Many employers rely on specialty certification. Does ARRT believe that certification in areas such as breast sonography and neurosonology will become obsolete?
Specialty certification will continue to be important, especially for those facilities with patient needs and volumes to support specialization. However, many facilities require multi-skilled sonographers – someone who can do an abdomen and then move to an OB patient and then back to abdomen or pelvis. Fact is, many of these sonographers are currently credentialed in just a single clinical specialty even though their practice may span many subspecialties. ARRT certification in general sonography speaks to the qualifications of those who elect to complete a formal program in general sonography and who demonstrate entry-level skills in the multiple areas covered by the exam. As with other professions, many of these individuals will likely choose specialty certification at a later point in their careers.
