SPI study guide · physics blueprint
SPI Study Guide: The Physics Blueprint, Ranked by What's Tested
The ARDMS SPI exam has five content domains, and they are not worth equal study time. Two of them — Apply Doppler Concepts and Optimize Sonographic Images — carry roughly 60% of the points between them. This guide ranks every domain by exam weight so your hours land where they score.
The blueprint: weight is your study order
Weight is not trivia — it is a budget. A domain worth 34% of the exam deserves roughly five times the study time of one worth 7%. Read the table top-down and let the percentages set your schedule: master the top two, get competent in the middle, and refuse to sink days into the bottom of the list.
| SPI domain | Exam weight |
|---|---|
| Apply Doppler Concepts | 34% |
| Optimize Sonographic Images | 26% |
| Perform Ultrasound Exams | 23% |
| Clinical Safety & QA | 10% |
| Manage Transducers | 7% |
The five SPI domains
The two heaviest domains link to full guides below — they are written first for a reason. The remaining three are on the way. You do not need them to start: build your foundation on Doppler and image optimization, and the lighter domains slot in later with far less effort.
Where to go next
SPI prep in your pocket
Drill the domains that carry the points
Timed SPI questions weighted to the blueprint: the heaviest domains give you the most questions, the way the real exam does.