Understanding Your Renewal Obligations

Before we get into process, establish what you actually need to renew. Most sonographers fall into one of these categories:

Category 1: ARDMS credentials only, no state license
→ Renew through myARDMS.org every 3 years per credential

Category 2: CCI credentials only, no state license
→ Renew through cci-online.org every 3 years

Category 3: Both ARDMS and CCI credentials
→ Renew each independently; shared CME credits can satisfy both

Category 4: ARDMS/CCI + state license
→ Renew ARDMS/CCI on their 3-year cycles AND renew state license on the state's cycle (usually every 1–2 years)

Log into myARDMS.org or cci-online.org right now and confirm your exact renewal dates. Different credentials within ARDMS renew on their own individual 3-year cycles based on when you earned each one.

ARDMS Renewal: Step-by-Step

What You Need Before You Start

30 CME credits accumulated during the current cycle
At least 30 hours of clinical practice in sonography during the renewal period (practicing sonographer requirement)
Your ARDMS login credentials
Payment method ($40–$60 renewal fee per credential)

The 30 CME Credit Requirement

What counts:

AMA PRA Category 1 credits from accredited activities
ARDMS-approved category credits from sonography-specific education
Credits must be earned within the 3-year renewal cycle (not before or after)

What doesn't count:

Credits earned before your cycle began
Staff in-service education (unless formally accredited)
Clinical orientation
Shadowing or observation hours

Verifying credit types: When you complete a CME activity, the certificate should state whether it's "Category 1" or "ARDMS Category A/B approved." If the certificate is ambiguous, contact the provider to confirm ARDMS acceptance before logging it.

Step-by-Step ARDMS Renewal

Step 1: Log into myARDMS.org
Navigate to your dashboard. Your renewal date and CME credit total are displayed. You can renew up to 60 days before your renewal date and up to 60 days after (grace period with a late fee).

Step 2: Verify CME Credits Are Logged
All 30 credits must be entered in your ARDMS CME tracker before submitting renewal. ARDMS may audit a percentage of renewals — you need documentation (certificates) for every credit logged.

Step 3: Confirm Clinical Practice
ARDMS requires that you are currently practicing in sonography. During renewal, you will check a box confirming active clinical practice. ARDMS does not currently require employment documentation, but misrepresentation is an ethical violation.

Step 4: Submit and Pay
Renewal fee: approximately $60 per credential (subject to change — verify at ardms.org). Multiple credentials renewed in the same window may qualify for a discount.

Step 5: Receive Renewed Credential Certificate
Digital certificate available immediately; physical card mailed within 4–6 weeks.

ARDMS Renewal Timeline Summary

Timeline	What to Do
60 days before renewal date	Window opens; renew early if all 30 CME credits are complete
Renewal date	Credential expires if not renewed
Up to 60 days after expiration	Late renewal available with $50 late fee
More than 60 days after expiration	Credential lapses; reinstatement process required

ARDMS Credential Reinstatement (If You Missed Renewal)

If your credential has lapsed more than 60 days past expiration, you cannot simply renew — you must apply for reinstatement.

Reinstatement Requirements (ARDMS, as of 2026)

Lapsed 60 days to 3 years:

Complete 30 CME credits within the preceding 3 years
Pay reinstatement fee (~$200 per credential)
Affirm current clinical practice

Lapsed 3–5 years:

30 CME credits plus possible examination requirement (ARDMS determines on case-by-case basis)
Reinstatement fee

Lapsed more than 5 years:

Must re-take the specialty examination (the full exam, not a re-test)
SPI re-examination may be required if knowledge currency is in question
Full exam fees apply

Practical note: Letting a credential lapse and then needing to re-take the exam is expensive and stressful. If you're in financial hardship and cannot pay the renewal fee on time, contact ARDMS directly — they have documented processes for hardship extensions.

CCI Renewal: Step-by-Step

CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) renewal follows a similar structure but has distinct requirements.

CCI CME Requirements

30 CME credits per 3-year renewal cycle per credential
Same credits apply to all held CCI credentials
CCI publishes a list of approved CME providers at cci-online.org

Unique CCI provision: CCI accepts ARDMS CME credits toward CCI renewal (and vice versa for ARDMS). If you hold both RDCS (ARDMS) and RCS (CCI), the same 30 hours of cardiac CME satisfies both renewals.

