RPhS study guide
RPhS · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS) is a sonography credential listed by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), a credentialing body whose published credential menu includes the RPhS alongside cardiac and vascular sonography and invasive-specialist credentials. The RPhS designation signals that a sonographer has been validated in the sonographic evaluation of the venous system - the phlebology scope that covers superficial and deep venous assessment of the lower extremity, reflux and insufficiency testing, venous mapping, and the surveillance of venous disease and its treatment. It is aimed at sonographers and technologists who perform venous ultrasound in vein clinics, vascular laboratories, and surgical or interventional practices, and at those building a career specifically in venous disease rather than general vascular imaging. Preparation should be built around the published exam content outline and applicant handbook, both available through CCI's site, combined with supervised hands-on scanning of venous reflux and mapping protocols. Candidates should confirm current eligibility, application steps, fees, testing options, and scoring policy directly with CCI, since those administrative details are set by the credentialing body and can change. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CCI; always verify requirements against the official source before you apply. Topics on this exam: Phlebology Sonography. The RPhS study guide has 1 section and about 459 words.
01Phlebology Sonography: Venous Duplex, Reflux, and Procedure Guidance
The RPhS phlebology sonography domain assesses lower-extremity venous duplex: normal and variant anatomy, venous hemodynamics, provocation techniques, reflux and obstruction criteria, and ultrasound guidance for venous intervention. Marks hinge on protocol precision-patient position, Doppler angle, provocation maneuver, and numeric thresholds-rather than broad recall. Deep veins: common femoral, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, peroneal, gastrocnemius, and soleal veins. Superficial veins: great saphenous vein (GSV), small saphenous vein (SSV), and accessory saphenous veins.
459 words, about 2 minMore study resources for RPhS
- Practice questionsDuring a venous duplex examination, which transducer maneuver best demonstrates the great saphenous vein in transverse cross-section at the saphenofemoral junction?
- FlashcardsReflux time threshold, superficial veins. Retrograde flow lasting longer than 0.5 seconds in the great or small saphenous vein during Valsalva or distal augmentation is the standard criterion for superficial venous incompetence.
- Cheat sheetVenous anatomy of the lower limb: deep system (common femoral, femoral, deep femoral, popliteal, calf veins), superficial system (great saphenous vein in the saphenous compartment, small saphenous vein in the posterior calf), and perforating veins connecting them; the saphenofemoral junction lies at the fossa ovalis.
- Key termsReflux. Retrograde flow through a vein caused by valve failure, detected on Doppler as flow lasting longer than about half a second in superficial leg veins.
- Study planMap the full RPhS exam content outline for Phlebology Sonography into a one-page checklist of subtopics (venous anatomy, hemodynamics, instrumentation, exam protocols, pathology, reporting) and rate your current confidence on each from 1 to 5.
- Common mistakesCandidates learn reflux as a concept (a threshold of retrograde flow duration) but practice scanning in a 'find the problem' mode, so they stop at the first abnormal segment and never systematically interrogate each named segment with a reproducible provocation.
- Exam-day guideBring the original, unexpired ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID) with a signature and photo.