General Sonography

This certificate trains students to become skilled ARDMS dual board-registered diagnostic medical sonographers in Abdomen and OB/GYN specialties.

Students receive training in abdominal, OB/GYN, high-risk maternal fetal medicine, and vascular ultrasound. Students will learn to perform a variety of exams which include abdominal, pelvic, neurology, gynecological/obstetrical ultrasounds, and venous and arterial ultrasounds. Students attend didactic lecture courses, scan lab courses and clinical rotations throughout the 15-month program. Students attend clinical rotations across South Carolina and train in facilities including: Trauma levels I, II and III hospital systems, inpatient and outpatient facilities, outreach facilities, OBGYN and MFM specialty offices, and vascular surgery offices.

The diagnostic medical sonographer is a skilled member of the imaging health care team. The sonographer must possess in-depth knowledge of ultrasonographic physics and human anatomy and pathophysiology. The sonographer's primary job is direct patient care, which necessitates excellent interpersonal skills. Our graduates are able to work in a variety of settings after graduation because of the diverse training provided, and become nationally board-registered sonographers after they pass the ARDMS board exams.

This is a 15-month continuous program. There is one program start date per year. The program begins each fall semester, the first week of September. Students graduate the following December. Please see an example of courses per Session in the ‘Program Outline’ section below.

All courses in the curriculum must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher in order to proceed to the next Session.

Program Outline – Year 1

First Year

fall  – Session I	Contact Hours	CEUS
Introduction to DMS	26	2.6
Introduction to DMS Scan Lab	26	2.6
DMS Vascular Sonography	26	2.6
DMS Vascular Scan Lab	26	2.6
Professional/Medical Ethics	26	2.6
DMS Sonography Physics	52	5.2

spring  – Session II	Contact Hours	CEUS
Gyn and OB Sonography	26	2.6
Abdominal Sonography I	26	2.6
DMS Scan Lab I	26	2.6
Clinicals I	531	53.1

Program Outline – Year 2

Second Year

summer  – Session Iii	Contact Hours	CEUS
Obstetrical Sonography	52	5.2
Abdominal Sonography II	26	2.6
DMS Scan Lab II	26	2.6
Clinicals II	486	48.6

fall  – Session Iv	Contact Hours	CEUS
Obstetrical Sonography II	26	2.6
Small Parts Sonography	26	2.6
Registry Review	26	2.6
Clinicals III	351	35.1

How to Enroll

To pursue this certificate, simply see if you meet the admissions eligibility and follow the application process listed under ‘Admissions Requirements’ below. You do not have to apply to the college!

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Questions?
Call 803.732.0432 to talk to us about this program, or email cce@midlandstech.edu

Admissions Requirements

Changes to Admissions Policy

The application deadline for 2026 is now extended from March 1 to March 15, 2026.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration into the program the student must have successfully completed at least one of the following:

Associate’s Degree in an Allied Health Care Program (60 Hours) - two-year Allied Health Care program with direct patient contact (must include a clinical internship/externship). Allied Health occupations include, but are not limited to: radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, paramedic, occupational therapy, registered nurse, physical therapy or dental hygiene.

OR

Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.) - any major.

Prerequisite Courses

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I with lab– 4 credit hours
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II with lab– 4 credit hours
• Medical Terminology – 3 credit hours

Successful completion of these three prerequisite courses before the program start date in September. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” or higher. These three courses must be less than three years old from the year of the program start date. If they were taken more than three years prior, students must retake these courses and have them completed before the Sonography Program start date.

Students can apply if they are completing their degree and/or prerequisite courses the semester(s) before the program start date. They can be interviewed and accepted on a probationary status while completing these. Full acceptance will be pending on completion of all required coursework. Please email kelseymmarl@midlandstech.edu if you have any questions regarding admissions requirements and eligibility.

Application Process

Prospective students must apply for admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program by completing the steps below.

The 15-month program begins each fall semester, September 1, and concludes in December of the following year. The priority application deadline is March 1.

Step 1:

Download application and mail along with a $25 non-refundable application fee to:

Continuing Education Department
Attention: Sonography Program
Midlands Technical College
PO Box 2408
Columbia SC 29202 

Include with your application a copy of any professional certification for verification (ARRT card as an example), if you have been previously certified.

Step 2:

Official college transcripts showing a completed undergraduate degree and the three prerequisites listed above are required. Transcripts may be mailed to the same address listed in ‘Step 1’; or official e-transcripts can be ordered and emailed directly to the Sonography Program Director: kelseymmarl@midlandstech.edu.

Step 3:

A minimum of 2 letters of recommendation from employers, managers, or educational professors are required with the application packet. Please have letters of recommendation sent to the same mailing address or email address above.

After You Apply

Applicants will be placed on the qualified list to be interviewed once ALL required documentation listed above has been received. Applications received without the $25 fee will not be processed, and the applicant will not be contacted.

Once a student has met the preliminary admissions requirements, they will be required to attend a mandatory ‘Sonography Information Session’ in spring semester. Upon completion of these two requirements, the student will then be invited to interview with the committee. Job shadowing prior to the ‘Information Session’ is strongly encouraged, if it is possible for the applicant to complete on their own.

All students are required to have a clean background check for 10 years, and a clear drug screening. The forms and instructions for completing background check and drug screen will be distributed after the student has received their letter of acceptance.

Additional Information

• The 15-month program begins each fall semester, September 1st, and concludes in December of the following year.
• The application deadline is March 1st.
• Those applicants who are currently completing their degree studies (or pre-requisite courses) may apply to the Sonography program, interview, and receive ‘probationary acceptance status’, pending proof of completion prior to the first day of Sonography classes (September 1st). Those who do not provide this proof prior to the beginning of the first day of class will not be eligible to proceed in the program. 
• Our graduates are eligible to sit for the ARDMS or CCI sonography national board exams after graduation. Please visit www.ardms.org or www.cci-online.org for more information about being a board registered sonographer.
• Foreign applicants must meet certain academic admission requirements and should contact CCE Registration office to ensure eligibility. Students who do not use English as their first language may have to demonstrate proficiency in the English language before being accepted into the program. 
• The program has approximately 8-10 seats per year.
• There is no waitlist for the Sonography Program. We no longer have rolling admissions and will no longer transfer offers of acceptance from year to year. Students must resubmit their application and provide the $25 application fee again should they decide to reapply for the next year.
• Students in this program are involved in their professional course work and clinical education rotations for a minimum of 35 hours per week. Full-time work is not possible for the 15 months of the program, due to the time commitment of classes and clinicals.
• Students will interact with sick and injured patients of all ages and conditions. Rotations will involve three or more affiliate hospitals in order to provide the student with the most comprehensive clinical education and experience.
• Students must be certified in American Heart Association’s (AHA) adult and infant BLS for Healthcare Workers throughout the program.
• Students must submit a background check and clean drug screening prior to the start date of the program, as instructed by the Program Director, after being accepted into the program. The background check must be clean for the past 10 years.
• Students are responsible for receiving all titers and vaccinations required by hospital clinical sites before they begin clinical rotations. These include, but are not limited to: MMR, Hep B vaccine, TB test (or chest X-ray if necessary), and the flu vaccine. Instructions for completing vaccine requirements are given to the students AFTER they are accepted in to the program. It is not required to complete vaccines/titers before the program start date.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The 2025-2026 program cost is $15,900.

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