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General Information

Students must maintain a “B” or better average in all prerequisite, core education related professional requirement courseswork and maintain a "C" or better average in all sonography technical coursework to continue in the program.

Note:

Applicants will be allowed only one "C" grade in the prerequisite courses and must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA overall.

There are restrictions on students who wish to replace a grade of "C"on their transcript. Please contact the program director for specific criteria.

 

Graduation Requirements & Certification Information:

Graduation from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program requires satisfactory completion of required clinical internship hours and clinical competencies, an overall grade point average of “C” or higher, payment of all fees and no clinical or academic probations. Students must also pass an end of program mock examination. Failure to pass the examination may prevent a student from completing the program regardless of previous academic standing in program courses.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited through CAAHEP. Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to take the national registry examinations administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) in Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation, Abdominal and OB-GYN Sonography as well as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) – Sonography credential. Registry applicants must pass both the Physics and at least one specialty exam to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer by the ARDMS.There is a $200 - $250 fee for each specialty exam. Graduates of the DMS program are eligible to receive funds from the program to apply for ARRT and ARDMS credentials according to program policies.

 

NOTE: Students convicted of a misdemeanor or felony may be ineligible to sit for national certification exams or for employment in the medical field.

Fees:

Tuition varies depending on your residence. Information is listed in the DACC catalog and schedule for each semester. Additional program fees include:

  • Uniforms, name tage & appropriate shoes for clinical internship
  • Textbooks – this varies since many students purchase extra books throughout the program, but the required texts are expected to be approximately $800 for the entire program. Textbooks can be obtained at the DACC Bookstore.
  • $150 course fee will be assigned to DMS 120, 122, 124, 126

 

Clinical Site Internships & Assignments:

Each student is assigned to a primary hospital or medical facility where he/she will stay for the duration of the clinical internship portion of the program.  Each student must have reliable transportation to travel to and from the clinical site. The clinical experience is extremely important in providing students with the appropriate skills and consequently comprises a large portion of the program curriculum. In some instances, rotation into other facilities may be necessary during this internship for additional experience with certain exams. Rotations are to be determined by the Program Faculty.

Final acceptance into the program is dependent on the student’s acceptance of his/her clinical site assignment. Students are required to have personal health insurance in order to attend clinical sites.

 Background Checks and Drug Screens:

Applicants who have any misdemeanor or felony record must meet with the program director; a criminal record may prevent employment in the medical profession.

Yearly DWI and drug screening may be required. Students who do not pass required drug screening or have acquired a new DWI will be dismissed from the program.