Additional Information for DMS | ECTC

Additional Program Information

Additional Information for DMS

Admissions Points System

When more qualified applicants apply than seats available, candidates are ranked by points (maximum 39).

Max: 10 points

  • >45 = 10 points
  • >40 = 9 points
  • >35 = 8 points
  • >30 = 7 points
  • >25 = 6 points
  • >20 = 5 points
  • >15 = 4 points
  • >10 = 3 points
  • >5 = 2 points

Max: 9 points

  • 4.0 = 9
  • 3.75–3.99 = 8
  • 3.50–3.74 = 7
  • 3.25–3.49 = 6
  • 3.00–3.24 = 5
  • 2.75–2.99 = 4
  • 2.50–2.74 = 3

Max: 15 points

For Anatomy & Physiology I & II and Physics, each A = 5 points and each B = 3 points.

Max: 5 points

Points may be awarded for one of the following:

  • Completion of a 2-year accredited allied health program (AAS) with current professional licensure
  • Military service or veterans status

Documentation required:

  • Allied health applicants must upload a copy of their degree and current professional credential/license with their program application.
  • Military applicants must upload a copy of their military ID or other documentation verifying service with their program application.

If two applicants have the same points, GPA will be recalculated to determine ranking.

USA Exam Information

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at ECTC requires the Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) Exam through Pegasus Lectures as part of the admission process.

The USA Exam assesses intrinsic skills essential for success in sonography, including coordination, persistence, problem-solving, spatial ability, judgment, graph interpretation, visualization, and logical reasoning. Please note that study tools or practice exams are not available.

Visit Pegasus Lectures for additional information and system requirements.

The exam is administered by Pegasus Lectures in two ways:

  • Remote proctoring (online): $65 plus a $20 proctoring fee
  • ECTC Assessment Center: $65 (no additional fee)

To register:

  1. Go to Pegasus Lectures Products & Seminars.
  2. Select the USA Exam and complete your purchase.
  3. If you plan to take the exam at the ECTC Assessment Center, select NO in the proctor dropdown.
  4. You will receive a receipt by email. Bring this receipt to the Assessment Center on your test day.

Note: Be sure to use your college email address when registering and list Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in the comment section.

Clinical Observation Hours

Applicants must complete 4 hours of clinical observation in general sonography (not OB/GYN) as part of the program admission requirements. Completion of these hours must be documented using the Clinical Observation Form.

Important Notes:

  • Applicants are responsible for contacting a clinical facility directly to arrange observation hours. The program does not schedule observation placements for applicants.
  • Observation must be completed in general sonography.
  • Take the Clinical Observation Form with you to your observation site.
  • The sonographer you observe must sign the form. Unsigned forms will not be accepted.
  • Upload the completed form with your program application.

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

Program Outcomes

  1. Utilize oral and written communication.
  2. Provide basic patient care and comfort.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human gross anatomy and sectional anatomy.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of acoustic physics, Doppler ultrasound principles, and ultrasound instrumentation.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the interaction between ultrasound and tissue and the probability of biological effects in clinical examinations.
  7. Employ professional judgment and discretion.
  8. Identify sonographic representation of normal and abnormal anatomy.
  9. Understand the fundamental elements for implementing a quality assurance and improvement program, and the policies, protocols, and procedures for the general function of the ultrasound laboratory.
  10. Recognize the importance of continuing education.
  11. Recognize the importance of, and employ, ergonomically correct scanning techniques.

Minimum Expectations

To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentration(s) it offers:

  • Abdominal sonography – Extended
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography

ARDMS Rules

According to ARDMS policy, the organization may act against any applicant, candidate, or registrant who has been convicted of, pled guilty to, or entered a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) to any crime.

If you are currently charged with, or have ever been convicted of, found guilty of, or pled nolo contendere to any felony or misdemeanor offense, other than minor traffic violations such as speeding or parking, you are encouraged to review how this rule may apply to your situation.

ARDMS offers a Pre-Application Review service for individuals who wish to determine the potential impact of a prior criminal matter on their eligibility for certification. The review is available for a non-refundable fee of $125 and is strongly recommended for anyone who has not yet applied for an ARDMS examination but is considering employment or enrollment in a sonography program.

Detailed information about the pre-application review process is available on the ARDMS website.

Advanced Placement/Transfer

A student applying for transfer into the Sonography Program (subject to present enrollment) may be given advanced placement if they meet the following criteria:

  1. Acceptance of any transfer student will be dependent upon available resources.  Applicants who wish to transfer to a KCTCS Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program must:
    1. Meet all admission requirements of the receiving institution;
    2. Apply at least (3) three months prior to the expected date of enrollment;
    3. Notify the Coordinator of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program in writing, stating anticipated entry date and reason for transfer;
    4. Have a faculty member from the program previously attended submit a letter of recommendation to the receiving institution; and
    5. Submit an official transcript for evaluation by the Admissions Committee.
  2. If more than three years have elapsed since initial enrollment in a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, the entire sequence of Diagnostic Medical Sonography courses must be repeated; and
  3. If more than one semester has elapsed since a student has been in a clinical rotation, he/she must demonstrate proficiency prior to readmission, or enroll in the appropriate clinical component(s).

