The field of diagnostic medical sonography is growing rapidly, particularly in California, which employs more sonographers than any other state. If you’ve been considering pursuing a career as an ultrasound technician, we’ve provided the information necessary to research the field and learn what a sonographer does, what the requirements are, and how to choose a program.
How to Become an Ultrasound Tech in California
Key Takeaways
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Choose an accredited ultrasound program If possible, select a program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This will ensure that the program meets or exceeds industry standards. California has 12 schools across the state that have received this recognition.
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Get your degree You will need to have a minimum of an Associate of Science degree in DMS. There are accelerated certificate programs for those who meet the educational or experiential prerequisites, and some schools offer Bachelor’s degrees.
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Receive your credentials Most employers will require that you have your RDMS credential. Graduating from a program that has been accredited by the CAAHEP will qualify you to sit for their exams.
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Find Student Scholarships There are numerous state, local, and school-funded scholarships for students to apply for.
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See How Much You Can Earn in California California is the highest paying state in the nation for sonographers. The mean annual wage is $118,950.
Connect with Educational Programs near You
Explore options in Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, and more across California.
Why is it Important to Choose a CAAHEP Accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program?
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing where to pursue your sonography degree in California is the accreditation of the program. A school or program becomes accredited when they have undergone rigorous review from a reputable outside agency in order to ensure that the quality of education meets identified standards.
For the field of sonography and medical imaging, the primary and most widely recognized accreditation agency is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
If you’re currently enrolled in or have been accepted to a CAAHEP accredited program, you’re also eligible to apply for the UltrasoundSchoolsInfo $1,000 scholarship. Click here to learn more.
CAAHEP Accredited Sonography Programs in California for 2025
The following colleges in California all offer sonography certificate or degree programs that have been accredited by the CAAHEP, as of May 2025:
CBD College
Location:
3699 Wilshire Blvd
4th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Programs Offered: CBD College offers a flexible course of study which can be completed in 22 months. The Associate Degree program is one of the few to offer both day and evening classes, as well as some on-line courses.
Prerequisites: Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. Certain prerequisites courses may be required.
How to Apply: The online application can be found here.
Community Regional Medical Center
Location:
2823 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Programs Offered: The CRMC in Fresno is one of the state’s few hospital-based sonography programs. There are four accredited tracts to choose from: General Sonography, Adult Cardiac Sonography, Pediatric Cardiac Sonography, and Vascular Sonography
Prerequisites: Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree or an Associate Degree in a related field. Click here for the general program’s details and prerequisites
How to Apply: Download the application packet.
Cypress College
Location:
9200 Valley View Street
Cypress, CA 90630
Programs Offered: Cypress College, which was named the #1 community college in California for 2020 by Niche, offers a CAAHEP accredited sonography program on campus.
Prerequisites: The minimum educational standard to apply is a high school diploma or GED, and the applicant must be 18 by the start of their clinical training. Admittance is limited and selective, and is based on a point-system.
How to Apply: All applications must be completed online during the month of February, with materials delivered in-person by March 15th of each year. The DMS Brochure provides more information on applying.
Program Director: Lynn Mitts, M.A., CRT-RF, RT(R), RDMS
Lynn Mitts is the Program Director of Radiologic Technology and Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Cypress College in California. With credentials in radiography and diagnostic medical sonography, she brings decades of experience to her leadership role in medical imaging education.
She offers this advice to students preparing for a career in healthcare:
“You have to have excellent communication skills to work in the health field.”
Foothill College
Location:
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Programs Offered: Foothill College offers an eighteen-month Certificate of Achievement in DMS program, as well as an Associate’s degree program in DMS.
Prerequisites: Applicants must have a minimum of direct patient care experience. This can be met through the completion of a two-year allied health degree program, or through clinical experiences taught in an accredited institution (this qualifier will be approved on an individual basis).
How to Apply: Application information can be found here.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts–San Mateo
Location:
2121 S El Camino Real
Bldg B-220
San Mateo, CA 94403
Programs Offered: A.O.S. in Ultrasound Technology Program
Prerequisites: Applicants are deemed qualified on a point system. The highest-ranked (above a minimum) will be offered seats in the program. The point system is used to evaluate each applicant, showing the maximum achievable score.
How to Apply: Application information can be found here on the school’s website.
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences
Location:
938 Marina Way South
Richmond, CA 94804
Programs Offered: The medical sonography program at Kaiser Permanente is a Bachelor’s of Science program in both general and cardiac concentrations. It requires 18 months of full-time sequential study.
Prerequisites: Applicants must have already completed an Associate’s degree in any discipline, and have at least 8 hours job shadow in a sonography or ultrasound department.
How to Apply: Click here to see the academic catalog to learn more.
Loma Linda University
Location:
11234 Anderson St
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Programs Offered: Loma Linda offers numerous programs in medical imaging at the Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree levels. The Bachelor’s in DMS is a full-time, 27-month program, which includes both classroom and online learning, as well as clinicals. Concentration tracks are available in General, Cardiac, and Vascular sonography.
Prerequisites: They admit 12–24 students each year once they have met the course and degree prerequisites that must be completed within five years of when they submit their application.
How to Apply: Click here to learn more about prerequisites and apply.
Merced College
Location:
3600 M Street
Mailstop 37
Merced, CA 95348
Programs Offered: It is a full-time, five-semester Certificate of Achievement program in General Sonography (Abdomen and Ob/Gyn track).
Prerequisites: Applicants must have an Associate’s in Science degree in a related field, or a Bachelor’s degree with five hundred hours of patient care experience.
