Traditional Program


Sonography Application Process – Traditional Program

Before you proceed with the application process, we encourage you to read the Sonography FAQ. If you need additional help, please contact us.

  • Applicants must be enrolled in Austin Community College. Click here for more information. Admission to Austin Community College does not guarantee admission to a Health Sciences program.
  • The Traditional 2-year Sonography Program (DCVS & DMVS) is open to all students.  A health science background is not required to apply.
  • The 1-year Cardiac Sonography Advanced Technical Certificate is only open to credentialed sonographers seeking formal training in the echocardiography specialty. 
  • Applicants must satisfy all requirements to apply regardless of previous education, medical credentials, and medical experience. 
    • All prerequisites must be completed by the application deadline. 
  • Applicants must meet the Technical Standards required by the program.
  • Applications are accepted April 1 – June 1 for fall admission.
    (Fall 2024 admission ends June 3 at midnight)
  • If the application deadline ends on a weekend, the deadline is adjusted to the next business day.

The Traditional Sonography Program at ACC offers two separate and specialized tracks: Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography (DCVS) and Diagnostic Medical-Vascular Sonography (DMVS). Each program track is designed to prepare students for a career in sonography through classroom study and supervised clinical training.

Both program tracks are full-time and completed in six consecutive semesters, including summers. 

Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography Program (DCVS)

At the completion of the DCVS program, the student will have earned two awards:

  • Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography
  • Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) in Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography

After successful completion of all courses within both degree plans, the student will be eligible to apply and test for their specialty credentials through ARDMS or CCI. Specialty credentials under this degree plan include RDCS (AE) or RCS and RVT or RVS. Review the credential administrator’s websites for more information.

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

Diagnostic Medical-Vascular Sonography Program (DMVS)

At the completion of the DMVS program, the student will have earned two awards:

  • Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) in Diagnostic Medical-Vascular Sonography

After successful completion of all courses within both degree plans, the student will be eligible to apply and test for their specialty credentials through ARDMS or CCI. Specialty credentials under this degree plan include RDMS (AB) + (OBGYN) and RVT or RVS. Review the credential administrator’s websites for more information.

  • 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.

The following information is a guide to completing all Sonography Program application requirements. Additional details for each application requirement are located in the Traditional Sonography Program Self-Paced Information Session slide deck.

  1. Activate your ACC email account. All correspondence with the program will be sent to your ACC email address. For information on how to set up your ACC email account see this page.
  2. Print a copy of the current Applicant Ranking Worksheet. Use this document as your checklist for completing all of the requirements for the Sonography Program. 
  3. Review the Sonography Program website in full, including the FAQ page.
  4. Complete the mandatory Traditional Sonography Program Self-Paced Information Session and Post-Test. An email verification will be sent to your ACC email upon completion. Retain this email as part of your application documents. 
  5. Register for and attend a mandatory Traditional Sonography Program Live Virtual Information Session.
    • Attendance verification for this information session is maintained by the program and is not included in the required document list for your application or CastleBranch.  
  6. Complete all prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.7.  
    • A “C” grade or higher in each course is required for inclusion towards your intended degree. 
    • Applicants transferring credits from another higher education institution, including dual credit courses, will need to request electronic submission of all official transcripts from those institutions to ACC.
    • Additionally, if you have already earned a college degree, transcript evaluation by the Admissions and Enrollment Office must be requested and completed prior to the application deadline. 

Transcript Evaluation Information

  • It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure transfer equivalency of all related prerequisite and corequisite courses in the Sonography Degree Plans prior to the application deadline. 
  • Seek advising assistance for questions regarding the transfer equivalency process. 
  • You may also request an advising appointment with the Sonography Department Chair or a Specialty Program Director to provide an unofficial review of your external transcripts. 
  • The Sonography Department does not override the official evaluation process completed by the Admissions and Enrollment Office.

Prerequisite Information

  • All prerequisites must be completed within 5 years of the application deadline. 
  • Prerequisite courses may be repeated once for a higher grade. The higher of the two grades will be used to calculate your GPA. 
  • A “P” pass grade will not be calculated in determining the GPA for ranking purposes.
Prerequisite Course List Accepted Substitute Courses
MATH 1314:
College Algebra
The program will accept any other math from the Core Curriculum Course List completed within 5 years of the application deadline.

