How to Study to Successfully

Pass the RVT Exam

Janette Wybo, BAS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT

Program Coordinator

Providence Hospital School of

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Resources: The Vascular System, Kupinski, Lippincott, 2013

Diagnostic Ultrasound, Hagen-Ansert, Mosby, 2011

Objectives Upon completion of this learning activity, it is

my hope that the participants will be able to:

• Determine your learning style

• Discover formula to succeed in becoming

RVT!

• Discuss the various resources that can be

matched with your learning style

• Learn from examples the detail of

information needed to successfully pass the

RVT exam.

As the presenter…

• I have no affiliation or financial gain

with any of the products presented

• I do not endorse any products

• My goal is to provide information

• Participants need to investigate the

products and decide for themselves

what will help them succeed.

I am an ARDMS Item Writer for the VT exam.

First Step – Get Informed ARDMS - RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist)

must be graduate of an accredited vascular

sonography program OR work full time for 12

month completing vascular exams (not

volunteering). Must submit a clinical

verification form signed by (physician or RVT).

Recommended to complete 800 vascular exams

(ardms.org)

CCI - Cardiovascular Credentialing International –

to become a RVS (Registered Vascular

Specialist) (cci-online.org)

Qualifications (RVS)

• Two years of full-time or full-time equivalent work

experience in vascular ultrasound. The applicant

must have performed a minimum of 600 vascular

ultrasound studies at the time of application.

• It is recommended, but not required, that the

applicant have experience in the following areas:

Carotid duplex ultrasound, Peripheral arterial

duplex, Transcranial Doppler, Venous duplex

ultrasound, Peripheral arterial physiologic, Visceral

vascular duplex ultrasound.

CCI Qualifications for Accredited

General Sonography Program • A graduate of diploma, associate, or baccalaureate

academic program in health science (including, but not

limited to, cardiovascular technology, ultrasound,

radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, or nursing)

• AND ONE year full-time work experience in vascular

ultrasound

• AND performance of a minimum of 600 vascular

ultrasound studies in their career, which is defined as

work experience and/or clinical experience gained during

a formal educational program.

• In the employment verification letter, supervisor or DR.

must confirm number of studies performed during

applicant’s employment.

Qualifications for Vascular

Accredited Program

Qualification Requirements

• Completion certificate and/or educational

transcripts

• Student verification letter from program educational

Director

• cci-online.org

ARDMS - Do you need

to take the SPI exam?

• If you took your ARDMS physics exam before fall

of 2009 – YES – you need to take SPI exam

• Must pass SPI examination and VT exam within 5

years to become a RVT.

• I recommend taking the SPI exam first.

– There will be physics on your VT exam

– Higher pass rate than VT

• SPI 81% for 1st time takers (overall 72%)

• VT 65% for 1st time takers (overall 59%)

There is HOPE!

ARDMS vs. CCI

• SPI two hour - 110 multiple

choice questions - cost –

$200

• VT three hour ~170 multiple

choice questions - cost -

$250

• Total exam cost $450

• 60 day wait to re-take exam

• Yearly renewal $75

• Required CMEs 30 credits

every 3 years in any category

• Pass rate RVT59-65%

• Three hour ~170 multiple

choice questions with SPI

• Exam cost $350

• 45 day wait to re-take exam

• $150 renewal fee every 3

years

• Required CMEs 36 credits

every 3years with renewal

fee of 30 credits must be

cardiovasular

• Pass rate RVS 53% Decide what’s best for you long term…

My Formula for Success for

Physics Exam

• 1. Become informed on what you need to know

• 2. Good resources

• 3. Put in the time (quality studying)

• 4. Strive for comprehension

• 5. Use two resources for review questions

• 6. Take one ARDMS practice exam

Remember , you did it once – you’re even better

equipped to do it again. We had 23 sonographers who

passed SPI in last 6 months!

ARDMS has new type of

test questions: • SPI /physics exam – Advance Item Type (AIT)

with semi-interactive control questions that

are worth either 2, 1 or 0 points in completing

these questions.

• Designed to assess candidates in actual

practice.

• Great tutorial that every registrant should look

at before taking the SPI exam. http://www.ardms.org/prepare_for_an_examination/advanceditemtypeques

tions

(Handout)

Advance Item Type with

Semi-Interactive Control Questions

Sonographers either love or hate these questions.

You passed

PHYSICS!

Congratulate yourself! Celebrate!

BUT, then focus on the next

BIG task…

Use Same Formula for Success

• 1. Become informed on what you need to know

• 2. Find good foundation resources

• 3. Put in time (quality and quantity)

• 4. Strive for comprehension!

• 5. Use two resources for review questions

– Review book + on-line review

• 6. Take one ARDMS practice exam

We had 3 sonographers who passed VT on their

first attempt in the last 6 months!

