Ultrasound Technician Schools in Pennsylvania

Community College of Allegheny County – Boyce Campus

Students completing an Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography at CCAC have a choice of three tracts: General sonography (which includes abdominal and Ob/Gyn sonography); Cardiac ultrasound; and Vascular ultrasound. All three tracts are CAAHEP accredited. They require between a minimum of 74 and 77 credits to complete.

Prerequisites: Successful completion (C of better) of several 100 level math, science, and biology courses are required before admittance. It is also recommended that the applicant has job shadowed in an ultrasound department before applying. Full list of prerequistes can be found here: https://catalog.ccac.edu/content.php?catoid=7&navoid=947.

Students interested in applying should complete the USA assessment test prior to completing the required pre-coursework. More information can be found by calling the testing company at 972-564-3056.

Tuition cost: Allegheny County residents pay $116.00 per credit, not including fees.

Program Website: Community College of Allegheny County – Boyce Campus

Crozer-Chester Medical Center

Students will either complete a bachelor’s degree or post-baccalaureate certificate from Widener or their home-institution. General education courses will be completed at Widener University, while coursework pertaining to DMS will be completed at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Full time attendance is required, with a five-semester time period given for DMS certificate completion. A grade of B is required in all classes in order to remain in the program. Re-admittance is not allowed.

Program goals and learning outcomes: Can be found here.
Widener University

Program website: https://www.crozerkeystone.org/academics/medical-education-allied-health/widener-crozer-diagnostic-medical-sonography-program/program-overview/

Great Lakes Institute of Technology

The program at GLIT is intended for those with no background experience in sonography. “Graduates of the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) program who are professionally credentialed as a DMS through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) will be accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging Sciences degree program at Clarion as a degree completion program. Such individuals will be awarded 60 block-style clinical credits by Clarion within the degree program and then must complete all other academic requirements at Clarion in order to be awarded the degree.”

Admissions requirements: A full list of requirements from GLIT can be found at https://glit.edu/admissions.

Program website: https://www.glit.edu/training-programs/diagnostic-medical-sonographer

Harrisburg Area Community College

Students at HACC have the opportunity to earn an Associate of Science degree in General sonography. Successful completion of the program gives students the opportunity to sit for the SP&I, Abdomen, and Ob/Gyn sonography exams from the ARDMS and earn the RDMS credential.

Program length: 69 credits with full-time attendance, including classroom and clinical instruction.
Estimated program cost: Between $21,545 and $24,771. Full cost estimates can be found here.
Admissions criteria: HACC has created a downloadable PDF that with all the requirements.

Program website: https://www.hacc.edu/ProgramsandCo

urses/Programs/HealthCareers/Diagnostic-Medical-Sonographer.cfm

Lackawanna College

Lackawanna College has CAAHEP accredited programs in General, Vascular, and Cardiac sonography. Students can earn an Associate of Science degree in one of the disciplines over a two year period of full time attendance. Classes are required Monday through Friday, with mandatory Saturdays and Summer courses and clinicals.

Admissions: A maximum of 20 students are accepted into the general program, and 25 for vascular and cardiac. Not all who apply are accepted.
Application packet: A downloadable PDF can be found here.
Tuition: $535 per credit.

Program website: https://www.lackawanna.edu/academics/allied-health-programs/sonography/

Misericordia University

Misericordia offers an 18-month DMS certificate geared towards adult and non-traditional learners. Courses are offered every other weekend with weekday clinical rotations.

Instruction is supplemented with simulated lab experiences that are available in the daytime and evening hours. Graduates with receive a certificate of completion with allows them to sit for the ARDMS SP&I, abdominal, and ObGyn sonography exams.

Clinical education: Clinical sites may be located up to 90 miles away, with transportation the responsibility of the student.
Tuition: Full tuition information can be found at https://www.misericordia.edu/page.cfm?p=2108.
Application: Create an account and begin the online application process here.

Program website: https://www.misericordia.edu/page.cfm?p=1811

Mount Aloysius College

Students at Mount Aloysius have the opportunity to pursue either an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree in DMS, depending on their career coals. The CAAHEP accredited Associate’s will prepare the ultrasound technician to sit for the ARDMS exams, with access to state of the art equipment and labs. The Bachelor’s program will build on the learned outcomes of the Associate’s, with the addition of the business and management side of medical imaging.

