FE vs PS: ARDMS Exam Comparison
This page compares the ARDMS Fetal Echocardiography (FE) and Pediatric Sonography (PS) exams side by side. They differ in clinical scope, content focus, career setting, and 2025 pass-rate data.
FE vs PS: Exam Comparison
| Factor | Fetal Echocardiography (FE) | Pediatric Sonography (PS) |
|---|---|---|
| Credential earned | RDMS | RDMS |
| Question count | 145 | 170 |
| Exam duration | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 555/700 | 555/700 |
| 2025 first-time pass rate | 75% | 71% |
| 2025 repeat pass rate | 41% | 44% |
| 2025 overall pass rate | 68% | 65% |
| 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 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.
About the Pediatric Sonography (PS) Exam
The ARDMS Pediatric Sonography (PS) specialty exam tests age-specific anatomy, neonatal pathology, and clinical skills that differ fundamentally from adult sonography. Key content areas include neonatal cranial ultrasound, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), pyloric stenosis, and the spectrum of pediatric abdominal and genitourinary pathology.
Key Topics Compared
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
PS Key Topics
- Neonatal cranial ultrasound
- Intraventricular hemorrhage
- Periventricular leukomalacia
- Pyloric stenosis
- Intussusception
- Hip dysplasia
- Pediatric kidneys
- Appendicitis in children
- Neonatal spine
- Congenital anomalies
- Pediatric liver pathology
- Developmental hip assessment
Among 2025 candidates, FE first-time and repeat pass rates were 75% and 41% (a 34-point gap); PS rates were 71% and 44% (a 27-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 fetal echocardiography imaging should consider the FE exam first, as applied clinical knowledge transfers directly to board performance. Similarly, those working predominantly in pediatric sonography settings will find the PS exam more immediately supported by their daily practice.
- Career goals: The RDMS (FE) and RDMS (PS) 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 PS first-time pass rate is 71% compared with 75% for FE; use these cohort results as context rather than a prediction of your individual outcome.