The Weatherford College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is a 22-month curriculum
comprised of classroom, laboratory, and clinical learning experience. This is a full-time
program. While the majority of coursework and clinical hours are performed during
the week from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., the clinical learning experience may require
that the student attend clinicals during the evening hours or on the weekend. The
course of study is comprised of 65 semester-credit hours and is designed to prepare
individuals for careers as entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers.
Weatherford College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Applicants
are considered on the basis of qualifications without regard to gender, age, race,
color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, or the presence
of a non-job-related disability or any other legally protected status.
Diagnostic imaging embraces several procedures that aid in diagnosing many ailments.
Diagnostic medical sonographers use special equipment to direct non-ionizing, high
frequency sounds waves into areas of the patient’s body. Sonographers operate the
equipment which collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be video-taped,
transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician.
The DMS Program at Weatherford College is one of only six in Texas that is CAAHEP
accredited in abdominal, vascular and OB/GYN specialties. The ARDMS registry pass
rates for all three registries and job placement rates among the WC DMS program’s
graduates are substantially higher than the global performance average. Please see
“Sonography Graduate Outcomes” for the most recent information regarding pass rates,
job placement rates, and retention rates.”
Sonography Graduate Outcomes
The Weatherford College Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Joint Review Committee on Accreditation for Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
(JRCDMS).
CAAHEP
- Address: 9355 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775
- Phone: 727-210-2350
- Website: www.caahep.org
JRCDMS
- Address: 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 21043
- Phone: 443-973-3251
- Website: www.jrcdms.org
The goal of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to prepare competent entry-level
general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective
(behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations:
- Abdominal sonography- extended
- Obstetrics and gynecology sonography
- Vascular sonography
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program prepares you for a fulfilling career as
a sonographer.
There are various opportunities in the field of sonography and you will be equipped
with the knowledge to perform all studies in abdominal, obstetric and gynecologic,
as well as vascular sonography. You would have the ability to choose the setting of
your career, which can include working in the hospital setting, outpatient setting
or even working as a traveling sonographer.
There are additional abilities to expand your knowledge is possible by learning additional
modalities, such as adult echocardiography, breast, or musculoskeletal sonography.
DMS Statistics
Median annual pay in 2021 for sonographers in the metroplex
- The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the job outlook for diagnostic
medical sonographers is 19% from 2020-2030.
Reference: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292032.htm
Requirements
Technical Standards
Listed below are some of the technical standards that sonographers and vascular technologists
must be able to routinely perform. If an individual is unable to meet the technical
standards, they will be referred to the ADA department.
- Lift more than 50 pounds routinely
- Push and pull routinely
- Bend and stoop routinely
- Have full use of both hands, wrists and shoulders
- Distinguish audible sounds
- Adequately view sonograms, including color distinctions
- Work standing on their feet 80% of the time
- Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick or injured
- Assist patients on and off examining tables
- Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals
- Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in
the proper sequence
Retrieved from: www.sdms.org