This program consists of two awards: the AAS in Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (Echocardiography) and the ATC in Cardio-Vascular Sonography. Upon completion of the prescribed curricula of these awards, the student is eligible to apply to take examinations for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) certification in the Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Technology specialties.

• To view the Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (Echocardiography) Associate of Applied Science Degree plan, click here.
• To view the Cardiovascular Sonography Advanced Technical Certificate plan, click here.

This program consists of two awards: the AAS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and the ATC in Medical-Vascular Sonography. Upon completion of the prescribed curricula of these awards, the student is eligible to apply to take examinations for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) certification in the Abdominal, OB/GYN and Vascular Technology specialties.

• To view the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate of Applied Science Degree plan, click here.
• To view the Medical-Vascular Sonography Advanced Technical Certificate plan, click here.

1. Activate your ACC email account. All correspondence regarding your application will be sent to your ACC email address. For information on how to set up your ACC email account, please see this page.
2. Complete the program-required immunizations and submit the completed immunization form to CastleBranch.
   • Enter UL64im in the “Package Code” field. After entering your personal information, the system will prompt you to upload your 1-page immunization form for each of the four required immunizations. The cost to set up the account is $38.
   • No waivers are allowed for any of the immunization requirements for Sonography.
   • If your immunization record has been uploaded for the ACC CNA Program, do not upload again.
3. Complete the mandatory Self-paced and Live Virtual Information Sessions. Print and keep the confirmation email you receive at the end of the Self-paced Information Session. You will upload a copy of the confirmation email to CastleBranch later in the application process.
4. Review the Sonography FAQ if you have not already done so.
5. Applicants with outside transfer Prerequisite and Co-requisite courses only:
   • You must obtain official transcripts for coursework taken at any schools other than ACC. Transcripts must be submitted electronically; if needed, see any ACC Admissions office at any ACC campus for assistance.
   • All outside transcripts must be evaluated for credit by ACC before application to a Sonography Program. Evaluation of outside transcripts by ACC must show that transfer courses are equated to courses required in the Sonography Program. Evaluation of outside transcripts by ACC must show that transfer courses are equated to courses required in the Sonography degree plans. The Sonography Department Chair cannot override the evaluation of courses by the ACC Registrar’s Office.
   • It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their ACC transcript for inclusion of transfer courses.
   • Transfer courses used to meet the prerequisite requirements of a Sonography degree plan must have been completed within 5 years of application to a Sonography program.
   • You may request the Sonography Department Chair to provide an unofficial review of your outside transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable); however, as stated above, the Sonography Department Chair cannot override the official evaluation of outside transcripts for credit and/or equation to courses required in the Sonography degree plans.
   • Transfer/outside junior and/or senior level courses may not be equitable to a State of Texas Community College/ACC course. ACC may award credit for those courses.
   • Transfer graduate level courses: ACC may award credit but will not equate the outside course directly to an ACC course.

1. Complete all prerequisite college credit courses with grades of “C” or better. Applicants must meet a 2.7 GPA minimum in prerequisite college courses. See Prerequisites and Co-requisites for more information.
2. Complete Sonography Student Lab Sessions for DMS, DCS, and VT:
   • Must be completed in the ACC Sonography Program Labs at the Eastview or Round Rock campuses.
   • For DMS and VT session appointments call (512) 223-5945 (Eastview Campus).
   • For DCS and VT session appointments call (512) 223-0294 (Round Rock Campus).
   • Minimum of 1 session for each specialty is required. Additional points can be earned on the Applicant Ranking Worksheet for volunteering up to 4 sessions per each specialty lab session. See the Selection Process section below for more details about earning bonus points.
   • You will receive a Sonography Student Lab Volunteer Session tracking form at your first volunteer session appointment. You must bring this form to every volunteer session appointment.
   • If you do not keep an appointment and you do not call ahead of your appointment to reschedule, you are considered a No Call, No Show. The missed appointment will NOT be rescheduled resulting in a loss of points on your Applicant Ranking Worksheet.

