Frequently Asked Questions


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply / what are the requirements?

Am I able to work full time and go to school at the same time?

The program occupies 40 hours per week, not including required independent time spent studying and for homework. The faculty recommends that students limit their employment to part-time if possible.

What's the first step to apply?

First, you must be enrolled at ACC. Please see this page for information about how to get started.

When is the application period? How often are classes admitted?

The Sonography application period is between April 1 and June 1 each year (a 2-month period), therefore the deadline for applications is June 1 each year. If the deadline falls on a weekend, then the applications and documents are due by the next business day. The Sonography Program accepts one class per calendar year; the newly admitted class begins the program in the fall semester (starting Fall 2016).

I have a BS/Master's Degree and/or a PhD. Is there an accelerated plan for me to enter the Sonography Program?

No, all applicants must complete all prerequisites as stated in the ACC College Catalog and on the Sonography Program website. No exceptions or advance placement is made for those with advanced education regardless of the type of degree. See above for transfer courses to fulfill prerequisites and co requisites of the degree plan.

Can I transfer in courses to fulfill the prerequisites?

Yes, ACC will make the final determination on transfer courses; only credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities are accepted by ACC. Please note that if you are designated TSI complete, you will need to submit a written request for evaluation of your transcripts (see any ACC Admissions office at any campus).

The Sonography Department Chair MUST review all transfer courses/transcripts and complete a Degree Plan Worksheet prior to an individual submitting his/her application for admission to the Sonography Program. This review occurs during your Sonography Program Advising Session.

If you are taking the co-requisite or prerequisite courses at another college to fulfill the requirements to apply for admission to a Sonography Program, please ensure that the descriptions of those courses match the ACC course descriptions. We recommend that you seek assistance from advisors and/or counselors at the college where you are planning to take those transfer courses.

Anatomy and Physiology I & II (must be 4 credit hours total with 3 hours of lecture & 3 hours of lab) taken at regionally accredited college or university will meet the requirements of BIOL 2304/2101 Human Anatomy and BIOL 2305/2102 Human Physiology. The applicant’s Anatomy and Physiology I will be substituted for the Human Anatomy with the applicant’s Anatomy and Physiology II substituted for the required Human Physiology.

Can I substitute prerequisite courses with CLEP exams?

Yes, however, a passing CLEP exam score will only count as a “B” on the Applicant Ranking Worksheet.

Can I finish my college course prerequisites in the summer semester while my application is considered?

No, all prerequisite college courses must be completed by the end of the Spring semester prior to the application deadline of June 1.

Where should I have my letters of recommendation sent?

Letters of recommendation, employment awards, resumes, and/or notes from previously employers are not accepted.

What is the minimum number of points I need on the Applicant Ranking Worksheet to get admitted to the Sonography Program?

Because the applicant pool each year is “fresh” (a waiting list format is not used for Sonography), every applicant pool is different and it is not possible to predict the number of applicants or their points/rankings in future pools. Every person interested in our Sonography Program receives the same information regarding the Application Process which includes the Applicant Ranking Worksheet. Therefore, we expect that all applicants are working to earn as many points as possible on their Applicant Ranking Worksheets. Be sure to review all information regarding the Sonography Program Application Process and contact the Health Sciences Admission and Information Office if you have additional questions.

How long are the Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) scores valid?

Ultrasound Student Assessment scores do not expire. If a student is not accepted to the program as a first time applicant, they may choose to retake the assessment for the following year as a re-applicant. The USA may only be taken twice by any Sonography program applicant, and only once per application cycle. Please notify the program’s administrative assistant if you decide to retake the assessment as a re-applicant.

Can the Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) be proctored online?

Yes, as long as it is completed prior to April 1 of the year you apply.

Are volunteer sessions mandatory for all students?

One lab volunteer session in each specialty (DMS, DCS, VT) is required for your program application to be considered. These sessions are typically one hour in length. If you feel you will not be able to meet these requirements due to extenuating circumstances, please contact the program directly at [email protected].

