Kaskaskia College Sonography Students Achieve 100% Pass Rate on National SPI Exam

CENTRALIA, Ill. - Ten Kaskaskia College Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DGMS) students recently passed the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination, giving the group a 100% pass rate on the national certification exam administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

The SPI examination assesses knowledge of the physical principles and instrumentation used in sonography, including ultrasound physics, clinical safety, quality assurance, instrumentation, transducer operation, image optimization, and Doppler concepts.

Passing the SPI exam represents an important step toward professional credentialing. According to ARDMS, candidates seeking the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential must successfully complete the SPI examination and an applicable specialty examination. By passing the SPI exam, the KC students have completed one of the examination requirements toward earning the RDMS credential.

The students are Rachel Cruthis of Greenville; Emma Davis of Breese; Isabella Hirsch of DuQuoin; Hayleigh Hutson of Salem; Evelyn Juarez of Albers; Briahna Kempfer of Waterloo; Natalia Mendoza Salcedo of Olney; Hannah Moore of Albion; Elizabeth Titus of Toledo; and Jayla True of Centralia.

"Seeing our students successfully pass a national certification examination is one of the most rewarding parts of being an educator," said Cindy Hoffmann, Kaskaskia College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Coordinator. "Their success represents far more than an ' I passed message.' It reflects their dedication, perseverance, knowledge, and commitment to becoming highly skilled healthcare professionals. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments and confident they will carry this same level of excellence into their next specialty examination and their sonography careers."

The students will be recognized during the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Pinning Ceremony on October 7 as they prepare to complete the program. Some have already secured employment, while others are beginning their job searches as they approach program completion.

The students' accomplishment also comes as the healthcare community recognizes Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month (MUAM) in October. The annual observance raises awareness of the role diagnostic medical sonographers play in healthcare and educates the public about medical ultrasound and its many uses. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography's 2026 MUAM theme, Inside Images, celebrates the impact sonographers have on the lives of their patients.

Kaskaskia College's Diagnostic Medical Sonography program consists of three and a half semesters of classroom instruction, laboratory experience, and clinical education beginning each fall semester. The occupational program prepares students for entry-level employment, with graduates receiving a certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Students gain skills in abdominal, small-parts, and obstetric/gynecologic sonography in preparation for employment opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and mobile imaging services.

Applicants to the program must have graduated from a two-year allied health program or hold a bachelor's degree and complete required prerequisite coursework. Students entering with a bachelor's degree must also complete Certified Nursing Assistant training prior to acceptance or have completed coursework directly related to patient care.

For more information about Kaskaskia College's Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, visit www.kaskaskia.edu or contact Cindy Hoffmann, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Coordinator, at choffmann@kaskaskia.edu.