Program Requirements

Sonographers are health professionals that use high frequency sound (ultrasound) to produce dynamic visual images of organs, structures, and blood vessels of the body to assist physicians in making a diagnosis. Sonographers have extensive and direct patient contact including working with patients with communicable disease. They must be able to interact appropriately with a patient population that will vary from healthy individuals to those that are critically ill.

Sonographer responsibilities include (but are not limited to): obtaining an accurate patient history, analyzing technical information during the exam, exercising judgment concerning the quality and extent of the exam, producing a written or oral technical report for the interpreting physician, and communicating clearly with the patient and/or patient’s family before, during, and after the sonogram.

In summary, developing competence as a sonographer requires

fine motor skills
strong hand/eye coordination
the ability to think in 3-dimensions while using a 2-dimensional imaging modality
visual acuity to appreciate subtle changes/movements in imaged tissues
the ability to apply didactic education to the clinical setting
demonstration of highly effective communication skills at all times and instances
a solid grounding in basic anatomy and physiology, physics, medical terminology, patient care, algebra, English composition, communications, psychology, pathophysiology
successful completion of courses in normal and abnormal sonographic appearances, sonographic techniques and procedures, ultrasound physics (including Doppler and hemodynamics), advanced sonographic practices, and clinical experience where scanning skills, ability to function in the clinical setting, and application of classroom education is assessed

Sonography Application Requirements

ALL Sonography program applicants must meet the same requirements. All students must complete the Health Sciences pre-admission process, including all prerequisites and other requirements, before applying to any program. Not an ACC Student? Apply!

First:

Review the entire Sonography website

Next:

Complete the Sonography Information Session (on-line or on-campus: Information session). This information session is a requirement of the application process for Sonography. You will need the information from this session to begin your Application Process for an ACC Sonography Program.

Schedule Your Sonography Lab Volunteer Sessions – DO NOT DELAY beginning your volunteer sessions.

Serve as the “patient” for the DMS and DCS student labs (1 volunteer session for each lab is required of all applicants); you may begin to volunteer at any time in the application process. Points (1 point/volunteer session) will be assigned on the Sonography Applicant Ranking Worksheet. Contact 512.223.5945 to schedule your appointments (labs are held each semester and at a variety of times).

HOBET: Take the HOBET (Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test) as soon as possible. You may take the exam up to three times and submit your highest score report with your application. Contact the ACC Assessment Center at 512.223.7769 to schedule your exam. Points are assigned on the Sonography Applicant Ranking Worksheet relative to Your Composite Final Score.

Complete your minimum Patient Care Education (complete the CNA courses, you are NOT required to take the certification exam to apply for a Sonography Program) requirement as soon as possible. The CNA course is NOT required if you hold a credential as one or more of the following: Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Radiologic Technologist (RT-R), Paramedic, EMT-Basic, Respiratory Therapist or Surgical Technologist.

Follow the Application Process. ALL Sonography Program pre-requisite college courses and other requirements MUST be completed prior to applying for admission. No exceptions are made for any applicant.

Technical Standards and Essential Functions

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Those who apply for admission to a Sonography Program must meet all the requirements found in the Sonography Application Process, including the Health Sciences requirements for immunizations.

Patient Care Education

Minimum of Certified Nurse Aide course - Contact the ACC Continuing Education Division for information. Note: Those with EMT-Basic, Paramedic, Radiologic Technologist, RN, LVN, Surgical Technologist, and Respiratory Therapist credentials are awarded additional points on the Sonography Applicant Ranking Worksheet.

Those admitted to an ACC Sonography Program must the complete the criminal background check required of all ACC Health Science students, must provide proof of current CPR (American Heart Association Health Care Provider course) and must obtain a physical exam including a negative TB test result; due dates for these requirements are provided to new students in the letter of conditional acceptance.

Additional Program Requirements

Clinical Assignments

A Sonography student will be assigned to a variety of clinical sites utilized by the Program and must have transportation to all assigned sites. Sonography clinical sites are located in hospitals and physician office practices in Austin (various locations), San Marcos, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Killeen, Temple, Waco, and San Antonio (DCS program only). A student my not request assignment to a particular site for any reason.

Computer Access/Email

All students must be able to access the ACC online teaching platform, Blackboard, and must be accessible via an electronic mail address. Students may utilize any of the computers on any ACC campus to create and check their email accounts and to access Blackboard. Blackboard and email accounts should be checked frequently for assignments, announcements and/or messages. Students are responsible for keeping email addresses current by updating their Blackboard Personal Information as needed.

Computer Skills

Sonography students are required to demonstrate a variety of computer skills throughout the length of the program. Students are required to access the Internet and perform Web searches, submit all writing assignments as Word documents, and access and utilize the College on-line teaching platform, Blackboard. Students may be required to develop charts and tables, Power Point presentations, etc. for specific courses (refer to course syllabus for assignments). In addition, all Sonography clinical sites utilize computer systems for patient schedules and patient information; all Sonography students must be able to utilize any clinical site’s data/patient management system as allowed by the clinical site.

A student who is unfamiliar with using a computer or who has limited computer skills is expected to seek instruction in computer programs and usage so that he/she will be able to meet the requirements of his/her courses.

Pregnancy Policy

Please the Sonography Student Handbook for this information:

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