ARDMS Content Outline Anatomy & Physiology [20%]

• Cerebrovascular

• Venous

• Peripheral Arterial

• Abdominal/Visceral

Pathology [19%]

• Cerebrovascular

• Venous

• Peripheral arterial

• Abdominal/Visceral

Patient Care [4%]

• Communication

Integration of Data [10%]

• Cerebrovascular

• Venous

• Peripheral Arterial

• Abdominal/visceral

• Protocols [33%]

• Cerebrovascular

• Venous

• Peripheral Arterial

• Abdominal/Visceral

• Physics & Instrumentation [5%]

• Artifacts

• Imaging instruments

• Quality assurance/ Statistics

• Treatment [7%]

• Cerebrovascular

• Venous

• Peripheral arterial

• Abdominal/visceral

• Other [2%]

• Traumatic injury

• Miscellaneous conditions/tests

NOTE – Percentages are approximate

ARDMS Content Outline for

Exam Item Writers Vascular Technology (VT) Tasks

• Anatomy & physiology 20%

Cerebrovascular normal anatomy

• Cerebrovascular normal anatomy

• Evaluate the cerebrovascular vessels

• Cerebrovascular hemodynamics

• Evaluate the cerebrovascular vessels

for normal perfusion

Venous

• Venous normal anatomy

• Evaluate the veins of upper extremities

• Evaluate the veins of lower extremities

• Evaluate the central venous system

• Venous hemodynamics

• Evaluate the effects of limb

augmentation maneuvers on venous

flow

• Evaluate the effects of respiration on

venous flow

Peripheral arterial

• Peripheral arterial normal anatomy

• Evaluate the upper extremity arteries for

obstruction

• Evaluate the lower extremity arteries for

obstruction

Peripheral arterial hemodynamics

• Assess pressure changes following

exercise

• Assess segmental pressure gradients

• Abdominal/visceral

• Abdominal/visceral normal anatomy

Evaluate the abdominal/visceral vessels

• Abdominal/visceral hemodynamics

• Evaluate the abdominal/visceral

vasculature for perfusion

Cont…(Handout)

Most sonographers do not

do all the VT exams… • Abdominal Visceral including transplants

• Cerebrovasclar

• Transcranial Doppler (TCD)

• Peripheral Arterial (Upper and Lower Extremity

– Doppler 2D and color duplex

– Segmental pressures

• Peripheral Venous (Upper and Lower Extremity

• Doppler 2D and color duplex

• Know intra-operative and post surgical complications

Draw from your experiences and become informed

enough to understand it.

ARDMS exam has new

“HotSpot” Questions

• Hotspot item question types display

image and question that require

examinee to indicate correct answer by

using cursor to mark directly on image.

• Hotspot questions require a higher

level of thinking and processing than

when answering a conventional

multiple choice question.

New ARDMS

HotSpot Question

Answer – see red X mark in image above

Deciding What is a

Good Resource? • Review the source before purchasing

or ask for recommendations

• You can “rent” many textbooks on

amazon.com (Good thought for

Physics)

• Decide on a resource based on what

best fits your learning personality

• Find what best clicks for you!

Learning Style Inventory

• Visual Learners – love reading, benefits

from charts, tables

• Auditory Learners – love talking aloud,

benefits from tapes, auditory reviews

• Kinesthetic or Tactile Learners – love

hands-on, benefit from observing exams

Take the test and see what you learn about

yourself! None are better than others!

(Handout)

Good Resources

• I recommend getting a good textbook and READ

it (especially if you have not received formal

vascular training.

• Important to have a depth of knowledge

• Don’t attempt “cursory knowledge” by just

looking at review books to try to get by to pass

the exam.

• The exam questions will have two close

answers in which one answer is better than the

other if you have the knowledge.

• Can’t guess your way through this one…

Put in Quality and Quantity Time

• Organize how you are going to study

– Go through exam outline and write out a plan

• Make the plan realistic

An 8 Week Plan takes 10 Weeks

• Study 3 nights a week for 2 hours over 4 weeks,

then study 4 nights for 2-3 hours for 4 weeks

Tell those closest to you and ask for their support

Study with a Buddy - don’t have whine/wine sessions

Many RVTs had little or no resources and passed…

Let’s Talk About

ALL the Resources…

Find What Fits for You.

SDMS* Resources • One location for variety of resources

• NCER (National Certification Exam Reviews)

• $50 - $70 Review book with webinar*

– SPI (Physics) and VT (Vascular Technology)

– Outline format with review questions at end of each section

– Members access to twelve

webinars with CME credits

• SDMS membership $85 year

Trusted source*

1, 2, 3 Steps to Success

• daviespublishing .com– around for 30 years

• Step 1 – Education textbook

• Step 2 – Test preparation review book

• Step 3 – Flashcard study system

• Many also receive CME credits

• Cost – Bundle Price: $199.95

Boast to have a 90% success rate

Other Resources

• Anatomy and Physiology Textbooks

• Scanning Protocols

• Reference Guides

• Scanning Techniques DVDs

– Venous and abd vascular

Benefit – go at your own pace

Cost Varies ~ $50 - $175

Life is a Test – Pass it!

