Many potential sonography students expect that a career in ultrasound is the imaging of pregnant woman, but that's just one part of the field. Advances in technology allow hospitals and imaging departments to use sonography as a diagnostic tool in many areas of medicine, including abdominal organs, gynecology, obstetrics, male reproductive systems, pediatrics, and neurosonography.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program at Greenville Technical College is demanding and well-respected, offering a seven-semester associate degree program to prepare graduates for entry-level positions as diagnostic medical sonographers. Hands-on learning takes place in the college's Ultrasound Clinic, located on the Barton Campus, and students are required to complete supervised clinical placements at imaging facilities.
If you're seeking a career in a high-demand field, we can help make your education even more affordable.
The Career Pathways Scholarship may cover the cost of tuition, fees and books if you're enrolled in a qualifying program at GTC.
Please note: Pre-Health Sciences students who are currently enrolled as Associate in Science students are not eligible for the scholarship until they are accepted and enrolled into the School of Health Sciences program they have selected.
Graduates of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program may be offered employment in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, and outpatient imaging centers. Experienced sonographers can advance to administrative, teaching, research, or sales positions as well as specialized concentrations within the profession.
National Outlook
National career information for careers in the field of medical imaging is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THE PROGRAM
Experienced, practicing sonographers and other health science professionals at Greenville Technical College deliver didactic and clinical instruction in:
Didactic courses are taught on the Barton campus, and the competency-based clinical education course provides over 1,000 contact hours of supervised clinical instruction at various clinical affiliates located throughout the Upstate of South Carolina and Western North Carolina, often available at an affiliated facility close to the student's home.
Qualified students are eligible to participate in Lambda Nu, a national honor society for radiologic and imaging sciences.
IS SONOGRAPHY RIGHT FOR YOU?
Sonography is a highly technical career that is best suited to individuals who are self-directed and motivated in the areas of technology and patient care.
Students interested in a career in medical imaging sciences are encouraged to obtain a strong background in high school sciences (such as biology, chemistry, physics) and math (algebra and geometry).
Sonographers must
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 113th St N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
mail@caahep.org
Professional Credentials
RDMS: Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (subject to passing national certification exam)
Certification is considered the standard of practice in ultrasound. Students who graduate from our program can obtain national certification. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) examinations in the areas of
To obtain the RDMS credential, an individual must pass the Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation Examination in addition to at least one other part.
Professional Licensure and Certification Requirements
Students who are considering an academic program that may allow them to pursue professional licensure in another state are strongly encouraged to check that state’s information and contact the appropriate licensing agency for additional information and guidance before beginning the program.
Greenville Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Questions about the accreditation of Greenville Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Associate in Applied Science
This seven-semester program is designed as a two-phase college program where:
Phase I involves completing prerequisites
Phase II involves core didactic instruction related to the degree
Click the program below to view the ideal grouping of courses in order by semester. This plan assumes a full-time schedule. Note, however, that many variables can affect this plan, and not every course is offered every semester. Please see your advisor to map out your own personalized progression toward graduation.
In addition to the Greenville Technical College admissions process, outlined in these Enrollment Steps, students interested in the DMS program must also
The DMS program strictly adheres to all the School of Health Sciences policies, which are detailed on the Health Sciences admissions information page.
Participating in a Career Talk session for your program is a requirement for all Health Sciences students. Career Talk is an information session that covers all program information, the admissions process and all aspects of the career. Due to the complex nature of the weighted admissions process, students are encouraged to review the career talk as soon as they have an interest in the program to make sure they have a clear understanding of the career and the acceptance process. The Career Talk is required and it expires after 12 months.
Access the DMS Career Talk (pdf) »
The application submission process for GTC's DMS program is fully electronic. The electronic application will only be accessible during the application acceptance period of Jan 1 - May 1. Applications are not accepted during any other timeframe. Questions related to the Weighted Admission process may be directed to DMSadmissions@gvltec.edu.
The DMS program is designed as a two phase program, where Phase I includes your general education and related courses, which may be taken at Greenville Technical College or any articulating college.
Upon successful completion of Phase I, qualified students are eligible to apply to Phase II, which includes academic and clinical instruction.
Admission into the Greenville Technical College DMS program Phase I does not guarantee admission into Phase II of the program. Phase II admission is competitive, based on weighted admission scores and the relative scores of the applicant pool each year.
| Additional Expense | Reason for Additional Expense | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Textbooks: All DMS courses | Required for DMS courses. | $800.00 |
| Registry exam: Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation (Physics) | Certification is required for employment. | $275.00 |
| Registry exam: Abdomen | Certification is required for employment. | $300.00 |
| Registry exam: OB/GYN | Certification is required for employment. | $300.00 |
| Scrubs (scrub top and pants- minimum three sets) | Required for clinical rotations. | $150.00 (estimate) |
| Scrub jacket | Recommended but not required | $30.00 (estimate) |
| Leather Shoes for Clinic (one pair) | Required for clinical rotations. | $100.00 (estimate) |
| Physical | Required for clinical rotations. | $200.00 (estimate) |
| Immunizations: 2-step PPD Tdap Varicella MMR Flu Hep B (optional) Covid-19 (optional) |
Required for clinical rotations. Students may need the immunization or titers drawn to prove immunity. The cost will vary based on needed immunizations. | $150 (min) to $900 (max), estimates based on Minute Clinic prices. |
| Criminal Background Check | Required for clinical rotations. | $84.81 |
| Drug test | Required for clinical rotations. | $62.75 |
| CPR (Certification through the American Heart Association) | Required for clinical rotations. | $50 |
| Passport | Required for clinical rotations. | $15.00 |
| Trajecsys access (Online, cloud-based clinical record-keeping system) |
Required for clinical rotations. | $150.00 |
| Additional Liability Insurance 1,000,000/3,000,000 policy | Some clinical sites require students to purchase additional liability insurance. | $42.00 (estimate) |
| Total: | $2709.56 (min) $3609.56 (max) estimates |
DMS Program Mission:
The mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is to meet the needs of the area by providing a pool of qualified graduates for entry level positions in sonography
DMS Program Outcomes as required by CAAHEP
In compliance with the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Professions (CAAHEP) Standard V.A.4. Fair Practices, Publications and Disclosures: all accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs must publish their Attrition, Job Placement and Credential Success Rates.
Program GoalsTo prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the abdominal-extended and obstetrics and gynecology sonography concentrations.
DMS Program Policy Manual
Academic Program Director
Ronda Nicholson
Ronda.Nicholson@gvltec.edu
864-250-8110
Administrative Assistant
DMSadmissions@gvltec.edu
Director of Clinical Education
Beth Darby
Beth.Darby@gvltec.edu
864-250-8328