SPI Required?
Application Window
06/16/2026 - 08/25/2026
Exam Fee
$300 USD
Exam Window
09/08/2026 - 10/01/2026
The Fetal Echocardiography (FE) exam will test your knowledge of cardiographic principles as they apply to fetal patients.
Overview
Hone your specialized imaging for the smallest patients with FE.
The exam assesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities that every fetal echocardiography specialist needs.
Topics and Anatomy
- Anatomy of embryonic cardiac development [SME input: language]
- Structure identification
- Heart tissue identification and differentiation
- Cardiac morphology and positioning
- Physiology of embryonic cardiac development
- Clinical care
- Techniques and emerging technologies
FE is a qualified specialty for RDCS and RDMS certification. The SPI exam is also required. You must pass both exams within five years of each other, in any order.
Practice Analysis
Quality exams start with a single purpose: reflect real-world care. We routinely evaluate and update the FE exam to ensure that it captures the requirements of today’s practice.
Question format & scoring
The FE exam covers approximately 145 questions over 3 hours.
- Multiple choice
- Hotspot questions: answer questions about individual images by marking directly on them
- Watch ARDMS Presents: How to Answer a Hotspot Question.
Scoring
After the exam window closes, we observe 60 days before releasing scores. Results are published on the following Monday or next business day.
- Pass/fail score
- Point scale 300 to 700 (555 or better passes; not percentage or curve-based)
If you do not pass, you must wait until the next administration to retake the FE exam. [SME input: terminology]
Statistics
ARDMS exams assess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to practice each specialty. Student pass rates vary.
| 2023 First-time takers: 82% Overall: 89% |
2022 First-time takers: 74% Overall: 71% |
2021 First-time takers: 76% Overall: 70% |
| 2020 First-time takers: 76% Overall: 73% |
2019 First-time takers: 77% Overall: 70% |
2018 First-time takers: 65% Overall: 59% |
| 2017 First-time takers: 76%Overall: 67% |
2016 First-time takers: 79% Overall: 73% |
2015 First-time takers: 75% Overall: 69% |
| 2014 First-time takers: 78% Overall: 74% |
2013 First-time takers: 75% Overall: 72% |
Content Outline
Explore exam details in this FE study guide.
Associated Certifications
The FE exam is a qualifying specialty exam for RDCS and RDMS certification. You must choose your certification when you take the exam. It cannot be switched.
After passing the SPI exam once, you may earn additional ARDMS credentials. As long as you maintain active status, you do not need to retake SPI.
RDMS®
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
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