MATH 1314 is the prerequisite to PHYS 1410 and the recommended math course by the sonography program. 

BIOL 2401:
Anatomy & Physiology I
BIOL 2304: Human Anatomy Lecture and BIOL 2101: Human Anatomy Lab
BIOL 2402:
Anatomy & Physiology II
BIOL 2305: Human Physiology Lecture and BIOL 2102: Human Physiology Lab
PHYS 1410:
Applied Physics
PHYS 1401: General College Physics I or

PHYS 1402: General College Physics II

Check the college catalog for current prerequisites for the above substitute courses. 

PHYS 1405: Conceptual Physics I or PHYS 1407: Conceptual Physics II are not accepted course substitutions.

3 credit hour physics courses without a lab component are also not accepted.

DMSO 1110:
Introduction to Sonography
Request permission to enroll in this course by visiting this link

There are no course substitutions or waivers for DMSO 1110. 

Contact [email protected] if you’ve completed or plan to complete this course through another college. 

  1. Although not required, applicants are encouraged to complete as many corequisites as possible prior to the start of the sonography program. 

Corequisite Information

  • A “C” grade or higher in each course is required for inclusion towards your intended degree. 
  • Corequisite courses do not expire. The 5-year time limit does not apply. 
  • Each corequisite completed prior to the application deadline will earn 0.25 points towards the applicant’s application rank. 
  • Previously completed corequisites are not repeated as a sonography program student. Schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Office to review how this may influence your financial aid allocations. 
  • All corequisites must be completed prior to earning your AAS degree in Diagnostic Cardiac or Medical Sonography. 
Corequisite Course List Accepted Substitute Courses
ENGL 1301:
English Composition I
ENGL 1302: English Composition II or

ENGL 2311: Technical and Business Writing

SPCH 1318:
Interpersonal Communication
SPCH 1311: Introduction to Speech Communication – the contextualized section for Health Sciences students is recommended.
PSYC 2301:
Introduction to Psychology
SOCI 1301: Introduction to Sociology
PHIL 2306:
Ethics
There are no course substitutions or waivers for PHIL 2306.
  1. Schedule and complete your on-campus Sonography Lab Volunteer Sessions
    • Applicants must complete at least one volunteer session in each specialty: Cardiac, Medical, and Vascular. 
    • Up to four sessions in each specialty are accepted towards your application. One point is awarded for each session, up to 12 points total. 
    • Review the appointment scheduling and cancellation policy in full before proceeding. 
    • A tracking form will be provided to the applicant at the first session. This document will be submitted with your CastleBranch application documents.
  2. Complete the program-required immunizations and have an approved licensed healthcare provider complete your immunization form
  3. Upon completion of the immunization form, visit the CastleBranch website
    • Select “Place Order” from the homepage.
    • Enter UL64im in the “Package Code” field. 
    • After entering your personal information, the system will prompt you to upload your completed immunization form for each of the four required immunizations. 
      • Upload the same one-page form for each category in this package.
    • No waivers or late submissions are accepted for the required pre-admission immunizations.
  4. Complete an approved patient care program. 

Patient Care Training Information

  • The minimum application requirement is completion of a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program. 
    • Any CNA program in the State of Texas with at least 60 classroom hours and 40 clinical hours will satisfy this requirement. 
  • Completion of CNA training alone does not qualify for application bonus points. To earn additional bonus points in this category, the applicant must obtain a State Certified Nurse Aide License. 
  • In lieu of CNA training, the ACC Sonography Program accepts the following. Proof of training, such as transcripts and a certificate of completion, is required with your application. 
    • Patient Care Technician
    • Certified Medical Assistant 
    • Emergency Medical Technician – Basic/Advanced
    • Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic 
    • Radiology Technologist
    • Licensed Vocational Nurse
    • Registered Nurse
    • Physical Therapist Assistant 
  • The ACC Sonography Program does not accept the following in lieu of CNA:
    • Dental Assistant 
    • Dental Hygienist 
    • Phlebotomist 
    • Pharmacy Technician
    • Patient Transport
    • Administrative Support Staff
  • Out-of-state applicants should email [email protected] for questions regarding acceptable patient care training. 
  • Visit the Continuing Education website for information on all of ACC’s patient care programs
  • Revisit the Traditional Sonography Program Self-Paced Information Session for additional details. 
  1. Complete the Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) by the application deadline. Click here for more information.
  2. Earn optional bonus points.