Pass or come back for Free!

• esp-inc.com

• Weekend reviews

• Instructor-led lectures that teach and

review material and prep for exam

• Cost $275 - $450 for one - two courses

+ travel expenses and lodging

• Benefit – network with others, take-home

course book is a good resource

Other Resources

esp-inc.com

• Quiz Cards $59

• X-Zone purchased for specific time frames

for practice Q and A’s

• 2 hours $39

• 5 days $79

• 15 days $109

Benefit – challenging questions (on-line)

What if you need hands-on?

• gcus.com

• Offers on-site/hands-on and other educational products

• Cost – Varies $1,495.00 for upcoming peripheral vasc weekend course

Other Resources

• Scanning Technique DVDs Ultrasound Evaluation

for Calf Vein Imaging: 48 minutes

Price: $99.00

• Vascular Textbook Zweibel and Pellerito

Copyright 2005: Cost $119

• Ultra P.A.S.S. Flash cards: Price $57

"Preparation Agenda for Study Success"

On-Line Study Course

(Burwin Institute) • burwin.com

• Web based study with on-line instructor

• Receive a course book that takes you step by step

through the material with mandatory tests emailed to

an instructor who provides feedback.

• Benefits – more details with ability to ask questions

with your on-line instructor.

• Cost for VT Course $450

Local Resources for

Success

• Liz Lawrence, RDMS, RDCS, RVT holds

study groups at her house for small

groups.

• Benefit - one on one small study group

• Cost $300 for 10 week course

– (3 hours per week)

• Contact Liz via email or phone

(Handout)

Are You a Lone Wolf?

• Buy a used review book on Amazon

– $70 Used SDMS book for $20.

• Borrow a review book from someone who

passed it already. You’ve promise

not to spill coffee on it!

• Use free on-line flash cards

• Cost – gift card for the friend from

Starbucks after you do spill coffee on their

book.

Why is it all necessary? • Important to gain knowledge to carry onto

your career.

• Benefit your patients.

• Improve your technical and diagnostic

abilities.

• Understand the WHY of what you do so well.

• Build your confidence.

• Current standard of competence! In 2017,

Medicare reimbursement will be tied to exam

being performed/reviewed by a RVT.

Let’s look at ways to digest all

the information and do some

sample questions…

These questions do not represent exam

questions I have submitted as an Item

Writer for the ARDMS, but as a

sonographer/educator who has practiced

vascular sonographer

for 30 years.

Scanning Technique

Common Femoral and Great Saphenous Veins

How do you direct the transducer to

image the great saphenous vein

from the common femoral vein?

A. Direct the transducer more medially

B. Direct the transducer more laterally

Lower Extremity Venous Anatomy

Anterior Accessory SV is directly over CFV

“Alignment sign” anterior accessory saphenous vein

(AASV) aligned over CFV/CFA, whereas the GSV lies

more medially.

What best describes the location of the

greater saphenous vein as it course

superiorly from the ankle?

• A. Medially

• B. Laterally

• C. Posteriorly

• D. Centrally

Dig for Good Resources

What is the relationship of the

CFA to CFV?

Look for relationships to help you understand.

What vessel is posterior to the

proximal Rt common iliac artery?

• A. Lt internal iliac artery

• B. Rt internal iliac artery

• C. Rt common iliac vein

• D. Lt common iliac vein

Find Clues Basilic vs. Cephalic Vein

Note When You Come Across Things That

are Unique – i.e. Subcalvian Vein

• Compression is

not used

• Portion obscured

by clavicular

shadow

• Limited

visualization

Paget-Shroetter syndrome

• Venous thrombosis associated with

compression of subclavian vein at thoracic

outlet - AKA “effort thrombosis”

– Typical patients are young, athletic, and

muscular males

Stump the Stars Question! What is correct patient positioning for

evaluation for Paget-Shroetter Syndrome?

• A. Upper body elevated 40 degrees

• B. Upper body lowered 20 degrees

• C. Patient should lie flat

• D. Patient upright

Seek Out Great Resources

Figure 15-3. A spectral Doppler waveform from the internal jugular

Cherish Great Resources

Look for Possible

Hot Spot Questions!

Place an X on inspiration for Doppler

of subclavian vein.

X X

Learn all you can not just to

pass the exam,

but to benefit your practice

and patients.

Stay positive!

The best teachers in the world,

teach nothing,

but inspire their students

to learn…

thanks for

your attention.

Who wants a Handout?