Nurses, doctors and sonographers work together to correctly diagnose surgery patients.
There is only one school in Washington, D.C., that offers a degree or certificate in medical sonography. However, the D.C.-Maryland metro area presents more options for schools that offer sonography programs. Employers hire graduates from accredited undergraduate programs and certificate programs; graduates are expected to pass the state registration exam. Certificate program graduates must gain externship experience. The programs at the following schools range from offering a bachelor's degree to a training certificate for students interested in pursuing a career in this field.
Washington, D.C.
George Washington University is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. It is the first university in the D.C. area to offer a bachelor's of science degree in general, cardiac or vascular sonography. Students in the bachelor's program take coursework in all three areas of sonography, focusing on one or two areas for their clinical rotations. A year before graduating, students are eligible to sit for the American Registry of diagnostic medical sonography accreditation exam. George Washington University also offers certification in all three areas of sonography. Students attend the program full-time for four semesters. Interested students must have 60 credit hours of approved college classes as a prerequisite for acceptance into the program. There are six clinical practice areas to choose from, three single certificate programs and three dual degree programs. The single certificate programs are worth 33 credit hours and the dual degree certificate programs are 44 credit hours. For example, a student can study for an echocardiology certificate or a cardiac and vascular sonography certificate.
Landover, Maryland
Sanford-Brown College in Landover, Maryland, offers a certificate in diagnostic sonography. The program is comprised of lectures and interactive laboratories. Students are required to complete four externships which are supervised by medical professionals in the field of sonography. The program is 74 credit hours, 1,860 contact hours and 160 externship hours. Graduates often receive jobs as assistant medical sonographers at hospitals and patient care facilities.
Baltimore, Maryland
The University of Maryland Baltimore Training Center offers an accelerated non-credit certificate in sonography. A student can complete the program in 13.5 months in the areas of Cardiac, Vascular or General Sonography. The sonography program is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Interested students must have 60 credit hours of approved college courses, with a grade of a C or better in each class, to apply to the program.
Takoma Park/Silver Spring Maryland
Montgomery College offers an associate of science degree and certificate in medical sonography. Both programs are accredited by the CAAHEP. Students in the associate's program must maintain CPR certification while enrolled in the program and must take required general courses to be admitted into the program. The certificate program is designed for health care workers and AMA medical program graduates. The associate's program prepares students in all three areas of sonography. Students in the certificate program must choose one of the three areas to concentrate in.
Tags: credit hours, certificate programs, three areas, areas sonography, degree certificate, medical sonography, program must
