Sonography Accreditation, Credentialing, and Professional Organizations

Vocabulary flashcards covering academic and program accreditation, state licensure, credentialing bodies, and professional sonography organizations based on the lecture slides.

Institutional Accreditation

Accreditation granted by regional agencies acknowledging that all components of an educational institution are functioning and working toward specific goals.

Program Accreditation

Accreditation specific to an individual academic program offered at an institution, such as Sonography, Radiologic Technology, or Nursing.

SACS-COC

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; the regional agency that grants institutional accreditation to Austin Community College.

CAAHEP

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; the largest programmatic accreditor of health sciences professions, accrediting over 2100 programs across 32 occupations.

JRC-DMS

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography; the body that manages the voluntary peer-review accreditation process of Sonography Programs for CAAHEP.

Licensure

Legal permission granted by a designated governmental authority to engage in a profession, defining scope of practice, minimum requirements, and disciplinary enforcement.

Credentialing

The process of passing an examination related to a field of practice and receiving official recognition of passing from a private agency.

Registry

An official list of individuals who perform a defined set of professional activities within a minimum scope of work.

Certification

A broad term for issuing certificates to individuals to demonstrate that they possess the skills to perform specific tasks.

ARDMS

American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography; a national credentialing organization established in 1975 that awards credentials across multiple sonography specialties.

RDMS

Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer; an ARDMS credential with specialty areas including Abdomen, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatric Sonography, Breast, and Fetal Echocardiography.

RVT

Registered Vascular Technologist; an ARDMS credential awarded to professionals specializing in vascular technology sonography.

RDCS

Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer; an ARDMS credential covering Adult Echocardiography, Pediatric Echocardiography, and Fetal Echocardiography.

RMSKS

Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer; an ARDMS credential awarded for proficiency in musculoskeletal ultrasound.

CCI

Cardiovascular Credentialing International; a credentialing agency offering credentials such as Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) and Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS).

ARRT

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; a credentialing organization offering sonography credentials including ARRT-S (Sonography and Breast Sonography) and ARRT-VS (Vascular Sonography).

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

An ARDMS program supporting ongoing competence consisting of Knowledge Confirmation (SKILLS), a 3-year CME period, Annual Attestation, and an Annual Renewal Fee.

SDMS

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography; a professional organization founded in 1970 (originally ASUTS) to promote, advance, and educate members in diagnostic medical sonography.

ASE

American Society of Echocardiography; an international organization founded in 1975 dedicated to excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound education, research, and innovation.

SVU

Society for Vascular Ultrasound; a professional society established in 1977 in Columbus, OH, completely dedicated to non-invasive vascular technology.

AIUM

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine; a multidisciplinary association established in 1952 dedicated to advancing the safe and effective use of ultrasound in medicine.