The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is looking for help from working professionals in breast sonography. We encourage you to review the proposed changes to the Breast Sonography Examination Content Specifications and Clinical Experience Requirements.
Our goal is to produce comprehensive, accurate, and fair documents that cover the knowledge and cognitive skills required of breast sonographers. ARRT’s examinations are job-related. That is, we only include topics of knowledge if those topics relate directly to a clinical activity typically required in one’s job. A survey of possible tasks was sent to 1,478 current breast sonographers to determine these topics.
ARRT’s Breast Sonography Practice Analysis & CQR Advisory Committee (composed of subject matter experts from across the nation) began working on these documents in February 2019 and will complete work on them after this public comment period. The ARRT Board of Trustees will review the proposed changes. The revised breast sonography documents have a scheduled implementation date of July 1, 2021.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE BREAST SONOGRAPHY EXAMINATION CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS
Patient Care Section
The patient communication area was updated to include more detail about patient assessment and explanation of findings and recommendations as appropriate. Respond to inquiries regarding automated whole breast ultrasound (ABUS) was added to this section.
Image Production Section
Spectral Doppler and elastography were removed. Sonographer ergonomics, image documentation, annotations and measurements were added.
Procedures Section
Lobules was added under Anatomy and Physiology. Postoperative breast changes and therapeutic treatment changes areas were created under Breast Interventions. Additional details were added under Image Guided Breast Procedures.
Additionally, we updated wording on multiple topics for clarification and consistency.
SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
The number of breast sonography procedures to be completed remained the same at 220. Clarification for a bilateral examination to be counted as two examination was added.
Additionally, we updated wording for clarification and consistency.
REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK
We invite you to review the documents below and provide feedback through an online survey (live until April 3, 2020). The survey is the official method by which we track feedback. The Breast Sonography Practice Analysis & CQR Advisory Committee will review all comments and may make additional changes based on your feedback.
Note: Additions are in blue and deletions are in strikethrough red in the drafts.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about how the proposed changes may affect your eligibility for certification and registration in Breast Sonography, call our Initial Certification Department at 651.687.0048. Choose the option for earning an ARRT credential.
If you have questions about the proposed changes to these documents, contact our Examination Requirements and Psychometrics Department at 651.681.3106.
Thank you for your contribution to this important project!