BR vs FE: ARDMS Exam Comparison

This page compares the ARDMS Breast (BR) and Fetal Echocardiography (FE) exams side by side. Both are ARDMS-administered specialty examinations, but they differ in clinical scope, content focus, career setting, and 2025 pass-rate data.

BR vs FE: Exam Comparison

Factor	Breast (BR)	Fetal Echocardiography (FE)
Credential earned	RDMS	RDMS
Question count	170	170
Exam duration	3 hours	3 hours
2025 first-time pass rate	77%	75%

About the Breast (BR) Exam

The ARDMS Breast (BR) specialty exam covers breast anatomy, the ACR BI-RADS lexicon, benign and malignant pathology patterns, image-guided procedures, and supplemental screening. The BI-RADS framework is the organizational backbone of the entire exam and must be understood at a category-by-category level.

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.

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 breast imaging should consider the BR 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.

Both credentials are valuable additions to a multi-specialty credential portfolio. The 2025 first-time pass rates — 77% for BR and 75% for FE — underscore the importance of structured, domain-aligned preparation for whichever exam you choose first.

Dig Deeper Into Each Specialty

Related Comparisons

See all ARDMS specialty comparisons → | Practice-question hub →