Ultrasound Tech Certification & License Requirements
See where an ultrasound tech license is required and what each state charges. You’ll also find a comparison of sonographer certification options, with the eligibility and renewal details you need to plan your next steps.
Updated October 2026
Who needs an ultrasound tech license?
New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oregon require sonographers to hold a state license, subject to specific exemptions. In these states, certification is one part of getting cleared to work.
You earn ultrasound tech certification by meeting a registry’s eligibility rules and passing its exams. Employers specify which credentials and specialties they accept.
A license gives you permission to practice in that state. Outside the four licensing states, there’s no separate state sonographer license to obtain, but employer credential requirements still apply.
A school certificate confirms that you completed a program. Professional certification also requires meeting a registry’s eligibility rules and passing its exams.
Ultrasound tech certification renewal
National credentials and state licenses have separate renewal schedules. Keep both active while you practice, even when their deadlines fall in different months.
| Registry | Renewal | Continuing education |
|---|---|---|
| ARDMS | Annually, due by December 31st. Confirm the fee in your Inteleos portal. Renewal instructions | 25 CME credits per three-year period for RDMS, RDCS, RVT and RMSKS, for periods ending December 31st, 2026 or later. |
| ARRT Sonography | $65 annually, due by the last day of your birth month. | 24 approved CE credits every two years, including at least 16 related to sonography. |
| CCI RCS / RVS | First renewal: $165 at 9–12 months. Then $165 every three years. Ethics attestation is also required. | No CEUs at first renewal. Then 36 per three-year cycle, including at least 30 cardiovascular-related. |
ARDMS also requires Knowledge Confirmation quizzes for applicable specialties and annual renewal attestations. Earning your first certification in December gives you until February 28th to pay the initial renewal fee.
ARRT credentials earned in 2011 or later also have Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR) every 10 years. If a credential lapses, contact the registry and your employer before doing work that requires it.
ARDMS maintenance requirements ARRT renewal ARRT CE requirements CCI renewal
Sonographer certification options
Start with your specialty. The sonographer certification you choose needs to cover the scans you’ll perform and meet the employer’s credential requirements.
| Registry | Credentials | Clinical focus |
|---|---|---|
| ARDMSAmerican Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography | RDMS · RDCS · RVT · RMSKS | General, cardiac, vascular and musculoskeletal sonography |
| ARRTAmerican Registry of Radiologic Technologists | Sonography · Vascular Sonography · Breast Sonography | Sonography credentials within a broader imaging registry |
| CCICardiovascular Credentialing International | RCS · RCCS · RVS | Cardiac and vascular sonography |
Find your ARDMS specialty
| Your specialty | ARDMS credential | Specialty exam |
|---|---|---|
| Abdomen | RDMS | Abdomen (AB) |
| OB/GYN | RDMS | Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN) |
| Breast | RDMS | Breast (BR) |
| Pediatric sonography | RDMS | Pediatric Sonography (PS) |
| Fetal echo | RDMS or RDCS | Fetal Echocardiography (FE) |
| Adult echo | RDCS | Adult Echocardiography (AE) |
| Pediatric echo | RDCS | Pediatric Echocardiography (PE) |
| Vascular | RVT | Vascular Technology (VT) |
| Musculoskeletal | RMSKS | Musculoskeletal Sonography (MSKS) |
RDMS covers diagnostic medical sonography, RDCS covers cardiac sonography, RVT is the vascular credential, and RMSKS covers musculoskeletal sonography. For fetal echo, choose RDMS or RDCS when you take the exam. That choice cannot be switched.
Sonography certification requirements
Your education and clinical training determine which certification routes are open to you. ARDMS offers several pathways, including options for program graduates and clinicians who already hold a qualifying credential.
ARDMS routes for RDMS, RDCS and RVT
Accredited sonography program
A qualifying CAAHEP-accredited program meets this route’s education and clinical requirements. Graduates need no added clinical experience. Students whose program uses the approved paperless process can apply up to 60 days before graduation.
Two-year allied health program
Complete a qualifying patient-care program and 12 months of full-time ultrasound or vascular experience. Sonography and cardiovascular technology graduates using this route must gain that experience outside their program.
Bachelor’s degree in another field
Any major can qualify when you also meet the 12-month full-time ultrasound or vascular experience requirement. The official chart explains which employment or qualifying education hours count.
Sonography or vascular bachelor’s
Graduates need no extra clinical experience. Students applying early must complete at least 12 months of full-time clinical experience and 1,680 hours of clinical scanning within their program.
An existing ultrasound credential
If you hold an accepted active credential from ARRT, CCI or Sonography Canada, you can apply through this route with a signed Clinical Verification form. Check the credential list first.
For Prerequisites 1 and 3A, the employment route requires at least 12 months and 1,680 clinical hours. A qualifying education route requires at least 12 months and 1,680 total program hours, including classroom and clinical training. Check the official chart for the conditions and documents that apply to your route.
ARRT Sonography
You’ll need an associate degree or higher and an ARRT-approved Sonography program, along with meeting ARRT’s ethics requirements and passing the exam. Your degree can be in another field.
CCI cardiac and vascular
CCI accepts several education and clinical pathways for RCS and RVS, with a high school diploma or equivalent required. Review the route for your intended exam. Cardiac and vascular eligibility requirements differ.
Confirm the sonography program’s accreditation and its graduates’ exam eligibility before enrolling. Ask the registry if you’re unsure which pathway the program meets.
How to earn ARDMS certification
Earning your first ARDMS credential takes SPI and a qualifying specialty exam, plus the education and clinical training for your pathway.
- 01
Confirm eligibility
Choose your pathway and gather its required transcripts, application letters and clinical verification.
