Frequently asked questions for Diagnostic Medical Sonography:

Question 1:  What is a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?
Answer:  A Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a skilled clinician who performs diagnostic medical ultrasound studies as ordered by physicians for the welfare of their patients.  Sonographers create images of various structures inside the human body using specialized equipment.  Physicians then use these images to formulate a medical diagnosis.  Sonographers are compassionate people who interact with patients that range from relatively healthy to extremely ill.  If you are interested in providing quality care for patients with varying degrees of illness, then Diagnostic Medical Sonography may be the career for you.  This video will tell you more about the profession.

 

Question 2:   What are the requirements to get into the program?
Answer:    It is required that the applicant be able to document a minimum of a two year course of study in a patient-care related health science field that leads to Registry, Licensure or Certification.  Students are admitted based on a point system that gives preference to Radiologic Technologists.  If not enough Radiologic Technologists apply to fill the 15 seats/year, then Registered Nurses, Physical Therapy Professionals, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, M.D.'s or D.O.'s from the United States or elsewhere, and a variety of other health professionals are admitted, providing they can document the two year course of study required.  The required health science background does not have to be in a College, therefore, one does not have to hold a degree to be admitted.  Students may be a graduate of a hospital based or an unaccredited health science program.  All students must have a 2.5 or better grade point average to be eligible for admission. 

Students with a Bachelors degree (BA or BS) in any field are eligible if health science professionals do not fill the seats.  Bachelor degree students must have completed a direct patient care course, Medical Terminology, General Physics with Lab, as well as Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs in order to be admitted in to the program.  Associate degree students are not eligible for admission into the program unless their degree is in an accepted health related field.

Question 3:   What type of degree do I receive?

Answer:   You will be awarded an Associate of Science degree upon completion of the 2 year program.

 

Question 4:   Should I submit my application by a certain date?
Answer:  For exact time frames for the application period, check on the Health Science Admissions web page. Confirmation of a student’s acceptance into the program is confirmed after the deadline for applications and review of the applicant pool is completed. Admission is limited to available seats in the program.  

Question 5:  When does the program begin?
Answer:   Each new class starts in January

Question 6:   What is the length of the program?

Answer:   The program is six (6) semesters in length. It is considered a two-year curriculum.

Question 7:  What are the hours of study?
Answer: A typical semester involves two full days of class and three eight-hour clinic days.   This is a full-time day program approximately 38 hours per week.  There are some variations in hours during some semesters.  For example, the first six week Summer term is part-time with one full day and two half days.  The last six weeks of the Certificate program is four eight hour clinic days with no class, and the Degree programs (Echocardiography) require one day of class and three days of clinical practice.

Question 8:  Where are classes held?
Answer: Sonography courses are held at the Coconut Creek Broward College Campus (North).  General education courses (any course without a SON prefix) are taught at varied times (days, evenings, weekends) at all campus locations.   

Question 9:  Is there a waiting list for admission?
Answer:   No.  We do not keep a waiting list.  Students are admitted each year based on the amount of admission points they are awarded.  The 15 students with the highest amount of points are accepted into the program (see admission section).  In the event an applicant does not get into the June class of the year he/she applies, they can reapply for admission into the next year’s class.

Question 10:   How many credits are in the program?

Answer:   You must complete - with a grade of "C" or above - 72 credits to be awarded the AS degree.

 

Question 11:   Is financial assistance available?

Answer:   Yes. The Student Financial Services office located on each campus can offer financial counseling to you and may be able to provide needed funds. Sponsorship opportunities are also available in which a local hospital will pay your tuition and costs in return for service after graduation.

 

Question 12:   What is the approximate total cost of the program - including tuition, books, uniforms, etc.?

Answer:   The total cost of the program is approximately $9,198.82 for residents and $24,948.82 for out-of-state applicants.

 

Question 13:  Are uniforms required?

Answer:   There is a required lab uniform for all laboratory sessions which is available for purchase at the bookstore. Prior to attending clinical practicums, you will be required to purchase uniforms which will be available through the College bookstores.

 

Question 14:  Will I be attending clinical rotations in local hospitals or other health care agencies as part of my course requirements?

Answer:    Yes. As part of the clinical practicum phase of the curriculum, you will be required to attend several clinical rotations. Clinical Education is provided in many locations in Broward County, and the Clinical site is assigned by the program officials based on student experiences obtained at the clinical sites.  Students rotate to a different clinical site each semester.

 

Question 15:   Do I need to take a registry examination after I graduate?

Answer:   Although the State of Florida does not require a Sonographer be registered, it is highly recommended that the student become registered because many employers require it.  Historically, the program has exceeded the national average with regard to pass rates on the licensing examination.  

 

Question 16:   How does the current job market look?

Answer:  There are definite signs of improvement in the job outlook for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.  Although Federal legislation that imposed limitations on reimbursement for ultrasound services had an initial adverse effect of the job market, the US Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics now indicates that "Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to increase by about 18% through 2018 - faster than the average for all occupations.  As the population continues to age, there will be an increasing demand for diagnostic imaging.  Additional job growth is expected as healthcare providers increasingly utilize ultrasound imaging as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to radiological procedures."

Question 17:  What salary can I expect after I graduate?

Answer:   Salaries range from $50,000 to $61,000 annually for the new graduate.

 

Question 18:   Is the program accredited?

Answer:   The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program offered by Broward College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Allied Health Education Program  CAAHEP).  The current accreditation period extends through to 2010. Additional information regarding accreditation can be found at http://www.caahep.org  

 

Question 19:   Who can I contact for additional information?

Answer:   For information on the Broward Site, contact:

Karen Hoban, Program Manager
Broward College
North Campus, Building 41
khoban@broward.edu  

 

Question 20:   Does the program provide job placement services?

Answer:   No. The program does not offer any type of job placement service.