Midwife Sonography Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility requirements for the Midwife Sonography Certificate include the following:

• Candidate must hold an Active Certified Midwife (CM) or Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) credential offered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)


• Candidate must earn 12 ARDMS-accepted CME or education hours in OB/GYN ultrasound, earned within five (5) calendar years of application submission

Yes, in order to earn the Midwife Sonography Certificate, you must complete two exam components:

• Part One: Midwife Sonography Computer-Based Examination


• Part Two: Practical Examination

• Certificate(s) or other original documentation for a minimum of 12 credit/hours of ARDMS-accepted CMEs or education hours in OB/GYN ultrasound earned within five (5) calendar years of application submission


• A copy of current, valid/active CM or CNM certification

The necessary supporting documentation for the Midwife Sonography examination must be submitted online and received within 21 days of submitting your online application.

For specifics visit ​http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/midwifery/Pages/midwife.aspx.​

The Midwife Sonography Certification exam is a windowed exam with specific dates for application and administration of the test. ARDMS windowed exams are offered during two one-month periods each year. Visit https://www.pegasuslectures.com/midwifesonographyExam.php to view the application and administrative dates for the Midwife Sonography Certification exam. You can also view the application and administrative dates at http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/midwifery/Pages/midwife.aspx.

The ARDMS has detailed the areas of concentration covered on the Midwife Sonography examination by topic and percentage of the examination. Click on the ‘Content Button’ to access the content outline PDF.

Once the ARDMS has approved your application, you will receive an Examination Confirmation Letter (ECL) via email from the ARDMS. The ECL will contain your eligibility period dates so you can contact Pearson Vue to schedule your examination.

For specifics visit ​http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/midwifery/Pages/midwife.aspx.​

The ARDMS examinations are Pass/Fail, using a scaled score which ranges from 300 to 700. The ARDMS used a minimum, “cut-off” score which represents basic competency. A scaled score (cut-off) of 555 is required to pass each ARDMS exam.

The computer-based examination results and a full score report will be posted to your secure MY ARDMS approximately two months (60 days) after the close of the computer-based examination window. An email will be sent notifying you when score results are posted.

The Practical Examination is completed by submitting documentation that demonstrates successful completion of cases. If the practical examination is not completed within six (6) months of passing the computer-based examination, candidates are required to obtain and submit an additional five (5) new, ARDMS-approved CME or education hours in OB/GYN ultrasound.

Documentation options are:

• Option 1: Successful performance completion of eight cases across defined domains through direct practical examination. (Domains are defined by ARDMS).
• Option 2: Successful performance completion of eight cases across defined domains through a combination of direct practical examination and simulation*. Three (3) of the eight (8) required cases can be through simulation.

*Simulation: Must be performed on an approved simulator, capable of realistically replicating a real, live patient encounter. Proof of successful completion of the simulated encounter can be documented by having the simulated scan signed-off by an evaluator described above or by a simulation center director/manager who is authorized and trained to verify proficiency with OB/GYN simulators.

For details visit http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/midwifery/Pages/midwife.aspx

The ARDMS will provide Midwife Sonography Practical Assessment Forms for each of the following domains:

• Biometry
• 2nd-3rd Trimester
• Cervix
• Early First Trimester
• Transvaginal First Trimester
• Second/Third Trimester – BPP/AF
• GYN – Ovarian Follicle Measurement
• GYN – Position and Endometrial Thickness
• Second/Third Trimester – Placenta Location

Please note: ARDMS has indicated that the above Practical Assessment Forms will be available shortly. For details visit http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/midwifery/Pages/midwife.aspx

If you are not able to achieve cases through Option 1 or 2, contact ARDMS to speak to a Certification Specialist at 800-541-9754, Ext 1 for information on how to complete the practical examination by submitting images.

The evaluator of the practical assessment must be an ARDMS registered sonographer with OB credentials and/or a physician with OB/GYN and ultrasound expertise.

