What Cardiovascular Credentialing International is, the RCS and RVS credentials it offers, how their pathways work, and how they relate to the ARDMS credentials.
Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) is a credentialing body for the cardiovascular field. For sonographers, it offers an alternate route to certifying in two specialties — cardiac and vascular — that the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) also covers. CCI credentials are a parallel path, not a lesser one; both bodies’ exams meet the recognized accreditation standard for the field.
The RCS — cardiac
The RCS — Registered Cardiac Sonographer — is CCI’s registry-level credential for echocardiography, the imaging of the heart described on the Cardiac Sonography page. CCI updated its pathways in 2023: the older RCS1 pathway was retired on June 30, 2023, and the current pathways (RCS235, RCS4, RCS5, and RCS6) took effect July 1, 2023 (CCI). The pathways differ by background and experience. The RCS235 pathway, for example, requires completing a health-science academic program, one year of full-time cardiac ultrasound experience, and at least 600 cardiac ultrasound studies (CCI).
The RVS — vascular
The RVS — Registered Vascular Specialist — is CCI’s registry-level credential for vascular sonography, the imaging of blood vessels described on the Vascular Sonography page. Like the RCS, its older RVS1 pathway was retired on June 30, 2023, with current pathways effective July 1, 2023 (CCI). The RVS and the ARDMS RVT are distinct credentials from different organizations covering much the same scope (ARDMS; CCI).
How CCI compares to ARDMS
The two bodies structure certification differently. ARDMS requires the SPI physics exam plus a specialty exam, in either order, within a five-year window. CCI uses defined registry pathways built around academic background and documented experience, such as the study-count requirement in RCS235. The result is the same kind of credential — recognized proof of competency — reached by a different route. Choosing Between ARDMS and CCI lays out the factors a person weighs when deciding which to pursue.
Last verified: 2026-06-14. CCI pathways, study-count requirements, and fees change; confirm current details with CCI. This page is informational and does not recommend a credential or body.