On May 5, 2016 Governor Maggie Hassan signed Senate Bill 330 making New Hampshire the fourth U.S. state to enact sonographer licensure. The new law becomes effective on July 1, 2016.

The law creates a seven-member Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy. The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification will be responsible for the licensure of sonographers (and other medical imaging professionals). The agency will work with the Governor's office on the appointment of the Board members, which will include one sonographer. Once appointed, the new Board and the agency will immediately begin to work on development of administrative rules to implement the new law.

To qualify for a New Hampshire license as a sonographer, an applicant must possess current certification and registration in sonography from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), or a certification organization approved by the board.

The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) with the assistance of SDMS Board Member, Ted Whitten, BA, RDMS, RVT spearheaded sonographer efforts to ensure the passage of the bill in New Hampshire. "After having provided testimony before the state Senate committee and the House committee, I'm excited that the licensure bill has finally passed and been signed by the Governor," said Ted. "The new law will help ensure that only properly trained and credentialed sonographers perform diagnostic medical sonography exams. This is good for both our patients and our profession."

New Hampshire joins Oregon, New Mexico, and North Dakota, which have also passed sonographer licensure laws. "We are pleased by New Hampshire's commitment to patient safety and we look forward to the passage of similar legislation in other states." stated Sheryl Goss, MS, RT(R)(S), RDMS, RDCS, RVT, FSDMS, President of the SDMS."