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Home > Medical Professionals > Practice Resources > Diversity Topics > ARDMS RPVI Vascular Lab Credentialing

ARDMS Registered Physician In Vascular Interpretation

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is pleased to announce that the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) credential is now available. This groundbreaking new ARDMS credential is offered exclusively to physicians who practice or rely upon vascular ultrasound/technology.

The Physicians’ Vascular Interpretation (PVI) examination was developed to offer a specific credential in vascular laboratory interpretation that is more appropriate for physicians than the Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential, which physicians have earned in the past.

Many physicians who work in vascular laboratories have obtained the RVT credential in order to demonstrate their general expertise in this field. However, the RVT examination does not evaluate what physicians actually do in the vascular laboratory. Therefore, the focus of the PVI examination will be on interpretation of vascular laboratory test results, rather than on performing the examinations.

The PVI examination – and the RPVI credential – will provide a vehicle for documenting expertise in the interpretation of vascular ultrasound studies of any physician who meets the examination prerequisites.

This exciting, new credential is now easier than ever to apply for. Interested individuals may quickly and easily apply online, by logging on to the ARDMS Web site, and checking out the "Physicians" Exam" section.

What Is The Difference Between The ARDMS PVI Examination And The RVT Examination?

The RVT credential requires candidates to pass two separate examinations: the Vascular Principles/Instrumentation (VPI) examination and the Vascular Technology (VT) examination.The content of the examinations for the RVT credential pertains to the tasks that vascular technologists/sonographers perform in the course of their vascular laboratory work.

In contrast, the PVI examination will test the interpretation of vascular laboratory tests, which is what most physicians who work in the vascular laboratory actually do. The RPVI credential will be obtained by passing a single multiple-choice question examination, which includes questions on physics and instrumentation as they pertain to interpretation of vascular laboratory tests.
The various content areas and the relative proportion of questions in each content area are reflected in the content outline for the PVI examination, which is available under on the "Examination Information" section of the ARDMS Web site.

About the Examination

The PVI examination is approximately four hours long with approximately 200 multiple-choice questions. The examination is delivered via computer in proctored testing centers throughout the year. The cost of the PVI examination is $500 USD (or $635 CND).

Are you a physician who is interested in pursuing the RPVI credential? Just go to www.ardms.org and click on the “Physicians’ Exam” on the left-hand navigation bar. The “Physicians’ Exam” section is a special section devoted exclusively to you. In this section you can easily apply online to take the examination. You’ll also find additional information about the PVI examination and RPVI credential, along with sample examination questions, a content outline for the examination, the PVI prerequisite chart and application booklet and much more.