Bonus Points Information

  • Applicants can earn bonus points towards their overall rank by completing one or more of the following before the application deadline. 
    • Corequisite course completion (0.25 bonus points per course). 
      • Must achieve a grade of “C” or better.  
    • Medical Terminology course completion (0.5 bonus points). 
      • Eligible courses will include a certificate of completion or be identifiable on the student’s transcript. 
      • Recommended ACC course: HPRS 1206
    • License or credential in an accepted formal patient care education field (2 bonus points). 
    • Enhanced patient care education (2 bonus points).
      • Emergency Medical Technician – Basic/Advanced/Paramedic
      • Radiology Technologist
      • Licensed Vocational Nurse
      • Registered Nurse
      • Nurse Practitioner 
      • Physical Therapy Assistant 
      • Occupational Therapy Assistant
      • Physician Assistant 
      • Physician
    • Direct patient care experience in an accepted field (2 bonus points). 
      • Complete 80 or more hours of direct patient care, paid or volunteer, in one of the accepted patient care fields. 
      • Hours must be in addition to Formal Patient Care Education Clinical Hours.
      • Use the Patient Care Experience Form to document your hours. 
        • Medical office duties, private in-home care, phlebotomy, and pharmacy technician do not qualify for direct patient care experience.
        • Contact [email protected] for questions regarding acceptable patient care experience. 
    • Reapplicants (1 bonus point).
      • Complete an advising session to review your previous application. 
        • Fill out this form and a faculty member will reach out to you to schedule an appointment. 
      • One bonus point will be awarded to a reapplicant who ranked in the previous year.
  1. Download, print, and complete the Sonography Program Application in its entirety. 
    • Applications will not be accepted in person. Follow the instructions on this page to submit your application remotely.
  2. During the application period, confirm your immunizations have been received and approved (green checkmarks) by CastleBranch
    • Your application will not be processed without approved immunization records. 
  3. During the application period, visit the CastleBranch website.
    • Select “Place Order” from the homepage.
    • Enter UL70im in the “Package Code” field. 
      • Reapplicants should create a new package with this code for each new application cycle. 
    • 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 
    • All uploaded documents must be approved in CastleBranch by June 1 (green check = approved).
  4. When you have completed all of the steps above, submit your completed sonography program application between April 1 and June 1 of the application year. 
    • Applications for each fall semester cohort will open on April 1 of the application year and close on June 1 of the application year.
  5. Reminder: Reapplicants must complete an advising session with program faculty prior to the next application cycle. It is best to complete your advising appointment early. To request an appointment, complete the form at this link.
  6. You will be notified by the program of the status of your application by July 1 of the application year regarding your fall semester program admission status. 
  7. Questions regarding your application status should be sent to [email protected]
  1. Selection for enrollment is based on a competitive ranking system outlined on the Sonography Program Applicant Ranking Worksheet. 
  2. All applications submitted by the deadline are ranked. 
  3. The highest-ranked applicants are admitted to the program. 
    • The program determines the number of available seats each year. Typically, 20-30 seats total.  
  4. Specialty track placement is based on applicant preference and overall rank. 
  5. Offers of admission are emailed to the applicant’s ACC email address no later than July 1.
  6. In the event an applicant declines admission, the program will offer the seat to the next in line in the ranking. 
  7. Admission to the Sonography program is provisional until the following clinical requirements are met. Do not act on these items until instructed by the department:
  8. Admitted students are required to attend the Sonography Program New Student Orientation held in July or August. Information on location, date, and time will be included in the student’s acceptance letter.

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Sonography Updates

  • Permission Required to Register for DMSO 1110

    Fall 2023 applicants must complete DMSO 1110 no later than Spring 2023. Sign up for course permission at this link.

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  • New Sonography Program Application Requirement in 2022

    The Sonography Program is now offering live virtual information sessions. Beginning in Spring 2022, applicants are required to attend at least one live virtual information session prior to program application submission. Please see the Information Session page and the Application Process page to learn more about this new requirement.

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  • TEAS Testing Requirements for Health Sciences Applicants

    A TEAS Exam score is required to apply to the following programs: Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Radiology, and Vocational Nursing.

    If you are not applying to one of the programs above, then you are not required to take the TEAS Exam at this time. Please refer to the Application Process page for your program to see all application requirements.

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