I don't live in the Austin area. How can I attend volunteer sessions and score points on my application?

Out-of-area applicants can schedule all 12 of their volunteer sessions over a four-day period. Contact our clinical coordinators at [email protected] and they will work with you to complete the sessions while you’re in Austin. These sessions should be scheduled as early as possible in the application process. Lab schedules fill up fast, and we may not be able to accommodate last-minute requests. 

When do I do the Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen?

You do not go through the CBC and Drug Screen unless you are admitted to a Sonography Program; you will receive instructions on the CBC and Drug Screen processes and deadlines in your conditional acceptance letter.

I heard there is a two-year waiting list for the Sonography Program. Is this true?

No, the “waiting list” applicant format is not used (and has never been used) by the Sonography Program. An applicant is ranked within the pool for that year. Therefore the applicant pool is “fresh” each year. If an applicant is not accepted, he/she is welcome to reapply for the next admission class but the previous year’s ranking does not carry over to the next year.

I heard that you have to be a nurse or an X-Ray Tech to do the Sonography Program. Is that true?

No, although several years ago that was a requirement.

What are the pass rates for ACC Sonography Program graduates compared to the rest of the United States?

ACC Sonography Program graduates have consistently had 98-100% pass rates for first-time test takers for all ARDMS exams taken by graduates (Abdomen, OB/Gy, Adult Echocardiography, and Vascular Technology) since the beginning of the Program in 1999.

Nationally the pass rates as of 2017 are 77% for Abdomen, 72% for OB/Gyn, 66% for Adult Echocardiography, and 69% for Vascular Technology.

How many ACC Sonography Program graduates get jobs within 6 months to 1 year after graduation?

ACC Sonography Program graduates have consistently had 97% “job placement” (finding a job) within weeks or months of graduation since the beginning of the Program in 1999.

Do the ACC Sonography Program graduates get full-time or part-time jobs?

ACC Sonography Program graduates are hired for both full-time and part-time (usually called PRN) jobs. Health Care institutions typically have PRN positions as this is the trend in hiring for hospitals and other medical facilities. Many graduates obtain PRN employment which can become full-time employment in some facilities. Some graduates prefer to work as PRN employees as it suits their personal needs.

What is the outlook for jobs in Sonography in the Austin/Central Texas area?

Nationally there is a shortage of registered sonographers in all specialties and for many types of employment settings. Here in Austin and Central Texas there are times when several full-time and/or part-time job openings are available in a variety of employment settings. Sonographer job vacancies are typically very acute as departments may only employ three or four sonographers for all shifts as compared to tens or even hundreds of nurses employed in a facility. There are times when an employer must hire an experienced sonographer vs. a new graduate, entry-level sonographer. Please note that employers do not hire large number of sonographers for a facility as compared to the number of nurses in the same facility.

The employment rate for ACC Sonography Program graduates is approximately 98% since the beginning of the Program in 1989. You will find more information on Sonography as a career at http://www.sdms.org/career.

I want a career in health care but I don't want to work with needles or body fluids. Will sonography be a good choice for me?

Sonographers must work with all types of patient conditions including patients with IVs, catheters, drainage tubes and ostomy bags. Fluid aspirations, contrast injections, biopsies, and tube placements may be performed during a sonographic exam. Sonographers must be able to provide direct patient care before, during and after the exam.

Patients may experience nausea, vomiting, fainting, and even cardiac arrest while in the Sonography Department. The Sonographer is the primary care-giver when the patient is in the department.

What skills or backgrounds do most sonographers have?

There is no specific background that ensures an individual will be successful in the Sonography Program or as a Sonographer. While Sonography uses computer-based imaging technology, the patient care aspect of Sonography is equally important. Strong math and science backgrounds and excellent psychomotor/hand-eye coordination, conceptualization, organization, concentration, and interpersonal skills are a must to learn and work as a sonographer.

How long does it take to learn Sonography?

Most accredited sonography programs in the United States are 18 months to two years in length depending on inclusion of prerequisite coursework in that time frame with graduates considered entry-level. The actual length of time for an individual to learn basic sonographic scanning skills is highly variable and quite dependent on the person’s innate abilities. Learning the psychomotor skills involved with performing a sonogram is a process much like learning to play a musical instrument to learning to dance or play a sport. In addition, students must have a strong foundation in science and math as Sonography will utilize that knowledge for this specific patient care application.

Some students will pick up the scanning skills very quickly and others will need more time and practice to attain the skills required in each course. There is no way to discern whether or not an individual will be able to learn sonographic scanning skills; however those who have learned to play a musical instrument and/or a sport may find the hand-eye coordination aspect of sonography somewhat familiar.

Psychomotor skills are only one aspect in sonography education. The Sonography student and Sonographer must be able to apply the patient’s clinical presentation with the anatomy and/or pathology visualized on the monitor, and must learn to utilize the ultrasound equipment appropriately and effectively. So a significant amount of Sonography education deals with normal anatomy and physiology, relational/sectional anatomy, sonography principles and instrumentation, pathophysiology, and patient care. The Sonography student must demonstrate appropriate progress through the required coursework to reach graduation and be able to seek employment after passing the appropriate ARDMS exams.

How much does it cost to attend an ACC Sonography Program?

An approximate cost report is available on this page.

How many students are accepted each year?

CAAHEP accredited programs must tie admission numbers/class sizes to the number of available, appropriate clinical sites that will accept students for clinical placements during the length of the program. The majority of the clinical affiliates/sites utilized by the ACC Sonography Program accept only one student per semester.

  • Medical-Vascular: approximately 10-12 students per year
  • Cardiovascular: approximately 10-12 students per year

Does the Sonography Program accept out-of-state students?

Yes, please see these ACC webpages for information about admission and tuition rates:

I am a physician with foreign credentials. When can I start your Sonography Program?

All applicants must complete all prerequisites as stated in the ACC College Catalog and on the Sonography Program website. No exceptions or advance placement are made for any physician. You must apply for admission to ACC and check with the International Students Office at the Riverside Campus.

Can I do this program part-time or in the evening only?

No, the Sonography Program is designed as a full-time course of study which enables the student to finish as quickly as possible and earn the ability to apply to take the ARDMS exams upon successful completion of a program. Also, clinicals must be done during regular department work hours which are weekday, day-time hours only.

I need to work at least part-time if I am admitted to the Sonography Program. Is this possible?

As stated in the Sonography Information Session, the amount of time a Sonography student must spend in study, practice and attending clinical is significant. The Sonography Program cannot make accommodations for a student’s work schedule. Most Sonography students find it difficult to impossible to maintain passing grades in their Sonography courses and work at the same time. You should plan ahead for your financial situation if you are admitted to the Sonography Program.

Are Sonography students in class a lot during the week?

Sonography course schedules vary by semester but a Sonography student can expect to be in a lecture class two to three times a week with labs as assigned. Most Sonography didactic (lecture) courses have a lab that is part of the course but is not a scanning lab. Sonography semester schedules can be viewed from the main ACC webpage by clicking on Registering for Classes.

In addition to the above lecture/lab and scanning lab sessions, the Sonography student will attend clinical one to three days/week depending on the semester. The Sonography Labs may be made available at other times if faculty are available to volunteer for Open Lab sessions and the campus schedules allow access to a Sonography Lab.

Is there a tardy or absence policy for the Sonography courses?

Lecture, lab and clinical schedules are provided to the student prior to the beginning of each semester. Due to the intense nature of sonography education, missed class or clinical hours may seriously affect a student’s ability to complete the requirements of his/her course(s).

Each course syllabus contains information regarding attendance requirements and procedures. Excessive tardiness may result in the application of the Progressive Discipline Process or even withdrawal from the Program.

Will I have to wear a uniform and dress a certain way when I am a Sonography student?

Yes, all Sonography lecture and clinical courses have a Dress Code. Detailed information on the Sonography Dress Codes is found in the Sonography Student Handbook.

For clinical courses, Sonography students are required to meet a Dress Code which includes wearing a teal scrub top, pant, warm-up jacket and white shoes. Hair must be off the face and neck (short or pulled into a bun), make-up must be lightly applied, beards must be trimmed to the jaw line, earrings (no other visible body piercings are allowed) must be small, unobtrusive posts or very small hoops, no visible tattoos are allowed, and fingernails must be trimmed and no polish is allowed. Absolutely no perfume, cologne or even personal care products with strong scents are allowed. No badges or insignias other than program required ID and name badges are allowed.

When attending on-campus lecture courses, it is expected that Sonography students maintain a business casual dress style. Many of the ACC classrooms can become chilly or very warm during a class session; wearing long slacks, lightweight shirts or tops and a jacket is the most beneficial. A Sonography student may be dismissed from class if he/she is wearing inappropriate and/or distracting clothing while in a lecture class.

Can I request to be assigned only to clinical sites inside the city of Austin or on the bus lines?

Sonography students may be assigned to any of the clinical sites utilized by the program in the Central Texas region and may not request assignment to a particular site for any reason. Students are assigned by the Program to a variety of clinical sites (hospital and office practices) throughout the length of the program to provide the student with the well-rounded clinical education as required by programmatic accreditation (not all Sonography clinical sites perform the same types of exams and some are highly specialized).

Sites used by the Sonography Program are located in Austin (several locations), San Marcos, Kyle/Buda, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Killeen, Temple (Vascular Sonography only). Sites within the city of Austin may not be served by the public transit system. In addition, whether or not a clinical site accepts a student placement is solely determined by the clinical site. Therefore, the Sonography Program cannot guarantee that a particular site will accept a student placement at any given point in the program.

Will the Sonography Program prepare me to work performing pregnancy sonograms?

The Medical-Vascular Program includes Abdominal and OB/Gyn and Vascular Sonography in the curriculum. Medical-Vascular Program students receive didactic education and clinical rotations in obstetric sonography as part of their clinical education. Graduates of the Medical-Vascular Program are able to apply to take the ARDMS registry exams for Sonography Principles and Instrumentation, Abdominal, OB/Gyn, and Vascular specialties.

Will I learn pediatric echocardiography during the DCS program?

The Cardiovascular Program does include an introduction to Pediatric Echocardiography; however the number of clinical facilities in the Austin and Central Texas area that perform Pediatric Echo studies is very small. Even experienced Adult Echocardiographers may need a year or more to become proficient in Pediatric Echo.

Will I be able to advance my education in Sonography after completing the AAS degree program?

Yes, baccalaureate degree programs that allow a student to apply credits from their previous education exist in the United States. These programs are sometimes referred to as BS Completer programs. The majority of these programs are offered by colleges and universities that only accept credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities, such as ACC.

How are application bonus points awarded for completing medical assistant, patient care technician, or nurse aide training programs?

Medical Assistant and Patient Care Technician education are not considered enhanced patient care training. These training programs are equivalent to nurse aide training, meeting our minimum requirements for admission (0 application bonus points). Bonus points are not awarded for completion of nurse aide, medical assistant, or patient care technician training, however students will receive bonus points for proof of licensure in these categories.

Note: Completion of a formal patient care training program is separate from obtaining licensure.

  1. You complete nurse aide training (0 application bonus points), which then qualifies you to take the state exam to earn your certified nurse aide license (2 application bonus points) for a total of 2 application bonus points.
  2. You complete Basic EMT training (2 application bonus points for enhanced patient care), which then qualifies you to take the state exam to earn your EMT certification (2 application bonus points) for a total of 4 application bonus points.

Can I learn a different specialty after I complete the ACC DMVS or DCVS Sonography Program?

Yes, sonographers can learn new specialties and attain additional credentials after completing their initial Program of study. This is usually accomplished through a Sonographer’s employer if the specialty and credential are within the Sonographer’s credential group.

