Program Details
Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Associate of Applied SciencePiedmont Virginia Community College
The two-year associate degree in sonography is designed to provide a quality entry-level education in the cognitice (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains through a competency-based clinical and didactic instructional curriculum in diagnostic sonography. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonogrpahy exam or the American Registry of Radiolgoic Technologists (ARRT) sonography exam. Hospitals remain the primary employer of sonographers, but there are increasing numbers of jobs available in physician offices, outpatient surgery centers, and free-standing diagnostic imaging centers. The profession of diagnostic medical sonography includes general sonography (defined as abdomen, obstetric, gynecologic, superficial parts, and other appropriate areas), cardiac sonography, vascular technology, and various other subspecialties. Entry-level sonographers usually work in general and obstetric/gynecologic sonography. With further experience and training, they can move into the other specialties.
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This Degree Right For Me? | This is a competitive admission program with one application deadline per year. |
| What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses |
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| Are there other program requirements beyond specific courses? | |
| Do More With Your Degree | |
| Program Successes & Highlights | 100% graduation rate in 2021 of students in DMS cohort. |
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Prior completion of any associate degree or higher waives the SDV 100 requirement. All courses are evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | https://www.pvcc.edu/admissions/credit-non-traditional-learning |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Abdominal Sonography-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography Specialization, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Echocardiography Specialization, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Vascular Sonography Specialization, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29-2032.00 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
| 25-1071.00 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |