Diagnostic medical sonography certificate programs near me

College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SONO) certificate program is designed to enhance the professional skills of individuals who are currently certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or equivalent and have State of Connecticut licensure.

About the Program

• In this advanced certificate program, students gain eligibility to earn an additional credential in medical sonography-- highly attractive to potential employers.

• Our program offers flexible schedules and evening classes.

• Our 15+ clinical affiliates in the Greater Hartford area include major hospitals and private imaging offices, affording students real-world training.

The SONO program accepts qualified individuals into a 14-month, 26-credit program. Students complete 15 credits of academic coursework and 11 clinical course credits. The academic courses are sequential and begin with a foundations course that prepares students for the clinical application of sonographic principles.

The academic coursework also helps prepare students for the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination and Abdomen (AB) specialty exam offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Program Requirements

Four clinical semesters comprise the course of study, which begin in the first summer of the program and end the following summer. During the final clinical courses (SONO 470 Clinical Externship I and SONO 480 Clinical Externship II), students are expected to perform as the primary sonographers during imaging studies.

Eligible students who successfully complete all of the SONO concentration courses receive a Diagnostic Medical Sonography certificate. The completion of the academic and clinical components of the SONO concentration also helps to prepare students for the certification examination in Diagnostic Medical Sonography as administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

The SONO certificate program is not competency-based.  To attain eligibility for credentialing in diagnostic medical sonography with the ARDMS, you must complete the minimum number of classroom and clinical hours included in the SONO certificate program.  Accurate documentation of clinical hours is the responsibility of the technologist (student). Total program hours related to SONO will be verified by University of Hartford faculty and used to document eligibility requirements for the ARDMS credentialing exam in Abdomen (AB).  Please refer to the ARDMS eligibility requirements for more information (www.ardms.org).

Individuals are required to be CPR-certified and must undergo a background check and drug screen prior to clinical placement.

Program Contacts

For information on the certificate program and course schedule, contact:

Dan DeMaio
Associate Professor and Director of the Radiologic Technology Program

860.768.5752

If you are interested in applying to this program, contact:

Office of Admission
800.947.4303

This specialty certificate trains students to become skilled dual board-registered abdominal and OB/GYN diagnostic medical sonographers. Dual registries can provide more job opportunities to graduates, and a higher pay rate.

Students receive training in abdominal, OBGYN, high-risk OB, and vascular ultrasound. Students will learn to perform a variety of exams which include abdominal, pelvic, neurology, gynecological and obstetrical ultrasounds, and venous and arterial ultrasounds. Students attend didactic lecture courses and scan lab courses for the full 15 months of the program; they attend classes and clinical rotations together for 12 months of the program. Students attend clinical rotations across S.C. and train in facilities including inpatient and outpatient facilities, Trauma I hospital systems, outreach hospitals and offices, high-risk OB offices, maternal fetal medicine offices, and vascular offices.

The diagnostic medical sonographer is a skilled member of the imaging health care team. The sonographer must possess in-depth knowledge of ultrasonographic physics, human anatomy, physiology, and pathology. The sonographer's primary job is direct patient care, which necessitates excellent interpersonal skills. As there are several specialties within the realm of ultrasound, our graduates are able to work in a variety of settings after graduation because of the diverse training provided.

Procedures are performed with real-time B-mode, M-mode, and Doppler instrumentation, utilizing a transducer assembly against the anatomical part of the interest and recording the images with ancillary devices.

This is a 15-month program. There is one program start date each year, which is in June, and the program is completed the following year in September.

All courses in the curriculum must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher in order to proceed to the next Session.

First Year

Second Year

Changes to Admissions Policy

Our admissions procedure has changed from previous years. We no longer have rolling admissions and will no longer transfer offers of acceptance from year to year. Students must provide the $25 application fee should they decide to reapply for the next year.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration into the program the student must have successfully completed at least one of the following:

An Associate Degree (60 Hours) - two-year Allied Health Care program with direct patient contact (must include a clinical internship/externship). Allied Health occupations include, but are not limited to, radiologic technologist, respiratory therapist, paramedic, occupational therapist, physical therapist and registered nurse.

OR

A Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.) - any major.

Successful completion of three prerequisite courses (listed below) before the program start date in June. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” or higher. These three courses must be less than three years old from the year of the program start date. If they were taken more than three years prior, students must retake these courses.

