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Sonography

Advanced Certificate

Program Overview

Sonography

Do you have an associate's in a health field, but want to make a change? With this advanced certificate you could be in a new career in less than two years. If you like to work with people, critically think to solve problems and enjoy new challenges, consider Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS).

Sonographers use their background in anatomy and physiology, pathology and ultrasound physics to obtain quality images for physician interpretation. Professional responsibilities include:

  • Talking with patients to identify symptoms
  • Obtaining diagnostic sonographic images
  • Analyzing images and patient information
  • Using  independent judgment  in recognizing the need to make adjustments to the sonogram
  • Providing oral or written summary of the technical findings to the physician for interpretation and diagnosis

Earning Potential

Interested in a career in sonography? Learn more about our region’s employment outlook and career opportunities you can pursue in this field of study.

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.

median annual salary
annual job openings

are currently employed within the State of Michigan Prosperity Regions 5 and 6.

This number is expected to over the next four years.

of current workers will reach retirement age within the next ten years.

Visit Career Coach for more details.

Map of Michigan with Delta College's region highlighted.

Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. You may also conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity and similar tests. This includes vascular technologists.

median annual salary
annual job openings

are currently employed within the State of Michigan Prosperity Regions 5 and 6.

This number is expected to over the next four years.

of current workers will reach retirement age within the next ten years.

Visit Career Coach for more details.

Map of Michigan with Delta College's region highlighted.

Examine and diagnose disorders and diseases using X-rays and radioactive materials, and may treat patients.

median annual salary
annual job openings

are currently employed within the State of Michigan Prosperity Regions 5 and 6.

This number is expected to over the next four years.

of current workers will reach retirement age within the next ten years.

Visit Career Coach for more details.

Map of Michigan with Delta College's region highlighted.

About Delta's Program

  • Sonography Faculty
    Amazing faculty 

    At Delta, you get small classes, professors who see your potential and resources to help you succeed. Delta professors are here to teach. And, they're really good at it.

    Learn More about faculty

  • Accredited 20-month program that includes classes, labs and clinical experience
  • Full-time program with required travel for clinical experience
  • Associate Degree or certificate options
  • Students are eligible to take boards for RDMS certification 60 days prior to graduation

Professional licensure

National certification through the ARDMS, good in all states.

Accreditation

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

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

727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

Program application Process

Getting your degree in the health field is unique compared to other programs. You must first take your prerequisite core courses, and then apply for validation.

What's validation?

The Program Coordinator reviews your application packet and validates your prerequisite courses to confirm you are eligible to begin the clinical portion of your program.

Success Tips

  • Declare the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.
  • Meet with your advisor regularly. Stay on track with what you need to do to apply.
  • Apply for validation with Program Coordinator, Kim Boldt, once you've started your final semester of prerequisite courses. You can begin requirements for your application any time, so don't delay!
  • Stay connected for important updates from Delta!
Program goals
  • To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the abdominal sonography-extended concentration.
  • To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the obstetrics and gynecology concentration.
Student outcomes

We think it's important to know how we're doing so we can continually improve our programs – collegewide. We work really hard to give our students the best possible education. So, we annually evaluate and show you what we find out. We're happy to share results of the most recent five-year time period.

Year of Graduation

Number of students entered

Maximum annual enrollment: 14 students

Numbers of graduates, Program completion rate

Employment Rate 

2015 13 8 - 61.5% 100%
2016 14 10 - 71% 100%
2017 16 13 - 81% 100%
2018 14 9 - 64%
2019 15 7 - 47% 100%
2020 14 9 - 64% 100%
2021 14 8 - 57% 100%