How to Apply: More information on prerequisites and the application process can be found on the school’s website.
Mt. San Jacinto College
Location:
28237 La Piedra Road
Menifee, CA 92584
Programs Offered: MSJC’s campus in Menifee offers an Associate’s in Science degree in General DMS.
Prerequisites: Admittance to the program is competitive and is determined by a point-based system. The program will require 5 sequential semesters and full-time attendance.
How to Apply: The DMS brochure provides more information on prerequisites, tuition and fees, admission, and more.
Orange Coast College
Location:
2701 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CA 92628
Programs Offered: Since 1992, students at OCC have had the opportunity to earn an Associate’s degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, which is a full-time, 5-semester program.
Prerequisites: Applicants must complete the Allied Health A010 course at OCC prior to applying to the program.
How to Apply: The DMS catalog and an overview of the program can be found on the school’s website.
Sacramento Ultrasound Institute
Location:
2233 Watt Ave
Sacramento, CA 95825
Programs Offered: This is a 72-week diploma program, with specialties offered in either Abdominal-Extended or ObGyn Sonography.
Prerequisites: Applicants must have an Associate Degree or higher in any discipline, plus certain required prerequisite courses.
How to Apply: Begin the application process here.
University of California San Diego Medical Center
Location:
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103
Programs Offered: The UCSD Medical Center offers a 12-month certificate program in General Sonography and limited Vascular Sonography. There is a heavy focus on clinical training, and students will do clinical rotations 32 hours each week, plus one 8-hour day of classroom instruction. Clinical rotation sites will take place in the San Diego area.
Prerequisites: Prerequisites include either the successful completion of a Radiologic Technology Program and passing the registry exam, or a Bachelor’s degree in any area with certain prerequisite courses. Bachelor’s degree applicants must provide documentation of 80 hours of direct patient contact in a hospital or clinic. Volunteer hours are also acceptable.
How to Apply: The DMS catalog and an overview of the program can be found on the school’s website.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Paying for college is one of the top concerns for many students and their families. Colleges offer merit and needs-based scholarships, as do many private companies and institutions. Financial aid and student loans are available for those who qualify.
If you’re an undocumented student wishing to attend a sonography program in California, it’s especially important to understand your options and know that help is available. You can learn more about the financial assistance available to you from the state of California through the California Dream Act, as well as from many colleges.
Below are some available scholarships in California:
Ultrasound Schools Info
Award: $1,000
Eligibility: Non-renewable scholarship awarded to an aspiring sonographer currently attending or enrolled in a CAAHEP accredited diagnostic medical sonography program.
How to Apply:
Ultrasound Schools InfoAttn: Scholarship Committee
PO Box 3026, Bellingham, WA 98227
Allied Healthcare Scholarship Program
Award: Up to $8,000
Eligibility: Applicant must be currently accepted or enrolled in an allied health program (ex. DMS).
How to Apply: Click here for more information.
eQuality Scholarship
Award: $6,000
Eligibility: eQuality Scholarship Collaborative awards scholarships to honor and encourage California students for their service to the LGBTQ+ community.
How to Apply:
Scholarship CommitteeP.O. Box 191311
San Francisco, CA 94119-1311
California Student Aid Commission
Award: Varies
Eligibility: Variety of scholarships, grants, and financial aid provided by the State of California to eligible students.
How to Apply:
Attn: Program Administration and Services DivisionP.O. Box 419027
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9027
Email: Studentsupport@csac.ca.gov
Phone: (888) CA GRANT
How Much do Ultrasound Techs Make in California?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California is the highest paying state in the country, and has the top 10 highest paying metropolitan areas in the nation. Sonographers in California earn a mean annual salary of $118,95 as of May, 2024. Conditions in your area may vary.
Outpatient care centers pay the highest salaries, while general medical and surgical facilities often offer better benefits packages. Traveling sonographers earn different rates and benefits than those working permanently in one facility. The varying specialties within sonography also open up different avenues for career growth and increasing one’s salary.
Which Areas of California are the Best for Ultrasound Techs?
Where you live affects how much you earn as an ultrasound technician. The table below shows the mean annual salaries across key regions of the state – including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and the Central Valley. You’ll find that most metropolitan and coastal areas in California offer extremely competitive salaries, often above the national average.
| Metropolitan Area | 2024 Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Santa Clara | $161,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland | $148,790 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | $143,680 |
| Vallejo | $152,600 |
| Santa Rosa, Pettaluma | $141,810 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Bay Area Spotlight – A Top DMS Region in California
With a strong network of teaching hospitals and outpatient clinics, the Bay Area offers one of the most dynamic environments for learning diagnostic medical sonography. Students benefit from close access to clinical training sites and competitive job markets in both public and private healthcare systems.
The region consistently ranks among the highest-paying in the U.S. for ultrasound techs — with a 2024 mean salary of $148,790 in the San Francisco–Oakland metro, according to the BLS. Its mix of innovation, patient diversity, and educational infrastructure makes the Bay Area a standout choice for future sonographers.
Ultrasound Tech Certification Requirements in California
Is Certification or Licensure Required?
The state of California does not require that ultrasound technicians become licensed or certified, though your prospective employer likely will.
For sonographers, professional certification comes primarily from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). The only way to earn certification is by taking and passing their exam. Graduates of a program accredited by the CAAHEP will likely take the exam in their senior year or shortly after graduation. You can learn more about their prerequisites by visiting the ARDMS website.
Additional Certification Information
Certification overview
About the ARDMS
Tips on Passing the SPI Exam
Other resources:
