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Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound) Training Program
The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Program at Newbridge College provides students with the technical knowledge and clinical skills necessary to potentially gain entry-level employment as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer or Ultrasound Tech working with ultrasound equipment in medical clinics, imaging centers, hospitals, mobile imaging services and other medical facilities.
Program Length
- Day Classes: 76 weeks
- Evening Classes: 100 weeks
Program Admission Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED)
- Command of English language
- In addition, students must satisfy one of the following:
- Interview and obtain a favorable recommendation from the program director, director of education or campus director.
- Graduate of a two year Allied Health education program that is patient care related. Allied Health Occupations include but are not limited to Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Radiologic Technologist, Respiratory Therapist, Registered Nurse and Surgical Technologist.
- Foreign graduates with a minimum of an Associate Degree or equivalent. All transcripts and documents must be in English and evaluated by a foreign education transcript evaluation organization.
- An Associate Degree or equivalent from an accredited college.
Campuses Offering the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound) Training Program
- Los Angeles County: Newbridge College - Long Beach
- Orange County: Newbridge College - Santa Ana
The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound) training program provides the training to develop the skills needed to perform diagnostic studies on patients using ultrasound equipment for diagnosis and interpretation by a Physician.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a Diploma. Graduation from this program does not automatically qualify all students to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) examination; graduates that do not possess a four year degree are likely not qualified for ARDMS until 12 months of paid employment as a Sonographer has been accomplished.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify. For more information about Financial Aid options, please visit the Financial Aid page or contact one of our Admissions Representatives.
During the course of this program, students will learn:
- Anatomy, physiology and medical terminology, as it relates to diagnostics and diagnostic imaging procedures
- An understanding of the ultrasound machine, instrumentation and safety
- An understanding of the physics of ultrasound, including image formation, knobology, color flow, 2-D scan and display
- How to perform diagnostic studies on patients using ultrasound equipment
- Vascular sonography, hemodynamics, spectral analysis, limited vascular anatomy and pathology
- Gynecology and obstetrics to perform OB/GYN ultrasound procedures
Externship Program
Upon completion of their academic requirements, students participate in an externship program with a health care employer, providing students with real-world hands-on work experience.
Occupation and Job Outlook
Job growth in the health care industry continues to expand to meet the needs of a growing and aging population in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is expected to grow faster than average, and new job openings is expected to increase by about 18 percent through 2018.*
Work Environment: Sonographers typically work in healthcare facilities that are clean. They usually work at diagnostic imaging machines in darkened rooms, but they also may perform procedures at patients' bedsides. Sonographers may be on their feet for long periods of time and may have to lift or turn disabled patients.
Some sonographers work as contract employees and may travel to several healthcare facilities in an area. Similarly, some sonographers work with mobile imaging service providers and travel to patients and use mobile diagnostic imaging equipment to provide service in areas that otherwise would not have access to such services.
Most full-time sonographers work about 40 hours a week. Some sonographers work overtime. Also, sonographers may have evening and weekend hours when they are on call and must be ready to report to work on short notice.
Accreditation
Newbridge College Santa Ana and Newbridge College Long Beach are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a private, non-profit, independent accrediting agency dedicated to ensuring a quality education for more than 250,000 students who annually pursue career education at 800 accredited institutions.
Gainful Employment Program Disclosure
Final regulations published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2010, [75 FR 66665 and FR 66832], by the U.S. Department of Education, require institutions that participate in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the HEA), to report certain information about students who enrolled in the Title IV-eligible educational programs that lead to gainful employment in a recognized occupation (GE Programs). Those regulations also provide that institutions must disclose to prospective students certain information about their GE programs.