Tuition: Tuition breakdown and financial aid information can be found at the following address: https://www.mtaloy.edu/admissions/tuition-fees/
Application: A brief, free application can be found here.

Program website: https://www.mtaloy.edu/academics/majors-programs/medical-imaging-ultrasonography/

Northampton Community College

NCC offers an Associate in Applied Science in DMS degree to students who are then eligible to sit for the SP & I exam with the ARDMS. The program is designed for individuals looking to qualify for entry level ultrasound technician positions; a degree in allied health is not needed for acceptance into the program.

Application: The deadline for applying to the sonography program is February 1st of each year.
Program length: The Associate’s degree program is 24-months long and begins in the Fall each year.
Clinicals: There are approximately 1560 clinical hours required. Locations to complete the clinicals are throughout the Lehigh Valley, Poconos, Bucks County, and New Jersey.

Program website: http://northampton.smartcatalogiq.com/2019-2020/College-Catalog/Academic-Programs/Health-Sciences-and-Social-Services/Diagnostic-Medical-Sonography-Associate-in-Applied-Science

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Pac College has a state of the art simulation facility for students to learn first-hand, real-world scanning skills. They offer a DMS Associate of Science degree, which is a two-year, 66 credit program. They also have a certificate program that is available to students who currently hold an associate’s degree or higher.

Prerequisites: Applicants must have completed several courses English, math, and science with a grace of C or better. Find a full list of requirements at https://www.pacollege.edu/admissions/requirements/.
Tuition: Undergraduate tuition is $610 per credit hour. The program fee for the general sonography program is $5,200.

Program website: https://www.pacollege.edu/academics/associate-degrees/diagnostic-medical-sonography-associate-degree/

Pittsburgh Career Institute

Earn your AAS at PCI and you’ll be prepared to take the SP&I exam from the ARDMS. Graduates will learn to perform ultrasounds on the abdomen, pelvis, pregnant female pelvis, and superficial structures, and will be equipped for entry-level sonography jobs. The program has been accredited by the CAAHEP for General sonography.

Program length: This is a two-year, full time program. Classes and clinicals are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday.
Admissions and requirements: PCI has provided a free, downloadable student handbook.

Program website: https://pci.edu/diagnostic-medical-sonography

South Hills School of Business and Technology

South Hills was first accredited by the CAAHEP in 2009. They currently offer three different accredited sonography programs: a 3-year Associate in Specialized Technology Degree Program; a 2-year Diagnostic Medical Sonography Professional Plus (DPP); and a 15-month Diagnostic Medical Sonography Professional (DMP).

🗣 Read our full interview with Program Director, Tricia Turner

“Our school has invested time and money for the resources our students need to succeed. SHS has several pieces of current ultrasound equipment with five professional Sonographers as faculty members. Our students acquire hours of hands-on experience prior to being placed on internship. They are comfortable with protocols and scanning normal anatomy so when they attend their clinical, from the very first day, they appreciate and recognize what the sonographers are scanning. We also offer internships at numerous sites that provide high quality sonography experience.“

Tricia Turner BS, RDMS, RVT, South Hills DMS Program Director

Application: Students apply online at http://www.southhills.edu/application/.

Program website: http://www.southhills.edu/programs/diagnostic-medical-sonography/

Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University received their CAAHEP accreditation in 1986 for their General sonography program. They now offer bachelor’s degrees in general, vascular, and cardiac sonography. The stated mission of the program is “…to provide a comprehensive education preparing students for entry-level practice in Sonography as competent, caring members of the health care team, cultivating professionalism and life-long learning.“

Program options: TJU offers pre-professional and professional BS programs. Learn more at https://www.jefferson.edu/university/health-professions/departments/programs/health-sciences-programs/faqs.html.

Westmoreland County Community College

The accredited sonography program at Westmoreland is an Associate in Science degree. Graduates will be prepared to take the ARDMS certification exam and will be eligible for entry-level ultrasound technician jobs.

Application process: Applications must be submitted by January 12 for a Fall start.
Program length: Two years of full-time attendance

Program website: https://westmoreland.edu/academics/programs/diagnostic-medical-sonography.html