The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a sequence of courses that provides educational opportunities to individuals in didactic, laboratory and practicum components. Courses are structured to facilitate the achievement of educational and career goals. Sonographers are “highly-skilled professionals” who use specialized equipment to create images of structures inside the human body that are used by physicians to make a medical diagnosis. Sonographers have extensive, direct patient contact that may include performing some invasive procedures. Students will have an opportunity to train in the following specialties: abdomen, obstetrics, gynecology, and peripheral vascular. Upon successful completion, graduates are eligible to apply to take the national certification exams given by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) in the specialty areas of abdomen, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN).
Employment Opportunities
Successful completion of this program should enable graduates to pursue job opportunities in one of several diagnostic imaging areas such as hospitals, imaging centers, and physician offices.
Accreditation
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS, www.jrcdms.org). CAAHEP may be contacted at 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, Phone 727.210.2350.
Licensure/Certification
Graduates of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program must pass the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Examination to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
Admissions Criteria
- Submit a completed application and application fee;
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Submit official high school transcript or GED transcript;
- Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a competitive admissions program. Please see page 19 for more information.
- Meet the following assessment requirements:
| Test |
Reading |
Writing |
Numerical |
Algebra |
| Accuplacer |
64 |
70 |
NA |
57 |
| Accuplacer (Next Gen) |
236 |
249 |
NA |
245 |
| Compass |
79 |
62 |
NA |
37 |
| SAT |
17 |
17 |
NA |
21 |
| SAT |
290 |
290 |
NA |
380 |
| ACT |
16 |
14 |
NA |
17 |
| ASSET |
42 |
41 |
39 |
42 |
| PSAT |
17 |
17 |
NA |
21 |
| GED |
NA |
145 |
NA |
145 |
Additional Notes
The number of students accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is based on the standards set by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS), which are based on the availability of the program’s clinical education settings. A non-discriminatory policy and a pregnancy policy are available upon request.
If an applicant is not accepted into the program and wishes to try again, he/she must submit another application and meet all admission criteria with the exception of payment of the application fee. Ten percent of program admission is reserved for qualified credentialed imaging professionals with an Associate Degree. State standards may require completion of additional courses. Transcripts must be evaluated prior to admission.
Readmission Requirements
A student who voluntarily leaves or is dropped from a competitive admission program due to academic reasons, attendance, or having received a grade less than “C” in any program course will be limited to a one-time re-entry into the program.
A student seeking readmission to a competitive admission program must understand that readmission is granted on a competitive and space available basis, based on the program’s admission criteria, accreditation agency requirements, and clinical capacity. The student must meet current program admission requirements at the time of the readmission request.
A student who voluntarily leaves or is dismissed from a competitive admission program during the first semester of program classes must re-enter the competitive admissions process in order to be re-admitted.
A student who successfully completed at least one term of program classes must follow the steps below to request re-admission to the program:
- Submit a letter requesting readmission to the Director for Admissions.
- Upon approval from the Director for Admissions and confirmation that there is space available in the class, the student must demonstrate retention of materials/information taught in the last successfully completed semester.
- The student will take a written examination covering materials taught in previously taken coursework. The student must make a grade of 75 or better.
- The student will take skills tests covering competencies in the procedures learned in previously taken coursework. The student must make an 85 or better on the skills test. The number of skills tests will be determined by each Program Director.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Degree Curriculum
The curriculum for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography diploma program is designed for the semester system. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 78 semester credit hours. The program requires a minimum of 2340 contact hours and generally takes 6semesters to complete.
Program Courses
General Education Core (19 Credits)
Area I – Language Arts/Communication (3 Credits)
Area II – Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 Credits)
Area III – Natural Sciences/Mathematics (3 Credits)
Area IV – Humanities/Fine Arts (3 Credits)
Select one
Program-Specific Requirements (7 Credits)
Non-General Education Degree Courses (8 Credits)
Occupational Courses (51 Credits)
NOTE: “C” or higher grade is required for all the above courses.
Program Costs
Tuition/Fees: $8,170
Books/Supplies: $2,000
Uniform Costs: Approximately $250
Liability Insurance: $10 per fiscal year
Certification Exams: $ 700
Physical Exam: $200
TB Test: $40
Tetanus vaccination (within last 10 years): $50
Hepatitis B Series: $265
Drug Screening: $30
Criminal Background Check: $39-$80
Course Supply Fees:
- DMSO 1010 Foundations of Sonography: $30
- DMSO 1020 Sectional Anatomy and Normal Sonographic Appearance: $30
- DMSO 1050 Abdominal Sonography I: $30
- DMSO 1070 Pelvic Sonography and First Trimester Obstetrics: $30
- DMSO 1090 Introduction to Vascular Sonography: $30
- DMSO 2010 OB Second and Third Trimesters: $30
- DMSO 2020 Specialized Sonographic Procedures: $30
(Costs are estimates and are subject to change.)
Clinical Education
Number of Clinical Sites: 20
General Location of the Clinical Sites: Bulloch, Chatham, Emanuel, Evans, Liberty, Laurens, and Ware Counties, and South Carolina
Special Requirements of the Clinical Sites
- Current CPR Certification
- Immunization Records
- Annual TB Test
- Hepatitis B vaccinations or Hepatitis B Titer
- Current Tetanus vaccination
- Flu Vaccination
- Varicella Titer or proof of history of Varicella Titer or Chicken Pox vaccine
- Current physical examination
- Criminal Background Check
Clinical Education Courses
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Clinical Education provides students with an opportunity for in-depth application and reinforcement of principles and techniques in Radiology/Imaging Departments and related business environments. The clinical practicum allows the student to become involved in a professional work situation applying technical skills. Students may not receive pay from the clinical site for Clinical Education hours. Students are evaluated by the clinical site preceptor and by program faculty.
Clinical Assignments
Diagnostic Medical Sonography students will rotate through the clinical affiliates on a semester basis. Clinical assignments are made during the first shift hours, Monday through Friday. Assignments may include second shift and weekend rotations. Clinical schedules will be distributed at the beginning of each semester. Students may not choose which clinical affiliate they wish to attend. The student is required to adhere to his/her assigned schedule at all times. No personal adjustments will be made to the clinical schedule, unless it is an extreme emergency. Changes in the clinical schedule must be requested in writing to the Clinical Coordinator. Only program faculty can approve changes in the clinical schedule. Students may be asked to travel over one hour from Ogeechee Tech for clinical rotations. During clinical rotations, the student will be responsible for all transportation.