Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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If you’re curious, detail-oriented, and interested in helping diagnose illness or injury, a career in sonography may be a good fit.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is a medical imaging field that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of organs, tissues, and blood flow inside the body. In this accredited program, you’ll learn to operate ultrasound equipment and perform diagnostic exams on patients. Your coursework covers normal and abnormal anatomy and pathophysiology of the abdomen, small body parts, OB/GYN, and vascular structures.

When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to work in hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, or specialty clinics—and you can enter the sonography workforce in as little as 21 months.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Information Booklet

Program Goals

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program prepares you to become a competent, entry-level sonographer in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (professional behavior) learning domains, with concentrations in Abdominal-Extended and Obstetrics & Gynecology.

You’ll learn through an integrated curriculum that includes classroom instruction, hands-on lab practice, and clinical internship experiences. Your progress is evaluated through exams, lab assignments, clinical scans, competency assessments, and faculty observation in classroom, lab, and clinical settings.

Earning ARDMS credentials after graduation further validates your training and the quality of the program.

Application Process

You may apply to the DMS program after completing the required support courses, along with a minimum of 40 hours of patient care experience with 10 of those hours working in a sonography department.

Students must meet or exceed the following admissions requirements to be accepted in the program:

Completion of required college-level support courses including:
- General Biology (BIO160)
- Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO241)
- Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO242)
- English Composition I (ENG&101)
- Medical Terminology (HED125)
- Human Pathophysiology (HED109)
- Communications (CMST&210)
- Intro to Physics (PHYS100)
- Statistics (MATH&146)

Comparable coursework may be submitted for substitution review and approval.

Your unofficial transcripts (copies) must be uploaded as part of your application, and all official transcripts sent to SCC Transcript Office.
Provide contact information for three professional references who can complete a recommendation form on your behalf.
Provide documentation of 40 hours as a volunteer and/or employee in a patient care setting and 10 of those hours much be completed in echocardiography/sonography.
Complete an interview with the selection committee.
Complete a clear national background check after being accepted into the program.
Sign the consent and release for authorizing SCC to perform a 10-panel drug screening required after being accepted into the program.

Where to start?

Contact one of these three designated guidance counselors for prerequisite and course transfer questions
Contact: Callie Layman 509-533-8449 | Bill Rambo 509-533-7038 | Megan Fadeley 509-533-7039

Program start: Fall (competitive entry)
Pre-requisites: Yes
Program length: 7 quarters
Number of students each start: 16
Applications deadline: June 30

If you are not a current or recent student at Spokane Community College, apply for admission to the college first.

Apply to SCC

In addition to the general college application, submit the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Application by the June 30 deadline to be considered for Fall 2026.

Candidates with a complete application will be invited to interview on Campus July 23 & 24th; please plan to be available.

DMS Application

Volunteer/Work Hours Form

If you’ve previously applied to another competitive healthcare program using our online portal, login to your existing account.

Accreditation

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, Florida, 33775-7709
Phone: 727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

JRC-DMS

6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 443-973-3251
Fax: 866-738-3444
www.jrcdms.org/

What You’ll Learn

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway

Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Program Map for

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Total Credits:

Total Program Credits:

NOTE: All students must recieve a minimum 2.5 GPA in all support courses

Program Courses

NOTE: You must apply and be accepted into the program before taking the following courses

Career Info and Technical Standards

A clear understanding of a sonographer’s role will help an applicant inventory their personal mental and physical abilities to ensure success in their new career. Here a few important topics taken directly from the occupational summary for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at O*NET OnLine.
Anyone interested in Diagnostic Medical Sonography as a career are encouraged to visit this website and other helpful links listed below for more detailed descriptions and additional information.

Tasks	Prepare patient for exam by explaining procedure, transferring patient to ultrasound table, scrubbing skin and applying gel, and positioning patient properly. Operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of the motion, shape, and composition of blood, organs, tissues, or bodily masses, such as fluid accumulations. Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, adjusting equipment as required. Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort. Determine whether scope of exam should be extended, based on findings. Coordinate work with physicians or other healthcare team members, including aiding during invasive procedures. Provide sonogram and oral or written summary of technical findings to physician for use in medical diagnosis. Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling exams or special procedures, keeping records, or archiving computerized images.
Abilities	Oral comprehension – the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Near vision – the ability to see details at close range. Oral expression – the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. Problem sensitivity – the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Written comprehension – the ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine to exact positions
Skills	Active listening – giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Social perceptiveness – being aware of other’ reactions and understanding the way they react as they do. Speaking – talking to others to convey information effectively. Critical thinking – using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Monitoring – monitoring and assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. Active learning – understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. Time management – managing one’s own time and the time of others Coordination – adjusting actions in relation to the actions of others. Complex problem solving – identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. Service Orientation – actively looking for ways to help people

The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography is an organization for sonographers to promote, advance, and educate its members and the medical community about ultrasound application. This website provides a great overview of careers, job posting, and educational opportunities for members.
The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography administers examinations and awards credential in areas of ultrasound. Graduates of the DMS program at SCC are able to take both the Abdomen and OB/GYN registry 60 days prior to graduation.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics website offers in-depth information on the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography including average wages, work environment and more.

Estimated costs for completing this program

Estimated costs for completing this program
Cost Type	WA Resident	Non-Resident	International
Total Costs	$	$	$

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

Cassandra Stein
Noninvasive Cardiov Techno
B.S., Oregon Institute of Technology
Cassandra.Stein@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8127

The DMS program goal is to prepare competent entry level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Abdominal-Sonography-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography.

DMS Program Effectiveness Data

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Leslie Plum

Workforce Transition Specialist

Academic Counseling

counseling@scc.spokane.edu

509-533-7264