RDMS/RVT Sonographers can acquire skills in Fetal Echocardiography, Pediatric Sonography, Musculoskeletal, and/or High Risk Obstetric Sonography. Some RDMS Sonographers also learn Cardiac Sonography, but there is not a high demand for that type of sonographer in the Central Texas area. RDCS/RVT Sonographers can acquire skills in Fetal Echocardiography and Pediatric Echocardiography. New sonographic applications and specialties continue to be developed, so there may be additional skills available to Sonographers in the future.

Is the Sonography Program accredited?

Yes, ACC’s Sonography Program is CAAHEP accredited: DMS since 1992, DCS since 2001, and VT since 2009 with the latest re-accreditation occurring in Fall of 2013. The next re-accreditation is scheduled for 2018 for all three programs.

What does CAAHEP accreditation mean to applicants and students?

ACC’s Sonography Program CAAHEP accreditation means that the Program has submitted to a national, peer-reviewed inspection of the processes and outcomes of the Program. Applicants are assured that the ACC Sonography Program provides a proven format for Sonographer education. Students are assured that the education they are receiving will prepare them for work as professional Sonographer and will prepare them for successful completion of the national registry exams conducted by the ARDMS. Only graduates of CAAHEP accredited programs meet ARDMS Prerequisite #2 for applying to sit for these national registry exams.

What are the professional organizations for Sonography and Sonographers?

The professional organizations for Sonography are the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) (www.sdms.org), the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) (www.asecho.org), the Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU ) (www.svunet.org), and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) (www.aium.org).

These professional societies offer student and sonographer memberships which include access to student scholarships, career information, practice and accreditation standards and guidelines, professional Journals, national conferences and educational sessions, and other work related resources. Sonography students are strongly encouraged to join the professional organizations that are directly related to their Program of study.

Are the Sonography faculty members experienced teachers?

The Program Director/Department Chair has 30+ years of experience working with a variety of students in a teaching hospital environment and has been with ACC since 1994; other faculty members have a minimum of 5 years, each as ACC instructors plus most have 15+ years of clinical experience in a variety of settings.

How much clinical experience is included in the Sonography Program?

Each Program has approximately 1,488 hours of supervised clinical education with the majority of those hours at off-campus clinical affiliates.

What is the total number of program contact hours?

For each Program (Medical-Vascular and Cardiovascular) the total number of contact hours (hours required for the number of credits for each course) is 2,320. Each Program consists of two awards: an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Medical or Cardiac Sonography and an Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC). The ATCs are specific to each Program with advanced lectures and clinical rotations, but the Vascular Sonography courses are the same for both ATC plans.

What types of resources does the program have?

Both the Eastview and Round Rock Campuses maintain medical libraries, including a large number of Sonography texts and references. The Sonography Program maintains a large selection of recent sonography references, textbooks, video tapes, computer software and other teaching aids. In the Sonography Labs students have use of state-of-the-art live ultrasound units, ultrasound training simulators, vascular physiologic testing units, and student use computers. Sonography students also have access to ACC computer labs at all campuses.

Are the graduates able to take the ARDMS exams?

Yes, ACC Sonography Program students apply and take the ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation exam (SPI) during the program. Graduates are able to apply to take their specialties exams prior to graduation and, if approved by the ARDMS, take their exams immediately upon graduation.

Where can I take the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) course?

ACC offers the CNA course through the Continuing Education Division. If you do the Nurse Aide training through ACC, you will need to take NURA 1060 and NURA 1001 to complete the training required to apply to the Sonography Program.

Can I take the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) course in another state?

Yes, as long as you complete the course and can provide documentation of the minimum 60 classroom and 40 clinical hours. If the program is regulated by the state, it will usually be a green light.

I am an out-of-state applicant with CNA training. Does this count toward points on my application?

Yes, as long as the out-of-state CNA training included at least 60 classroom hours and 40 clinical hours. An out-of-state CNA license or documented work history as a CNA will also be accepted.

Does the program accept expired formal patient care training licenses?

Yes. The same required documentation still applies.

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