SPI Required?
Application Window
Year-Round
Exam Fee
$300 USD
Exam Window
Year-Round
The AE exam will test your knowledge of normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy.
Overview
Have a heart: cardiac care starts with AE.
The exam assesses the basic knowledge, skills, and abilities that every cardiac specialist needs to work in echocardiography labs, cardiac imaging centers, and hospitals nationwide:
- Normal cardiac anatomy
- Normal cardiac physiology
- Abnormal physiology and profusion
- Postoperative evaluation
- Pathology
- Hemodynamics
AE is a qualified specialty exam for RDCS 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 simple purpose: reflect real-world care. We routinely evaluate and update the AE exam to ensure that it captures the requirements of today’s practice.
Question format & scoring
The AE exam covers approximately 150 multiple choice questions over three hours.
- Multiple choice
- Hotspot questions: answer questions about individual images by marking directly on them
- Watch ARDMS Presents: How to Answer a Hotspot Question.
- Five-minute survey
Scoring
You will receive your score report at the test center after completing your exam, and it will also be available in your Pearson account. Your results will be posted to your Inteleos portal within one week.
- Pass/fail score
- Point scale 300 to 700 (555 or better passes; not percentage or curve-based)
If you do not pass, you can reapply after three days. However, you must wait 60 days before retaking the exam.
Statistics
ARDMS exams assess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to practice each specialty. Student pass rates vary.
| 2023 First-time takers: 78% Overall: 71% |
2022 First-time takers: 76% Overall: 70% |
2021 First-time takers: 76% Overall: 68% |
| 2020 First-time takers: 81% Overall: 74% |
2019 First-time takers: 79% Overall: 71% |
2018 First-time takers: 75% Overall: 68% |
| 2017 First-time takers: 73% Overall: 66% |
2016 First-time takers: 74% Overall: 66% |
2015 First-time takers: 67% Overall: 60% |
| 2014 First-time takers: 68% Overall: 61% |
2013 First-time takers: 68% Overall: 60% |
Content Outline
Explore exam details in this AE study guide.
Associated Certifications
The AE exam is a qualifying specialty exam for RDCS certification. The SPI exam is also required. Take these exams in any order.
RDCS®
Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer
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