Diagnostic Medical Sonography

What is Diagnostic Medical Sonography?

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a diagnostic procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves, beyond the human hearing capability, to produce high-quality images of soft tissues and motion within the body.  Ultrasound involves no radiation and has a wide variety of uses in medicine.  The purpose of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is to prepare qualified individuals who, by virtue of training in both theory and practice, are proficient in the areas of abdominal and obstetric/gynecological sonography.

What are my career choices?

Sonographers provide essential health care at Hospitals, Physicians’ Offices, and Specialized Imaging Centers.

What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?

Degrees and Transfers

• Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
  • General Sonography Track

ECTC has numerous partnerships with 4-year universities. If you are interested in a transfer pathway in this field, check out our partnering university pathways. Find more information on transferring from ECTC.

Where do I start?

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Guide

Technical Standards

Diagnostic Medical Sonography involves the provision of direct care for individuals and is characterized by the application of verified knowledge in the skillful performance of Diagnostic Medical Sonography technical functions.

Therefore, all applicants should possess all of the following Technical Standards:

1. Sufficient visual acuity for the observation necessary for patient assessment and care.
2. Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health team and to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices (e.g., cardiac monitors, biomedical equipment, fire alarms, etc.).
3. Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement the skills, including the manipulation of equipment, positioning and lifting patients required in meeting health needs related to Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
4. Sufficient verbal and non-verbal communication skills (speech, reading, and writing), such as are needed in classroom and clinical settings to interact with patients and professional personnel.

Sufficient intellectual and emotional functions to plan and implement care for individuals.

Admission Process

Acceptance into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is based on a selected admission process. To be considered for program admission each applicant must submit the following by the October 1st deadline.

1. Application for admission to the college;
2. Official transcripts of ALL postsecondary education or training (outside of KCTCS);
3. Completion of ALL general education courses required for the sonography program (must be completed by the first bi-term in the fall the student anticipates applying)
4. USA Exam scores.
5. Documentation denoting the completion of 4 observation hours in abdominal sonography.
6. Documentation denoting completion of CNA/SRNA certificate or completion of a two-year accredited Allied Health Program, if applicable.
7. Pre-admission meeting/interview with the Program Coordinator or designee is required prior to admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. You can schedule an appointment with the Program Coordinator using this link. Book time with Burns, Erin M (Elizabethtown)

Students are admitted based on the following criteria:

1. Admission requirements

1. USA Program Score
2. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better in pre-requisite college credits applicable to the Sonography program;
3. Completion of all pre-requisite (general education) courses with a grade of “C” or higher;
4. Completion of 4 observation hours in a general sonography lab;
5. Preadmission meeting with program faculty.

Preference may be given to the following applicants:

1. Applicants who are registered and/or licensed in a clinically related allied health profession;
2. Applicants that are veterans or active duty personnel

If more students meet all the criteria than there are openings in the program then students will be ranked according to the following. If multiple students earn the same number of points, those students will be ranked based on their recalculated GPA.

1. USA Program score
2. Sonography curriculum GPA
3. Grades in Anatomy & Physiology and Physics courses

2. When determining placement, the GPA will be calculated only from coursework required in the Sonography curriculum.

3. Grades must be earned by the end of the first bi-term in the fall for application to the spring semester (January – May)

4. Emails are sent in November to all individuals who have completed applications notifying them of the selections by the Admissions Committee for the spring entering class.

*Sonography Program admission criteria are subject to change prior to each admission. Please refer to the Sonography Program webpage for the most up-to-date criteria.

USA Program Exam Information

The sonography program at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College will be using the USA Program Exam through Pegasus Lectures for program admission. The Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) is an examination of intrinsic skills that are essential for the sonography profession. The USA exam was created to specifically test examinees for coordination, persistence, problem-solving, spatial ability, judgment, graph interpretation, visualization, and logic. Study tools and practice exams are not available. Please visit the Pegasus Lectures for additional information and system requirements.

It is administered by Pegasus Lectures through a remote proctoring environment or can be purchased and taken through ECTC’s Assessment Center. You will purchase the exam through Pegasus Lectures Products & Seminars for $65. If you choose to have it proctored online, Pegasus charges an additional $20. For the students who will utilize ECTC’s testing center, click NO on the proctor dropdown. You will then be emailed a receipt to take with you to the testing center. Make sure to use your college email address and put Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in the comment section.

Applying to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program

• In order to be considered for admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, each applicant must schedule and attend a preadmission meeting with the program coordinator using this link Book time with Burns, Erin M (Elizabethtown).
• Students currently enrolled in classes at ECTC must complete an application for program admission and upload any required documentation by the October 1st deadline. Students who are not currently enrolled in classes at ECTC must also fill out an application for college admission.
• Students will be notified of application status by November 15th.

Student Outcomes

Accreditation

The Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program - General Sonography is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

9355 - 113th Street N, #7709

Seminole, FL 33775

727-210-2350

www.caahep.org 

Field Licensure Requirements

Upon completion of the program, students must pass the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers exam to become certified.

Length of Program

You can earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.

This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog.  You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.