3. Formal Patient Care Education is required to apply. The State of Texas CNA training is the minimum  training accepted for this requirement.
   • CNA courses are offered through the ACC Continuing Education Division. Call (512) 223-7271 for more information.
   • If taking CNA at ACC, both NURA 1001 and NURA 1060 must be completed. A CNA license is not required to apply to a sonography program.
   • Immunizations, TB test, and Criminal Background Check are required.
   • CNA is waived only for those applicants who have previously completed EMT-Basic, EMT-Paramedic, Radiologic Technology, RN, LVN, Physical Therapist Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant or hospital-based Patient Care Tech training or program (see next bullet).
   • Applicants may substitute Patient Care Tech (PCT) training in lieu of CNA training. Patient Care Techs are trained by the facility at which they are employed. Applicants will need to provide either: a certificate/diploma documenting completion of PCT training or a signed letter from their employer on company letterhead (HR usually provides this). The letter must include dates, job titles(s), and a job description.

The Ultrasound Student Assessment must be completed before you apply to the program. The assessment deadline is April 1 for each application cycle (2 months prior to the application deadline). If the test is not taken by this date, a submitted application for that year will be considered incomplete. It is recommended the assessment be taken as early as possible as you work towards completing the application requirements.

For more information about the USA, please see this page.

1. During the application period (see “Application Deadline” above), go to the CastleBranch website and click the link “Place Order.”
2. Enter UL70im in the “Package Code” field (re-applicants should create a new package with this code for each new application cycle).
3. You will be prompted to input your personal information and upload the following application documents. Ensure your name is on all pages:
   • Self-Paced Information Session verification email receipt, signed and dated by applicant
   • Sonography Student Lab Volunteer Session tracking form
   • Proof of Formal Patient Care Training (only a certificate of completion, diploma, or verification letter on company letterhead are accepted)
   • Optional: License/Credential for an accepted Formal Patient Care Training Program.
   • Optional: Proof of Medical Terminology course completion.
   • Optional: Proof of Direct Patient Care Experience.
4. Confirm that your immunizations have been received and approved (green checkmarks) by CastleBranch. Your application will not be processed without approved immunization records.

Admission to the Sonography program is provisional until the following clinical requirements are met. Do not take action on these items until instructed by the department:

• Criminal Background Check
• Drug Screening
• TB Testing
• Health Data Form
• CPR Certification
• Proof of Health Insurance
• Seasonal Flu Vaccine
• Accepted students are required to attend a Sonography New Student Orientation held in mid to late July of each year. Information on location, date, and time will be included in the student’s acceptance packet. Advanced notice of the exact Orientation date cannot be provided prior to the generation of acceptance packets.

If you have concerns about events in your background, you may contact the Health Sciences Compliance Coordinator Lisa Enloe at (512) 223-5867 or [email protected].

1. Additional points will be awarded for completion with a grade of “C” or better of any co-requisite course (non-Sonography course) on the AAS degree plan. See Prerequisites and Co-requisites section above for more information.
2. An additional 0.5 points will be awarded for documented completion of any Medical Terminology course.
3. Additional points will be awarded for completion of EMT-Basic or higher (LVN, RN, Rad Tech, Paramedic only) instead of or in addition to minimum required CNA training.
4. Additional points will be awarded for documentation of CNA license or registry/credential in previously completed formal patient care education program (CMA, LVN, RN, EMT-Basic, Paramedic only).
5. Additional points will be awarded for 80 or more hours of volunteer or paid patient care experience, including work as a Patient Care Tech (PCT). Hours must be in addition to Formal Patient Care Education Clinical Hours. The Patient Care Experience Form must be used to document your additional patient care experience hours. Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Office Assistant (front office) and/or other medical office duties do not qualify for direct patient care hours.
6. One additional point will be awarded to a re-applicant who ranked in the previous year for the same sonography program.