Competency Credential Offered in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Practicing sonographers can earn a Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound) Competency Credential, work toward a bachelor's degree, or receive noncredit instruction in this rapidly expanding career field through an initiative being offered this fall at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Those taking the course work for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Competency Credential can transfer the credits they earn to the Applied Health Studies bachelor's-degree program offered by the College's School of Health Sciences. Noncredit programming will be offered through Penn College's Technology Transfer Center.

The classes will be scheduled primarily on weekends, and distance-education and Web-based learning options will also be available.

Participants who complete all six content areas (208 hours of instruction/13 credits) and who have the requisite 1,200 hours of documented clinical practice are eligible for a competency credential, which prepares practitioners to take their certification exams. The six content areas are: Introduction to Sonography (16 hours); Ultrasound Physics (48 hours); Abdominal Sonography (32 hours); Vascular Sonography (48 hours); OB/GYN Sonography (48 hours); and Neurosonography (16 hours).

To be eligible for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Competency Credential, applicants must document 1,200 hours of clinical practice, be a registered radiographer, a practitioner of sonography seeking certification eligibility, or a senior student in the Radiography program.

Penn College recently purchased a top-of-the-line ultrasound machine (the GE Logiq 700 Expert) for use in the program. State-of-the-art classroom and laboratory experiences will be provided.

Sonographers preparing for Ultrasound Registration may wish to consider attending the Ultrasound Registry Review sessions being offered July 13, 14 and 15 at Penn College. Sonographers who are registered in good standing with the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists can obtain well-paying jobs in the nation's hospitals.

At the registry review sessions, faculty will review Ultrasound Physics, Abdominal and OB/GYN scanning. All registry review courses have been approved for continuing medical education credits through the SDMS. For more information about the registry review (or to obtain more information or register for noncredit, continuing-education courses in Diagnostic Medical Sonography) call the Technology Transfer Center at (570) 327-4775 or send e-mail.

For more information about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Competency Credential and/or credit courses, call Robert Slothus, director of the Department of Radiography at Penn College, at (570) 320-8007 or send e-mail.

Information is also available on the Web.