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)
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:
- Sufficient visual acuity for the observation necessary for patient assessment and care.
- 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.).
- 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.
- 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 Requirements
- Application for admission to the college.
- Official transcripts of all postsecondary education of training.
- ACT composite score report.
- Documentation denoting completion of NAA 100 with a grade of "C" or better or a graduate of a two-year accredited Allied Heath Program.
- Documentation denoting completion of each Diagnostic Medical Sonography pre-requisite courses with a grade of "C" or better.
- Attendance to one of the pre-admission conferences.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program will be admitting a cohort every spring. The application deadline will be October 1st of every year.
Preadmission Conference
Attending an ECTC Sonography Program Preadmission Conference is a MANDATORY requirement for admission into the program. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Preadmission Conferences are virtual for January 2024 admission. The Program Coordinator and/or Clinical Coordinator will host the preadmission conferences on Blackboard Collaborate using the following link:
https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/a88aa4e1872040e08a708ddf266dda08
- Tuesday, 2/21/2023 - 10am EST
- Friday, 3/24/2023 - 9am EST
- Tuesday, 4/18/2023 - 1pm EST
- Monday, 8/21/2023 - 3pm EST
- Thursday, 9/14/2023 - 11am EST
Pre-registration for conferences is not necessary.
Applying to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
- In order to be considered for admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, each applicant must attend a preadmission conference.
- 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.
Preferences for acceptance into this program
- Applicants with an ACT composite score of 21 or above;
- Applicants who have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better (4.0) in 10 hours of college credit applicable to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program; and
- Applicants who have graduated or are in their final semester of a two-year accredited Allied Health Program or have the minimum of an Associate of Applied Science Degree in clinically related field.
Program Outcomes
| Graduating Class | Retention Rate | Job Placement | SPI Results | RT (S) |
RDMS (AB) |
RDMS (OB/GYN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | 80% | 100% | 100% | 100% | ||
| December 2021 | 67% | 100% | 100% | 67% | 33% |
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.orgField 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.
