Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Is This Program Right for Me?

To be successful in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography you should have strong critical-thinking, observation, and technical skills; excellent active listening and social perception skills; strong oral and written expression and comprehension; arm-hand steadiness and control; and pay attention to detail.

The program offers general and cardiac degree tracks. Each 22-month track consists of online didactic courses, on-campus scanning lab, and internships at assigned clinical settings.  General track students will learn to perform abdominal, small parts, obstetric, gynecology, and vascular exams. Cardiac track students will be trained to perform detailed cardiac and vascular exams.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible to take specialized certification exams, which are required by some employers and may make you more marketable in a job search.

Occupational Outlook

Diagnostic medical sonographers conduct ultrasound imaging, compile the subsequent reports and may interpret the reports. Employment is available in labs, clinics, healthcare centers, or hospitals. Salaries range from $47,000 to $62,000.

Data Sources – The website mynextmove.org, which is developed and maintained by the National Center for O*NET Development, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC).

Accreditation

SFCC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.CAAHEP.org) upon the recommendation of JRC-DMS.

Logo: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 9355
113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775 
www.caahep.org

The Sonography program utilizes a competitive admission process and requires an additional separate admission application. Applications are due on or before March 1 of each year for students who will begin the program that August.

  • Students must pass a background check utilizing a United Stated social security number, have a negative drug screening and record of all required immunizations. For additional information, review the Program Information PDF located on left side of this webpage.
  • This program requires courses to be taken in Sedalia and online.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Sonography?

    Sonography is a medical imaging modality that uses sound waves to take real-time images of a patient’s internal organs such as the abdomen, blood vessels, heart, pelvic organs, and of the fetus during pregnancy.  You may also hear sonography referred to as ultrasound, ultrasonography, echo, echocardiogram, or doppler.

  • How is your program structured?

    The SFCC Sonography program is delivered in a hybrid format. 

    The SFCC sonography program is 5 semesters in length. The program begins each year in August and students graduate 22 months later in May.

    During the first two semesters students complete didactic (book work) courses online and come to the SFCC Sedalia campus two days each week for ultrasound scanning lab. 

    During the last three semesters students are assigned to Missouri clinical sites 4 days each week where they will scan real patients under the direct supervision of the site sonographer.  Students will also take online courses to continue to prepare for their career and certification exams.

  • I heard you have both Cardiac Track and General Tack options at SFCC. What does that mean?

    At SFCC Cardiac Track students learn to perform exams on the heart and blood vessels. General Track students learn to perform abdominal, OB/GYN, and vascular exams.  Both tracks are equal in length and structure. There is a high demand for both Cardiac and General sonographers and both tracks offer excellent career opportunities.  Students may apply to both tracks but may only accept admission to one.

  • How do I get into the SFCC Sonography Program?

    The SFCC sonography program uses a competitive admission process. 

    To be eligible for the program students must first complete prerequisite general education and science courses.  Program applicants will work with the sonography program navigator (advisor) to prepare an eligible application including prerequisite courses, pre-entrance exam, observation hours, and admission essay.  For Detailed information please see the Program Information packet on the left hand side of this webpage.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at SFCC will prepare sonographers to operate ultrasonic imaging devices to produce images, scans or videos of anatomy and diagnostic data. Our program will teach you to operate the machines and to perform and evaluate ultrasound exams and procedures.

Title IV and Licensure

The State Fair Community College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is designed to meet educational requirements for a professional license/certification in Diagnostic Medical Sonography required for employment as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in ALL 50 STATES. If you have questions about licensure/certification requirements in a specific state, contact the program directly or view the information listed in Consumer Information. The information will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis prior to the start of fall semester.

Toll Free (877) 311-7322

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