- 02
Apply through Inteleos
Your approval letter sets your testing period. Some specialties have fixed exam windows.
- 03
Pass SPI and a specialty
For a first RDMS, RDCS, RVT or RMSKS credential, pass both exams. You can take them in either order.
- 04
Watch the five-year deadline
Pass your first exam in June 2026, for example, and the second is due by December 31st, 2031. Miss the deadline and you must retake the exam you passed.
Adding a specialty? If you’ve passed SPI and keep an active ARDMS credential, you don’t repeat SPI. You still need to meet the new specialty’s requirements.
Ultrasound tech certification costs
For a first RDMS credential in abdomen, plan on $575 in exam fees. Add tuition and any state licensing costs to your budget, then allow for renewal once you’re certified.
Adding another $300 specialty brings the exam total to $875.
| Exam or application | Fee |
|---|---|
| ARDMS SPI | $275 |
| ARDMS specialty | $300 each |
| ARRT Sonography primary | $225 |
| CCI RCS or RVS | $365 each |
SPI and Abdomen fees each include a $100 nonrefundable processing fee. Tuition, study materials and retakes are separate.
Ultrasound tech license by state
A state license authorizes you to practice where one is required. The four states below have separate applications and fees, so allow time for approval before you start work.
New Hampshire
Complete an approved sonography course of study and hold current certification and registration through ARDMS, ARRT, CCI or another approved organization. Initial applicants also need a criminal-records check with fingerprints, subject to the state’s military security-clearance provision.
New Hampshire qualifications New Hampshire fees New Hampshire background checks
Apply in New HampshireNew Mexico
Match the credential to the license category. Examples include RDMS (Abdomen) for general sonography, RDCS or CCI RCS/RCCS for cardiac, and RVT, CCI RVS or ARRT Vascular Sonography for vascular work.
The $110 total includes a $10 application fee.
Apply in New MexicoNorth Dakota
North Dakota’s standard route requires approved education and a board-approved certification exam, with certification kept active. You’ll also need a criminal-history check for your initial application. Conditional licenses and alternative routes have separate rules.
The $175 initial total includes a $25 application fee. The board’s renewal cycle determines the first license term.
North Dakota licensing law North Dakota fees North Dakota application requirements
North Dakota licensing boardOregon
Along with a qualifying sonography credential, you’ll need fingerprint screening unless you completed it for an OBMI temporary license. The board needs clearance before it can issue your license.
Your initial fee is prorated, and renewal is due every two years by the first day of your birth month. Budget separately for screening charges and surcharges.
Oregon licensing boardThese are standard license fees. Temporary permits have separate rules and fees. Submit the state’s application with the required credential verification and payment, then confirm your ultrasound tech license is active before starting. Ask the licensing office about processing time before committing to a start date.
Credentials for travel ultrasound jobs
A posting’s required specialties can matter as much as the registry name. Your Anders Group recruiter can confirm which credentials and state license the facility requires before you accept.
For example, a role requiring RVT calls for a vascular credential even if you already hold RDMS in abdomen and OB/GYN. Compare the posting with your active specialties before moving forward.
Keep your ultrasound tech certification and state license renewal dates on the same calendar as your contract. Experience requirements vary by facility.
Comparing offers? See our ultrasound tech salary guide for pay details.
Ask before you accept
- Which credentials and specialties does the facility require?
- What scans and patient groups will you cover?
- Do you need a state license, BLS or other credentials before starting?
Top travel ultrasound jobs
Browse ultrasound assignments that match your active specialties and preferred locations. Open each listing to review the schedule and credential requirements, then bring your questions to an Anders Group recruiter before deciding which roles to pursue.
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Ultrasound tech license FAQs
Which ultrasound tech certification do I need?
Start with the scans you’ll perform and the credentials your employer accepts. General ultrasound options include RDMS from ARDMS and ARRT Sonography. Cardiac roles commonly use RDCS or CCI’s RCS; vascular roles use credentials such as RVT, ARRT Vascular Sonography or CCI’s RVS.
How long does ultrasound tech certification take?
An associate degree usually takes about two years, and a bachelor’s about four. Certificate programs can be shorter, especially if you already have a degree or healthcare training. Your route to ultrasound tech certification also depends on any required clinical experience and the time needed to apply for and pass the exams.
How much does ultrasound tech certification cost?
For a first ARDMS credential in abdomen, SPI and the specialty exam total $575. ARRT’s primary Sonography application is $225; CCI charges $365 for RCS or RVS. Budget separately for school, renewal and any required state license. Retakes add to the cost.
Which states require an ultrasound tech license?
New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oregon require a state sonographer license, subject to their exemptions. Elsewhere, you don’t need a separate sonographer license, but employers can still require national credentials and specific specialties.
Can you complete sonography training online?
You can take some coursework online, but clinical training requires hands-on scanning. Before enrolling in a hybrid program, ask where you’ll complete clinical rotations and who arranges them. Check that the program meets sonography certification requirements for your intended registry pathway.
Is a certificate enough for sonographer certification?
A qualifying certificate program can meet a registry’s education requirement, but you’ll still need to satisfy its other eligibility rules and pass the exams. Check the pathway before enrolling. Some programs require prior college study or healthcare training, and ARRT Sonography requires an associate degree or higher.
Do I need a new ultrasound tech license when I move?
You’ll need a separate application if you’re moving to a licensing state and don’t already hold its license. Your active national certification stays with you. Before starting work, confirm the state’s requirements and check that your credentials cover the specialties your new employer expects.
Find your next ultrasound assignment
Have a location or start date in mind? Share your priorities with an Anders Group recruiter and talk through the openings that fit your plans.
Travel ultrasound tech education
Prepare your documents, understand facility requirements, and plan the steps before your next travel assignment.
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