Diagnostic medical sonography technicians operate ultrasound equipment.
Diagnostic medical sonography technicians use ultrasound equipment to help doctors diagnose medical problems and illnesses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although there are no colleges that specialize only in diagnostic medical sonography skills, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that diagnostic medical sonographer programs exist throughout the United States at teaching hospitals, technical colleges and four-year universities, offering the programs as part of their larger health professions training. These schools offer certificate and degree programs in diagnostic medical sonography.
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences
Kaiser Permanente's diagnostic medical sonography program is a specialty training program within KP's School of Allied Health Sciences. Students complete coursework and lab rotations in 18 months, with classroom and laboratory sessions evenly divided among six quarters. Although the program offers general education and exposure to all subspecialties within diagnostic sonography--abdominal, gynecological, obstetric, vascular and cardiac--faculty members emphasis abdominal, obstetric and gynecological tracks, with limited exposure to vascular and cardiac ultrasound. Graduates receive a certificate in diagnostic medical sonography and are eligible to sit for the national registry examination in the physics, abdomen and ob/gyn categories. Tuition for the program is $9,000; students can also expect to pay approximately $1,200 for books and lab materials.
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Program
938 Marina Way South
Richmond, CA 94553
510-231-5055
kpsahs.org
George Washington University Medical Center
George Washington University offers six certificate programs and a bachelor's degree program in diagnostic medical sonography. Students who hold a bachelor's or master's degree may choose to spend four semesters pursuing a certificate in a single specialty area--general sonography, vascular or echocardiography--or take five semesters to obtain a dual certificate. Dual certificates are available for general and vascular sonography, general and cardiac sonography, or cardiac and vascular sonography. The bachelor's degree program exposes students to general, vascular and cardiac sonography, but students must choose one or two of these areas to focus their clinical rotations. All of GWU's programs allow students to sit for national registry exams in specialty areas, although bachelor's degree students may take the exam in their junior year, ultimately graduating with both a degree and one year of certification under their belts. Tuition for certificate programs varies each year based on a per-credit charge, but usually hovers around $40,000; the bachelor's degree cost is approximately $80,000.
George Washington University Medical Center
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Program
900 23rd St. N.W. #6180
Washington, DC 20037
202-994-3650
gwumc.edu
Austin Community College
Austin Community College offers a certificate program in vascular sonography, as well as associate degree programs in general diagnostic medical sonography and echocardiography. The vascular certificate program is a one-semester program that features three classes and a clinical rotation. Associate degree programs require five semesters to complete and include classroom sessions, laboratory work and clinical rotations. All of Austin Community College's diagnostic medical sonography programs require that students complete a nurse's aide certification course or hold equivalent certification before admission. ACC's programs prepare graduates to sit for the national registry examinations in general sonography or vascular sonography. Austin Community College sets tuition charges on a sliding scale, based on your residency within the Austin Community College system's district, outside the district, or non-residents. Per-credit fees change from year to year, but Austin district residents could expect to pay approximately $800 for the certificate program and approximately $4,000 for the degree programs.
Austin Community College
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Program
3401 Webberville Road
Building 9000
Austin, TX 78702
512-223-5944
austincc.edu
Tags: medical sonography, Austin Community, Austin Community College, Community College, diagnostic medical
