Accredited Programs

• There are three higher education institutions in the United States that offer an accredited, online program in diagnostic medical sonography. These schools are Washburn University, Jackson Community College and Mountain State University. Accreditation for these three programs is granted by the Council on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), and graduation from an accredited program is required to be licensed in many states as an ultrasound technician or sonographer.
  
  

Degree Types

• Ultrasonography online programs offer students the opportunity to earn a certificate, associate's degree or bachelor's degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Mountain State University offers all three options for students, while Washburn offers only a certificate and Jackson only an associate's degree.
  
  

Admission Requirements

• Each program sets its own requirements for the admission of students, but there are some similarities between each college. All three require students to fill out an application for admission as well as complete pre-requisites and provide a transcript showing the grades in each class. Washburn is unique, since it requires applicants to complete a 2-to-4-hour sonography observation before applying for admission, while Jackson requires a physical exam for students to be officially admitted to the program.
  
  

Clinicals

• The faculty or program coordinator for each program works with students to arrange clinicals at a facility close to their home. Washburn and Mountain State arrange clinicals with facilities after a student has completed some of the online classroom and lab classes. Jackson Community College contacts facilities and makes tentative clinical arrangements prior to a student being accepted into their program. This ensures that the student has a location in their area to complete clinicals.
  
  

Length

• The time it takes to complete an ultrasonography online program is different for each institution and each student. Washburn is a one or two year program, depending upon the specialty a student chooses, but it also requires students to have a two-year allied health degree to be admitted to the program. Mountain State offers three different degree types in sonography, so it can take students anywhere from one to four years to finish their degree.