About Diagnostic Medical Sonography program
Contact usDiagnostic medical sonography includes general sonography, cardiac sonography, vascular technology and various subspecialties.
General sonographers, cardiac sonographers and vascular technologists are highly skilled professionals who care for patients using diagnostic techniques under the supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy. They provide services in a variety of medical settings where the physician is responsible for the use and interpretation of procedures.
To help physicians gather necessary data to reach diagnostic decisions, sonographers and technologists:
- Gather, review and integrate relevant patient history and supporting clinical data to deliver optimal diagnostic results
- Perform appropriate procedures and record anatomic, pathologic and/or physiologic data for interpretation by a physician
- Record, analyze and process diagnostic data and other pertinent observations during the procedure to present to the interpreting physician
- Exercise discretion and judgment in the performance of sonographic and/or other non-invasive diagnostic services
- Demonstrate appropriate communication skills with patients and colleagues
- Act in a professional and ethical manner
- Provide patient education related to medical ultrasound and/or other non-invasive diagnostic vascular techniques, and promote principles of good health
How to select a sonography program
No two sonography programs are exactly alike. Keep these questions in mind during your research:
Accreditation
Is the program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)? This ensures the program meets the minimum requirements for a quality education.
Find a CAAHEP-accredited sonography program in your area
Learn more about the importance of accreditation:
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Clinical education
- How many clinical sites does the program have?
- How many students are scheduled at one site at a time? Will students rotate to all sites equally?
- How often does the program faculty work with students at the clinical sites?
- How many total clinical hours will the student acquire during the program?
Specialty imaging
Does the program offer academic and clinical training in any advanced fields of ultrasound? If so, what are they?
Credentialing
- Will students be qualified to sit for a registry upon graduation? Which ones? The program must prepare students to meet eligibility requirements for taking the registry exam in order to earn the appropriate credential.
- What is the student pass rate for the registry examinations? Current and five-year?
- What percentage of students pass the board exam on their first attempt?
- Are students able to take the board exams before graduation?
Employment
What percentage of students are employed within six months of graduation?
Job Outlook
Overall employment of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
See our program’s job placement rates.
Testimonials
Read through these testimonials to hear what program graduates and employers have to say.
Sonography program forms
Download the forms you’ll need to apply to our program.
Apply to the program
Learn how to apply to the School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Aurora St. Luke’s in Milwaukee and get information about the application process and requirements.