Program Overview
Sonography Program
The sonography program is an 18-month program providing didactic and clinical education in abdominal, obstetrical, and gynecologic specialty areas. The program is a general concentration curriculum with a limited introduction to basic vascular sonography. Clinical education occurs at partnering medical centers and medical offices throughout Northern California. Program participants can expect substantial off-campus study and preparation for classroom lecture and lab exercises. Major holidays are observed and break periods are observed between academic quarters. Annual academic calendars are published in advance.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) national registry examinations in Physics, Abdomen and OB/Gyn.
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Sonographer Duties
Sonographers, also known as ultrasound technologists, use high-frequency sound waves to image organs, masses, and fluid accumulations within the body. An ultrasound image results from the reflection of the sound waves by the body. The images are viewed on a computer screen and may be recorded on film for permanent record and use in interpretation and diagnosis by a physician. The technology is advancing rapidly which requires sonographers to be flexible, adaptable team players who are committed lifelong learners.
The demand for sonographers is increasing, providing numerous employment opportunities for qualified sonographers. Graduates will find work in hospitals, medical clinics, and private offices. Entry salaries range from $30 to $33 per hour.
National certification is available through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). To posses the RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) credential, an individual must pass the Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation examination in addition to at least one of the following specialty exams: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Abdomen, Breast, Neurosonology, or Ophthalmology. Graduating students are eligible to take the Physics and Instrumentation examination as well as the OB/Gyn and Abdomen specialty examinations.
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Program Faculty
| Program Director: |
Carmelo F Fernandez, MD RDMS |
| |
|
Faculty:
Clinical Coordinator |
Debra Crandell, AS, RT, RDMS
Joann Tyler, RDMS, CRT(F)
|
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Prerequisite Requirements
All prerequisite requirements must be completed prior to submitting an application to the program.
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited 18-24 month Allied Health program with current certification/registration in their health specialty. Allied Health occupations include, but are not limited to: Radiologic Technology, Medical Technology, Nursing, and Respiratory Therapy.
- OR -
Applicants can also meet program requirements by completing 60 college credits with a cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.75.
All applicants must complete the following courses with a grade of “C” or better:
- General Physics (college level)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab (college level)
- Algebra (high school level minimum)
- Verbal Communication (college level)
- English Composition (college level)
- Medical Terminology (college level)
The following courses are recommended additional courses:
Note: All foreign diplomas and transcripts must include a notarized translation in English and must be evaluated by a foreign transcript agency prior to submission.
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Physical Requirements
- Stand/walk up to 8 hours during an 8-hour shift.
- Lift/move a maximum of a 290-pound patient in a 2-person/3-person transfer.
- Must be able to operate and manipulate all sonography equipment.
- Reach forward 18 inches holding an object up to 15 pounds.
- Bend, crouch, or stoop 20 times per hour.
- Push a patient in a wheelchair or gurney 300 feet or further, as required by structural design of the building.
- Move loads of up to 45 pounds 25 times per hour.
- Adequately differentiate sonographic images with subtle gray-scale and color distinctions.
- Adequately distinguish audible sounds in a Doppler signal.
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Graduation Requirements
To graduate with a certificate of completion from any of the KPSAHS programs, students are required to successfully complete all didactic and clinical education courses and hours. In addition, all financial obligations to the program must be fulfilled.
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Programmatic Accreditation
The Sonography program has been reviewed by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS) and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
This institution has received full institutional approval to operate from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE). The Bureau has determined that this institution’s operational plan satisfies the minimum standards listed in Education Code Section 94915 (b).
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Please Note: The information provided in this website is subject to change without notice.