Once the candidate has successfully demonstrated and completed all required cases either through real patient scans or a combination of simulation, the documentation is then submitted to ARDMS as a completed package and shall be reviewed by the ARDMS Application Specialists. If you fail the image (case) submission, you will receive feedback on the images that were rated inadequate. Candidates who do not pass are invited to re-apply.

For details on the practical examination visit: http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/midwifery/Pages/midwife.aspx

If both parts of the certification process are not successfully completed within the allotted time frame of two (2) years, any passing scores will be rescinded and you will need to restart the application process.

The ARDMS requires that simulation cases must be performed on an approved simulator, capable of realistically replicating a real, live patient encounter. Proof of successful completion of the simulated encounter can be documented by having the simulated scan signed-off by an evaluator described above or by a simulation center director/manager who is authorized and trained to verify proficiency with OB/GYN simulators.

Pegasus Lectures and the ACNM offer several study resource options:

OB/GYN for Midwives eCourse
Pegasus Lectures and the American College of Nurse-Midwives offer a comprehensive, modular OB/GYN for Midwives eCourse. Since the course is in modular format, we are able to offer flexible purchasing options. You can choose to purchase the entire eCourse, individual sections, or individual modules. Features of the eCourse include modular delivery, dual video streaming, interactive questions, viewable playlist, note-taking capability, companion PowerPoint printouts, chapter recall, customized review, and CME. The participant can view the modules at their convenience. (For viewing details visit https://www.pegasuslectures.com/shop_product_info.php?products_id=52841)

OB/GYN Point of Care Ultrasound Physics
This eight module course builds the foundation for understanding and learning Point of Care (POC) OB/GYN ultrasound for midwives, physicians, and health care professionals who have a need to practice limited scope OB/GYN ultrasound. This modular eCourse teaches physics from a unique perspective with direct clinical application to ultrasound using many analogies, animations, ultrasound images, and ultrasound videos.(For details visit https://www.pegasuslectures.com/shop_product_info.php?products_id=52736)

Midwife Sonography ExamSim Program
In addition to the Midwife Sonography eCourse, Pegasus Lectures, Inc. and the American College of Nurse-Midwives have created a Midwife Sonography ExamSim. Designed to determine your level of preparedness to take the Midwife Sonography (MW) Examination, this study tool details your areas of weakness and test-taking habits, helping you to best utilize your valuable study time and streamline the examination preparation process. An extensive review section provides comprehensive explanations, creating an invaluable teaching reference in addition to the testing and assessment components. (For details visit https://www.pegasuslectures.com/shop_product_info.php?products_id=52608)

For a complete list of OB/GYN resources visit https://www.pegasuslectures.com/midwifesonography.php

The Midwife Sonography (MW) ExamSim, created by Pegasus Lectures and the ACNM, contains three, full-length, two hour examinations containing 120 questions per exam. Each exam can be taken for a score eight times for a total of 48 hours of testing. The comprehensive review section has unlimited access. The actual ARDMS exam is two (2) hours in length with 100 questions. The Pegasus Lectures and ACNM Midwife Sonography ExamSim contains additional questions per exam to provide more in-depth education and to improve the participant’s ability to focus during the actual exam.

We created our ExamSim program to closely follow the format of the actual ARDMS exam. The actual Midwife Sonography Examination is a two-hour exam with approximately 100 questions. Since the content breadth for the Nurse Midwifery certification exam is quite broad, to adequately prepare candidates and test all the topics from the content outline covered we have added additional questions to each exam. Participants have the option to choose 1, 2 or all 3 exams.

Contact the ARDMS for information on registering to take the exam.

For specifics visit ​http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/midwifery/Pages/midwife.aspx.​

The Midwife Sonography Certificate is valid for five years from the award date. The ARDMS has not yet listed the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements and have indicated that the requirements will be shared at a later date closer to the examination administration.