Sonography (Ultrasound / Diagnostic Medical) - Certificate
Questions / More Information
(423) 697-4450 | Request Information
Deadline Dates
Program Admission
Information Sessions - Sonography
The Sonography Programs at Chattanooga State Community College are full-time, 12-month programs intended to create competent entry level sonographers who are prepared for specialty examinations as well as daily clinical responsibilities. Both programs (General concentration and Cardiovascular concentration) are currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). In 2025, a general cohort will be selected and classes begin during the summer semester (May 12, 2025). Historically, the program rotates between offering the general sonography program and offering the cardiovascular program. All courses are taught by instructors credentialed, licensed, or certified in the area of specialty.
Upon completion of the general sonography program, the graduate will be eligible and encouraged to take professional certification examinations offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), including but not limited to the specialty categories of Abdomen (AB), Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN), and Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI). Graduates passing the SPI in addition to either the AB or OB/GYN exam(s) will earn the Registered Diagnostic Sonographer (RDMS) credential. Students may register for these exams 60-days prior to graduation.
Program Requirements
To be considered eligible for application, applicants must satisfy all the requirements below:
- Completed application and acceptance to Chattanooga State Community College
- Degree Requirement
- Option 1) -
An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in a Health Sciences area that is patient‐care related with clinical rotations. Including but not limited to Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Medical Coding and Billing, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Nursing, Paramedic, Occupational/Physical Therapy Assistant, Ophthalmic Medical Technician, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, Sleep Diagnostics Technology, Surgical Tech, or Veterinary Technology.
- Option 2) -
A bachelor’s degree of any kind
- Option 1) -
- Complete all prerequisite courses by May of your intended application year
A letter grade of a “C” or higher is required to be considered competitive- Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- Medical Terminology
- Survey of Physics or Principles of Radiation Physics
- College Algebra, Pre-calculus Algebra, or Statistics
- Completion and on time submission of all required application document
Accreditation
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Cardiovascular Sonography programs are accredited by: The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
CAAHEP
9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 3775
(727) 210-2350
http://www.caahep.org
JRC-DMS
6201 University Blvd, Ste. 500
Elliott City, MD 21043
(443) 973-3251
http://www.jrcdms.org
Mission
The mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Chattanooga State Community College is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations:
Abdominal Sonography-Extended
Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography
This includes equipping students to:
- Demonstrate knowledge in appropriate didactic areas
- Integrate knowledge into competency-based clinical experience
- Apply skills to exceed the standards of the profession
- Analyze clinical data
- Write effectively in more than one format as part of the writing across the professional curriculum initiative
- Provide excellent quality care to enrich and support the community through active engagement
- Engage and maintain personal and professional relationships
This program provides students with the opportunity to develop the technical knowledge and personal skills necessary for a career in the sonographic sciences. The curriculum is designed to combine compassion with integrity in order to shape a student into a skilled professional.
Program Outcomes
Click Here: Program Effectiveness Data
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers includes a wide array of possibilities. Sonographers may be employed in hospitals, clinics, private offices, or work as educators, researchers, and administrators. The demand for registered sonographers continues to exceed the supply, and sonography has become a beneficial skill in the multi-modality health care environment. Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 11% increase in the number of diagnostic medical sonography jobs from 2023 – 2033. In 2023, the national median salary of a diagnostic medical sonographer was $80,850 annually, or $38.87 per hour. In Tennessee, the rates were slightly lower, with a median salary of $72,940 annually or $35.07 an hour.
Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median salary of a sonographer at $72,510, supply and demand ratios always impact salaries, depending upon experience, job description and geographic location.
Program Cost
| First Semester (16 hours) (fall) | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Fee | 2363.00 | 9199.00 |
| Nursing/Allied Health Fees | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Truescreen: myRecord Tracker Fee: | 17.50 | 17.50 |
| Upload documentation for: | ||
| Physical Examination (estimate) | 300.00 | 300.00 |
| Hepatitis B (estimate) | 175.00 | 175.00 |
| Liability Insurance | 11.05 | 11.05 |
| CPR (estimate) | 25.00 | 25.00 |
| Truescreen Criminal Background Check | 24.50 | 24.50 |
| Truescreen Drug Screening (12 panel) | 39.00 | 39.00 |
| Textbooks (estimate) | 650.00 | 650.00 |
| National U/S Society & Local U/S Society Fees | 45.00 | 45.00 |
| Second Semester (16 hours) (spring) | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Fee | 2363.00 | 9199.00 |
| Nursing/Allied Health Fees | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Textbooks (estimate) | 50.00 | 50.00 |
| Third Semester (16 hours) (summer) | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Fee | 2363.00 | 9199.00 |
| Nursing/Allied Health Fees | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Textbooks (estimate) | 140.00 | 140.00 |
| ARDMS Exam Registrations (SPI + 2 specialty exams) | 725.00 | 725.00 |
Costs Disclaimer
These are estimated program costs. Actual costs may vary due to changes in tuition and/or fee increases as determined by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Note: College fees are included in the maintenance cost. To view current calculation table, go to Bursar’s Office on Chattanooga State website. This website will also give you information on refund policies, fee payments and the refund calendar.
This list does not include expenses for lodging and other expenses incurred during class scheduled times. Students are responsible for the cost of uniforms/lab coats for clinic.