Prerequisite Courses

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I – 4 credit hours
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II – 4 credit hours
• Medical Terminology – 3 credit hours

Students can be interviewed/accepted on a probationary status if they are completing their degree and/or prerequisite courses the spring semester before the program start date. Full acceptance will be pending on all completion of all required coursework.

Additional Information

• The 15-month program begins each summer and concludes in September of the following year. The priority registration deadline is January 1. Applications are accepted until January 30, pending space availability.
• Those applicants who are currently completing their degree studies may apply and become accepted on a probationary status, pending proof of completion of the necessary courses prior to the June program start date. Those who do not provide this proof prior to the beginning of the first class will not be eligible to proceed. 
• Foreign applicants must meet certain academic admission requirements and should contact the program manager's office to ensure eligibility for the program. Students who do not use English as their first language may have to demonstrate proficiency in the English language before being accepted into the program. 
• As part of the admission requirement, all applicants must have their official transcripts forwarded to the program director's office.
• The program may accept up to eight students per program year in each area, general Diagnostic Medical sonography and Cardiovascular sonography. 
• Students in this program are involved in their professional course work and clinical education rotations for a minimum of 35 hours per week. Full-time work outside of the program requirements is strongly discouraged. 
• Students will interact with sick and injured patients of all ages and conditions. Rotations will involve three or more affiliate hospitals and offices in order to provide the student with the most comprehensive clinical education and experience. This requires traveling throughout the state of South Carolina. All clinical schedules are made in advance, per semester, so students can schedule their outside activities accordingly. 
• Students must be of a physical and emotional state that will allow them to meet all clinical objectives which involve the moving of patients, equipment, and communicating with patients and other medical staff. 
• The students will adhere to a prescribed dress code while in the clinical rotations and classes, as well as follow policies and procedures set forth by the program to properly educate students to the hospital setting. Students must wear scrub uniforms during all classes and clinical rotations.
• Attendance requirements for class and clinical rotations are much more stringent than the overall college's policy. More than two violations of dress, attendance, or professionalism policies will not be tolerated and are grounds for dismissal from the program.
• Students must be certified in adult and infant BLS for Healthcare upon entering the program AND are responsible for maintaining certification during the program.
• Students must submit a background check and clean drug screening prior to the start date of the program. The background check must be clean for the past 10 years.
• Students are responsible for receiving all titers and vaccinations required by hospital clinical sites before they begin clinical rotations in the fall semester. These include, but are not limited to: MMR, Hep B titers, Quantiferon Gold (TB) test or chest X-ray if necessary, flu shot, TDAP, and COVID-19. Please note that these vaccinations are mandatory and cannot be declined to participate in the program. Instructions for completing vaccine requirements are given to the students AFTER they are accepted in to the program. It is not required to complete vaccines/titers before the program start date.

Application Process

Prospective students must apply for admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program by completing the steps below.

This is a 15-month program. There is one program start date each year, which is in June. The deadline for priority registration is January 1. After this date, applications will be accepted until January 30, pending space availability.

Step 1:

Download application and mail along with a $25 non-refundable application fee to:

Continuing Education Department
Attention: Sonography Program
Midlands Technical College
PO Box 2408
Columbia SC 29202 

Include with your application a copy of any professional certification for verification (ARRT card as an example), if you have been previously certified.

Step 2:

Official college transcripts showing a completed undergraduate degree and the three prerequisites are required. They must be mailed to the same address as above. Official e-transcripts are also accepted, and can be emailed to .

Step 3:

A minimum of 2 letters of reference are required with the application packet. Forward all letters of reference to the same mailing address or email address above.

After You Apply

Applicants will be placed on the qualified list to be interviewed once ALL required documentation listed above has been received. Applications received without the $25 fee will not be processed, and the applicant will not be contacted.

Once a student has met the preliminary admissions requirements he/she will be required to attend a mandatory Program Information Session and complete a job shadowing. These are conducted in the early spring term. Upon completion of those two requirements, the student will then be invited to interview with the committee in late spring. Job shadowing prior to the Information Session is strongly encouraged, if it possible for the applicant to complete on their own.

The student must pass the formal interview for acceptance. The interview score is averaged by the committee members and a minimum number of points must be achieved for acceptance. 

All students are required to have a clean background check for 10 years, and a clear drug screening. The forms will be distributed once the student has been accepted into the program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The program cost is $12,655.00.

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