Recognized Occupations
The U.S. Department of Labor lists the following occupations as potential careers for students who complete these programs. For more information regarding Recognized Occupations and Standard Occupational Codes, please visit http://www.onetonline.org.
| Program | Standard Occupational Code (SOC) |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) | 29-2032.00 - Diagnostic Medical Sonographers |
Students Completing Within Published Program Length - On Time Completion Rate
| Program | Campus (Year) | Number of Students Who Began Program1 | Students Available for Graduation2 | Graduates3 | On Time Completion Rate4 | Total Completion Rate5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) |
||||||
| Santa Ana (2009) | 98 | 98 | 31 | 32% | 70% | |
| Santa Ana (2010) | 55 | 55 | 27 | 49% | 76% | |
| Long Beach (2009) | 91 | 91 | 26 | 28% | 74% | |
| Long Beach(2010) | 79 | 78 | 43 | 55% | 90% |
1Students beginning program who are scheduled to complete the program within the reporting calendar year.
2Students beginning program minus students unavailable for graduation (deceased, incarcerated, or called to active military duty).
3Students completing the program within 100% of the published program length.
4Graduates divided by the number of students available for graduation.
5Students completing the program on time, plus those completing within 150% of the published program length.
Placement Rates
| Program | Campus (Year) | Number of Graduates1 | Graduates Available for Employment2 | Graduates Employed in the Field3 | Placement Rate Employed in the Field4 | Graduates Employed in the Field an average of less than 32 hours5 | Graduates Employed in the Field at least 32 hours per week55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) |
|||||||
| Santa Ana (2009) | 31 | 31 | 17 | 54% | N/A | N/A | |
| Santa Ana (2010) | 27 | 26 | 12 | 46% | N/A | N/A | |
| Long Beach (2009) | 26 | 26 | 8 | 31% | N/A | N/A | |
| Long Beach (2010) | 43 | 38 | 14 | 37% | N/A | N/A |
1Students completing the program within 100% of the published program length.
2Graduates minus the number of graduates unavailable for employment (graduates who, after graduation, are deceased, incarcerated, called to active military duty, international students who leave the U.S. or do not have a visa allowing employment in the U.S., or are continuing education in an accredited or BPPE-approved postsecondary institution.
3Graduates reporting that they are gainfully employed within six months of graduation in a position for which the skills obtained through the education and training provided by the institution are required or provided a significant advantage to the graduate in obtaining the position.
4Placement rate is calculated by dividing the number of graduates gainfully employed in the field by the number of graduates available for employment.
5This specific statistical information is not maintained by the institution.
Salary and Wage Information
Annual Salary and Wage Reported for Graduates Employed in the Field
| Program | Campus (Year) | Graduates Available for Employment1 | Graduates Employed in the Field2 | $15,000-$20,000 | $20,001-$25,000 | $25,001-$30,000 | $30,001-$35,000 | $35,001-$40,000 | $40,001+ | Students Not Reporting Salary3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) |
||||||||||
| Santa Ana (2009) | 31 | 17 | - | - | 4 | - | 3 | - | 10 | |
| Santa Ana (2010) | 26 | 12 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 2 | 8 | |
| Long Beach (2009) | 26 | 8 | - | - | - | 5 | - | 3 | 0 | |
| Long Beach (2010) | 38 | 14 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 11 |
1Graduates minus the number of graduates unavailable for employment (graduates who, after graduation, are deceased, incarcerated, called to active military duty, international students who leave the U.S. or do not have a visa allowing employment in the U.S., or are continuing education in an accredited or BPPE-approved postsecondary institution.
2Graduates reporting that they are gainfully employed within six months of graduation in a position for which the skills obtained through the education and training provided by the institution are required or provided a significant advantage to the graduate in obtaining the position.
3Salary information is reported by the graduate; not all graduates reported salary information.
2011 Program Tuition Costs and Length
| Program | Campus | Program Cost* | Clock Hours | Credit Hours | Length (Weeks) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Class | Eve. Class | |||||
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) |
Santa Ana | $39,147.50 | 1800 | 112 | 76 | 100 |
| Long Beach | $39,147.50 | 1800 | 112 | 76 | 100 | |
* Program Cost includes tuition fee, registration fee, student recovery fund, books and supplies for each program.
Median Loan Debt Incurred by Students
| Program | Campus | Median Loan Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) |
Santa Ana | $23,160 |
| Long Beach | $23,160 |
*Growth figures represent a ten-year period ending 2018. Source: "National Industry-Occupation Employment Matrix," a publication of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information, please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
