Welcome to APCA!

We are delighted to welcome you to the Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancement (APCA), the new physician-centric council, spun out of ARDMS. APCA is dedicated to serving physicians in their enduring commitment to continual learning and providing high-quality and compassionate patient care through certification. To date, nearly 21,000 physicians have been welcomed into APCA.

Please find below APCA's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). For a complete list of APCA FAQs click here.

What is APCA?

APCA, the Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancement, is a certification council spun out of ARDMS exclusively to meet the needs of physicians.

Which Certifications Are Awarded Through APCA?

The physician-only RPVI, RPVI-China, RMSK, CBNC, and CBCCT certifications are now awarded through APCA, as is the Latin American Ultrasound Certificate Program and the Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Certification and Certificate program. ARDMS still awards the sonographer-level RDMS, RDCS, RVT and RMSKS certifications.

Since APCA and ARDMS are companion councils, you can hold both APCA and ARDMS certifications/credentials and receive exceptional customer service and manage all maintenance of certification requirements through APCA. All the services, reminders and notifications about your certification(s) previously received from ARDMS will now be provided by APCA.

With my transition to APCA, do I need to re-apply or re-earn my certification(s)?

No. Your certification(s) are active and in good standing.

I hold both APCA and ARDMS certifications. Will I pay two renewal fees?

No. You will only pay one renewal fee due by December 31st. Communications about your renewal fee will come from APCA beginning in the fall.

Have the eligibility requirements changed?