Step-by-Step CCI Renewal

Step 1: Log into cci-online.org
Step 2: Navigate to "Renewal" under your credential management section
Step 3: Verify CME credits are logged in the CCI tracker
Step 4: Complete the renewal application and attest to clinical practice
Step 5: Pay renewal fee (~$80 per credential)
Step 6: Receive updated credential certificate

CCI Renewal Dates

CCI credentials expire on December 31 of the renewal year. The renewal window opens January 1 of the expiration year and closes on December 31. Late renewals incur a $50 late fee if submitted within 60 days after expiration.

State License Renewal: By State

Oregon (OMILP)

Cycle: Every 2 years, expiring on your birthdate
CE required: 24 hours per 2-year cycle
Process:

Complete 24 CE hours and document certificates
Log into the Oregon OMILP portal (oregon.gov/obmi)
Submit CE documentation
Pay renewal fee (~$100)
Receive renewed license

Important Oregon note: Your Oregon license expiration date is your birthdate in the renewal year. If you were born March 15, your license expires March 15 of your renewal year — not January 1. Keep this in mind.

New Mexico

Cycle: Every 2 years, December 31 expiration
CE required: 24 hours
Process: Online renewal at NM Department of Health licensing portal; same ARDMS CME credits accepted

North Dakota

Cycle: Every 2 years
CE required: 24 hours
Process: North Dakota Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Board — online portal

New Hampshire

Cycle: Every 2 years
CE required: 24 hours
Process: NH medical imaging licensing program online portal

Arkansas

Cycle: Annual (December 31 expiration)
CE required: 12 hours per year
Process: Arkansas Department of Health licensing portal; renewal fee ~$50/year

Tennessee

Cycle: Annual (December 31 expiration)
CE required: 12 hours per year
Process: Tennessee Department of Health online portal

Renewal Fee Summary

Credential / License	Renewal Fee	Frequency	Late Fee
ARDMS (per credential)	~$60	Every 3 years	$50
CCI (per credential)	~$80	Every 3 years	$50
Oregon state license	~$100	Every 2 years	Varies
New Mexico state license	~$85	Every 2 years	Varies
Arkansas state license	~$50	Annual	Varies
Tennessee state license	~$55	Annual	Varies
North Dakota state license	~$75	Every 2 years	Varies
New Hampshire state license	~$85	Every 2 years	Varies

A sonographer holding RDMS + RVT credentials in Oregon pays approximately $220/year on average when prorated across renewal cycles.

The Audit: What ARDMS Looks For

ARDMS audits a percentage of renewals annually. If you're audited, you must provide:

Original CME certificates (not just tracker entries)
Documentation showing the provider name, activity title, credit hours, and date
Proof the activity was accredited/approved for ARDMS CME

Audit consequences for incomplete documentation:

Credential placed in inactive status pending documentation submission
If documentation cannot be provided: credential may be revoked for the renewal cycle
Intentional falsification of CME records: credential revocation and referral to ARDMS Ethics Committee

Keep paper and digital copies of every CME certificate for the entire 3-year cycle plus one additional year. Don't delete anything until the subsequent renewal is complete.

Setting Up a System That Prevents Emergencies

The most common renewal problem isn't forgetting — it's discovering at renewal time that you're 6 credits short and have a 2-week deadline.

The system that works:

On January 1 each year, log into myARDMS.org and note your current credit total and renewal date.
Divide 30 credits by 3 years = 10 credits per year. Target this rate.
Set a calendar reminder for 90 days before every renewal date.
After every CME activity, immediately: save the PDF certificate to a folder named "CME [Year]" and enter it in your ARDMS tracker.
If you work in a licensed state, set a separate reminder 60 days before your state license expiration.

Ten CME credits per year is achievable without a major conference — four vendor webinars, two SDMS online modules, and one journal CME article gets you there for under $50 if you have a society membership.

What to Do If Your Employer Discovers a Lapsed Credential

Hospitals conduct periodic credential audits and may discover a lapsed ARDMS credential. What typically happens:

HR or credentialing committee notifies you of the lapse
You may be placed on administrative leave or removed from clinical duties
You must apply for reinstatement or re-examination as appropriate
Upon credential reinstatement, clinical privileges are typically restored

The most important thing: do not attempt to continue working as a credentialed sonographer with a lapsed credential. The legal and professional consequences are far worse than the administrative process of reinstatement.

If you discover a lapse before your employer does, address it immediately through the ARDMS reinstatement process and self-disclose to HR per your institution's policy. Self-disclosure is generally treated more favorably than discovery.

Sonographer License Renewal: Step-by-Step Guide for ARDMS, CCI, and State Licenses