Frequently Asked Questions

Many common questions about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program are answered below.
Please review these before contacting the program coordinator.

ECTC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program is a CAAHEP-accredited, selective-admissions program that prepares students for entry-level practice in abdominal and OB/GYN sonography.

Students who successfully complete the program earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and are eligible to apply for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) credentialing examinations in Abdominal and OB/GYN.

The DMS Program admits students once per year, with classes beginning each January (Spring semester). The application window opens in March and closes on October 1.

The program is 18 months (four consecutive semesters) and includes a summer clinical semester.

No. Sonography is a hands-on healthcare profession, and most coursework and all clinical training must be completed in person. 

One course (Ultrasound Physics) is delivered online, but the program itself is not an online program.

No. The DMS program is a full-time program with daytime classes, labs, and clinical rotations. Due to the structure of clinical education, part-time enrollment is not available.

Sonographers spend long periods standing, reaching, and applying pressure with the ultrasound transducer. The profession requires good upper body strength and ergonomic awareness.

Admission to the DMS Program is competitive. Only 10 students are admitted each year, and applicants are ranked based on their USA Exam score and prerequisite GPA.

Applicants with stronger prerequisite GPAs and higher USA Exam scores are generally more competitive.

Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program is competitive. Only 10 students are admitted each year, and applicants are ranked based on their USA Exam score and prerequisite GPA.

Because admission decisions depend on the strength of the applicant pool each year, program faculty cannot predict an individual applicant’s chances of acceptance prior to the selection process.

Applicants are encouraged to focus on:

  • earning strong grades in prerequisite coursework
  • preparing for the USA Exam
  • completing all required application materials.

Program faculty are unable to review or evaluate individual applicants prior to the admission selection process.

Admission decisions are based on the complete application and the strength of the applicant pool in a given year. Because of this, faculty cannot determine whether an applicant will be competitive in advance.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the admission requirements and FAQ information on this page before applying.

If you have questions about program requirements or the application process, you may schedule an advising appointment with the program coordinator.

All application materials must be completed and submitted by October 1.

Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered.

All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Please see the list of prerequisites for specific course requirements.

Yes. Prerequisite courses may be completed at another regionally accredited college or university, provided the courses are accepted as equivalent to the required courses at ECTC.

Official transcripts must be submitted to ECTC for evaluation.

Students may apply while finishing prerequisites as long as all requirements are completed by the end of the fall semester.

However, applicants who complete prerequisites by the end of the first bi-term in the fall are generally more competitive.

Yes. Applicants who are not selected may reapply in a future admission cycle after strengthening their application.

The DMS Program uses a selective admissions process.

Applicants are ranked based on:

  • USA Exam score
  • GPA in prerequisite coursework
  • Completion of all required materials

Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Yes. All applicants must complete the USA Exam (Ultrasound Student Assessment).

This exam measures aptitude for ultrasound concepts and is used as part of the selective admissions ranking process.

The exam may be taken:

  • Online through Pegasus Lectures
  • At the ECTC Assessment Center

Prior healthcare experience is not required, but completing observation hours helps students better understand the profession.

Yes. Applicants must complete 4 hours of clinical observation in general sonography.

Important notes:

  • Observation must be in general sonography (not OB/GYN only)
  • Applicants must contact the clinical facility directly to arrange observation hours. The program does not schedule observation experiences for students.
  • The Clinical Observation Form verifies completion of your required observation hours.
    • Take the form with you to your observation site
    • The Sonographer you observe must sign the form. Unsigned forms will not be accepted.
    • Upload the completed form with your program application.

The Preadmission Conference is a required informational session led by program faculty.

  • Attendance is mandatory for all applicants
  • Conference dates are posted on the website each January
  • Conferences typically begin in March for the following January admission cycle

Tuition varies depending on residency status and the number of credit hours taken each semester.

Students should expect costs for:

  • tuition and fees
  • textbooks and course materials
  • uniforms and clinical supplies
  • background check and drug screening
  • credentialing exam fees

For current tuition rates and fee information, please visit Tuition & Costs. 

Students are encouraged to contact the ECTC Financial Aid Office for information about grants, scholarships, and payment options.

Clinical rotations occur at affiliated healthcare facilities throughout the region. Students may be assigned to clinical sites that require commuting outside of Elizabethtown.

Still Have Questions?

If your questions are not answered above, you may schedule an advising appointment with the program coordinator. Please see the Contact Information section for scheduling options.