The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program is taken by people who have chosen the sonographer career path. The DMS program is offered by more than 200 schools in the United States, some of them online schools. As long as a school is accredited, students can be assured of quality education and training. However, some schools are above the rest. Listed below are the top 7 best ultrasound technician schools. A full list is available here.
Introduction to the DMS program
There are three kinds of DMS programs: certificate programs last 1 year, associate programs 2 years, and baccalaureate programs 4 years. Certificate programs are usually taken by post-graduates of other degrees and have experience in sonography already. Students who shift from one degree to DMS usually take associate programs. The best schools are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
1. Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Northampton Community College (NCC) is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It was first established in 1967 with only 846 students and 21 staff members and is now home to over 31,000 students in a single academic year. NCC has certificate and associate programs for general sonography.
Telephone number: 610-861-5300 (General information)
2. Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga State Community College (CSCC) first opened in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1965 as a technical college. In the 1980s it was merged with two schools that introduced vocational and health care programs to CSCC. Today, it offers certificate programs for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography.
Telephone number: 423-697-4404 / 866-547-3733
3. Community College of Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is the largest, public, associate degree granting school in the state. CRI was first established in 1960 as part of the Rhode Island Junior College state system. Associate programs for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography are available in CCRI.
Telephone: 401-825-1000
4. Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The St. Francis Hospital was founded by the Felician Sisters in 1956 but its roots can be traced back to over 130 years ago in Poland. It was in 1993 that St. Francis was merged with three hospitals to become Covenant Healthcare, in partnership with Wheaton Franciscan and Felician sisters. They offer a certificate DMS program for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography.
Telephone number: 414-647-5000
5. Seattle University, Seattle, Washington
Seattle University was founded in 1981 as a Jesuit Catholic University. They offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It was reported in US News and World Report as one of the best colleges to attend this coming 2014. Seattle university offers baccalaureate programs for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography.
Telephone number: 1-206-296-000
6. Northern Virginia Community College, Springfield, Virginia
Northern Virginia Community College has over 75,000 students and 2,600 staff members in a school year. The student body is one of the most diverse in the world, with students from more than 180 countries all over the world. NVCC offers an associate program in general sonography.
Telephone number: 703-323-3000
7. Harris County Hospital District, Houston, Texas
This 2013, the Harris Health System has over 47 years of service to the Houston Community. They have a School of Diagnostic Medical Imaging that offers a certificate program from general sonography. This school was created in 1993 to provide a pool of diagnostic medical imaging professionals to the Harris County Hospital.
Telephone number: 713-566-6400
To become a sonographer, the first step is to choose the right school. Just remember that the best ultrasound technician school are CAAHEP-accredited or ARRT-recognized. Schools that fit those two criteria will surely provide good training and education to its students.
1. Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Northampton Community College (NCC) is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It was first established in 1967 with only 846 students and 21 staff members and is now home to over 31,000 students in a single academic year. NCC has certificate and associate programs for general sonography.
Telephone number: 610-861-5300 (General information)
2. Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga State Community College (CSCC) first opened in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1965 as a technical college. In the 1980s it was merged with two schools that introduced vocational and health care programs to CSCC. Today, it offers certificate programs for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography.
Telephone number: 423-697-4404 / 866-547-3733
3. Community College of Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is the largest, public, associate degree granting school in the state. CRI was first established in 1960 as part of the Rhode Island Junior College state system. Associate programs for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography are available in CCRI.
Telephone: 401-825-1000
4. Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The St. Francis Hospital was founded by the Felician Sisters in 1956 but its roots can be traced back to over 130 years ago in Poland. It was in 1993 that St. Francis was merged with three hospitals to become Covenant Healthcare, in partnership with Wheaton Franciscan and Felician sisters. They offer a certificate DMS program for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography.
Telephone number: 414-647-5000
5. Seattle University, Seattle, Washington
Seattle University was founded in 1981 as a Jesuit Catholic University. They offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It was reported in US News and World Report as one of the best colleges to attend this coming 2014. Seattle university offers baccalaureate programs for general, cardiac, and vascular sonography.
Telephone number: 1-206-296-000
6. Northern Virginia Community College, Springfield, Virginia
Northern Virginia Community College has over 75,000 students and 2,600 staff members in a school year. The student body is one of the most diverse in the world, with students from more than 180 countries all over the world. NVCC offers an associate program in general sonography.
Telephone number: 703-323-3000
7. Harris County Hospital District, Houston, Texas
This 2013, the Harris Health System has over 47 years of service to the Houston Community. They have a School of Diagnostic Medical Imaging that offers a certificate program from general sonography. This school was created in 1993 to provide a pool of diagnostic medical imaging professionals to the Harris County Hospital.
Telephone number: 713-566-6400
To become a sonographer, the first step is to choose the right school. Just remember that the best ultrasound technician school are CAAHEP-accredited or ARRT-recognized. Schools that fit those two criteria will surely provide good training and education to its students.