impacts exam readiness.
- Prerequisite: Both specialty credentials require a passing SPI score. If you haven't taken the SPI yet, that should be your first priority regardless of specialty choice.
Both exams reward structured, domain-aligned preparation. The AB first-time pass rate is 73% compared with 75% for FE; use these cohort results as context rather than a prediction of your individual outcome.