Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, ARRT will offer just one option—the primary eligibility pathway—for earning a Sonography credential. We’ll no longer offer the postprimary eligibility pathway for Sonography.

If you don’t hold a Sonography credential from ARRT, and you aren’t interested in earning one using the postprimary pathway, this change won’t affect you. The change doesn’t affect our eligibility pathways for other disciplines.

If You Have an ARRT Sonography Credential

If you already hold an ARRT Sonography credential—even if you earned it through the postprimary eligibility pathway—you probably won’t see any changes in the way you maintain your credential. You can continue to renew your credential each year. You’ll experience no differences in the processes for completing your biennial continuing education requirements and your 10-year Continuing Qualifications Requirements, if applicable.

The only difference would occur if, after Dec. 31, 2019, you would need to reinstate a lapsed Sonography credential by retaking the ARRT exam. If you then don’t pass the exam within three attempts, or within three years of the starting date of your first exam window for reinstatement, you won’t be able to requalify for the Sonography credential without completing a professional education program. On or before Dec. 31, 2019, you can requalify by demonstrating specific clinical experiences.

If You’re Working on an ARRT Sonography Credential

If you’re working on an ARRT Sonography credential using the primary eligibility pathway, you shouldn’t experience any changes in the process.

If you’re working on an ARRT Sonography credential using the postprimary eligibility pathway, you should have received a letter from us through the U.S. Postal Service. It explains the change and provides all deadlines you’ll have to meet if you’d still like to earn a Sonography credential using the postprimary eligibility pathway.

If you didn’t get the letter, or you have questions, call us at 651-681-3167.

Why the Change?

In recent years, most candidates for an ARRT Sonography credential have used the primary eligibility pathway; very few have used the postprimary eligibility pathway. In addition, the number of professional education programs in Sonography has increased significantly. That’s why we’ve chosen to focus on Sonography students preparing for ARRT certification and registration through an approved professional education program. Learn more about this change at the ARRT website.