Year ARDMS Exam

Delta College ARDMS Results
Above National Pass Rate

National Average
2015 ABD
OB
Physics
87.5%
87.5%
100%
69%
72%
72%
2016

ABD
OB
Physics

100%
80%
83%

75%
70%
70%

2017

ABD
OB
Physics

86%
90%
86%

77%
72%
67%

2018

ABD
OB
Physics

100%
100%
77%

77%
75%
65%

2019

ABD
OB
Physics

100%
86%
100%

72%
76%
65%

2020

ABD
OB
Physics

78%
100%
100%

67%
79%
68%

 
Technical Standards

Motor

  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time (several hours)
  • Ability to lift and/or support up to 50 lbs
  • Ability to push heavy equipment up to 300 lbs and safely transfer and position patients weighing up to 250 lbs
  • Mobility to move freely around the imaging department and ultrasound room, as well as other areas of the hospital such as surgery and patient rooms
  • Ability and manual dexterity to frequently reach and handle equipment for imaging purposes
  • Ability to reach up to 6 feet off the floor
  • Ability to assume varied postural positions (bending, kneeling, stretching) to work with equipment and patients
  • Must have dexterity to manipulate the transducer and control panel simultaneously (with thumb/hand/wrist/arm/hand movements)
  • Strong hand and eye coordination
  • Ability to write legible English in a style that is readable
  • Motor ability to act quickly in emergency situations
  • Dexterity to work in a sterile environment, prepare sterile fields and fill sterile syringes
  • Ability to think in 3-dimension while using a 2-dimensional imaging modality

Sensory/Mobility

  • Ability to discern small differences between shades of gray in order to acquire and fully interpret an ultrasound image
  • Distinguish between the colors red, yellow, blue and green in order to accurately interpret color Doppler
  • Ability to hear patients when at a distance of 10-15 feet
  • Ability to read and comprehend written orders in English
  • Ability to see in very dim light

Communication

  • Possess verbal and written skills to communicate effectively in English with patients and other healthcare professionals
  • Ability to elicit information and assess non-verbal information

Cognitive

  • Ability to read and comprehend relevant information in textbooks, medical records and professional literature
  • Ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize in the context of the sonography profession and to make critical thinking decisions, hypotheses and conclusions
  • Ability to retain and apply information
  • Ability to organize and accurately perform individual steps in a sonographic procedure in proper sequence and time frame
  • Ability to apply knowledge to sonographic imaging and problem solve clinical scenarios
  • Use cognitive skills to identify, record and adapt procedures as appropriate to anatomical, pathological and diagnostic information and images

Behavioral/Social/Emotional

  • Must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of intellectual abilities, exercise of good judgment and prompt completion of all responsibilities as relate the sonographic imaging field
  • Ability to function under all circumstances including highly stressful and/or fast-paced environments
  • Ability to adapt to an environment that may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways
  • Ability to show empathy, compassion and concern for others
  • Ability to remain calm and focused during performance of sonographic exams, including competency evaluation performance
  • Demonstrate integrity, honesty and professionalism in all matters with peers, faculty, staff and patients
  • Demonstrate accountability, problem solving, sound judgment and listening skills at all times
  • Ability to maintain confidences according to professional and legal (HIPPA) standards
  • Comply with the Sonographer Code of Ethics, Clinical Practice Standards and Scope of Practice. Visit the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography for more information. 

Delta is committed to ensuring that otherwise qualified students with disabilities are given equal access through reasonable accommodations to its services, programs and activities for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are required to perform all essential functions of the program with or without reasonable accommodation. We will work with the student and disability office to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations. While Delta will make every effort to work with our students with disabilities to accommodate their disability-related needs, it is important to note we are not required to provide requested accommodation that would fundamentally alter the essential functions or technical standards of the program. Students can contact Disability Resources at 686-9794 or disabilityresources@delta.edu.

Why you should choose Delta

Dual degree

Delta College students have an option to earn a dual associate degree in General Management with their Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate degree.

LEARN ABOUT EARNING A DUAL DEGREE

Program outcomes & graduate statistics
  • Our graduates consistently perform well above the national average on the ARDMS certifying exams.
  • High employment rates. 100% placement rates for graduates willing to relocate.
Reputation 

Consistently positive feedback from graduates, clinical sites and employers!

  • “Your program has great credibility and grows good future sonographers.”
  • “I’m so proud to be a Delta graduate.”
  • “The physicians I work with are impressed with my performance, and many of them have asked me where I went to school.”
State-of-the-art equipment
Students around the Anatomage table
  • Renovated health wing with hospital simulation
  • Lab with four new machines including 3D capability
  • Computerized Anatomage anatomy table

 

 

 Transfer opportunities
 

Articulation agreements for transfer and bachelor completion exist with: 

  • Ferris State University
  • Northwood University
  • Sienna Heights University
  • Davenport University

LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSFER AGREEMENTS

Facts & Figures

Michigan

With the Michigan Transfer Agreement, 30 credits are guaranteed to transfer to any public institution in Michigan.

18:1

With a student to professor ratio of 16 to 1, our students get personal attention.


Related Programs

Delta College offers over 140 degree, certificate and training options. Continue exploring and advancing your education with these related programs: