The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is looking for help from working professionals in Sonography. We encourage you to review the proposed changes to the Sonography Examination Content Specifications and Clinical Competency Requirements.
Our goal is to produce comprehensive, accurate, and fair documents that cover the knowledge and cognitive skills required of sonographers. ARRT’s examinations are job-related. That is, we only include topics if knowledge of those topics relates directly to a clinical activity typically required in one’s job. A survey of possible tasks and procedures was sent to 1,300 current sonographers to determine these topics. Results from these surveys were used to update the content specifications and clinical competency requirements.
ARRT Sonography Practice Analysis Committee (composed of subject matter experts from throughout the United States) began working on these documents in June 2021 and will complete work on them in summer 2022. After that, ARRT’s Board of Trustees will review the proposed changes. The revised sonography documents have a scheduled implementation date of January 1, 2024.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EXAMINATION CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS
Patient Care Section
- Additional content was added to the sonographer ergonomics area.
- A section on handling and disposal of toxic and hazardous material was added.
Image Production Section
- An imaging informatics section was added.
Procedures Section
- Incidental abnormal findings was added to the abnormalities section under the ‘Focus of Questions.’
The total number of scored questions remains the same at 360, but the number of questions in some sections changed.
SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CLINICAL COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
- Ergonomic evaluation was added to mandatory scanning techniques list.
- Superficial masses was changed from an elective to a mandatory procedure. The table indicates what procedures must be done on patients. Up to five other procedures can be done on volunteers.
- Additionally, wording was updated 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 30, 2022). The survey is the official method by which we track feedback. The Sonography Practice Analysis 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 Sonography, call 651.687.0048 and select the option for earning an ARRT credential.
Thank you for your contribution to this important project!