Becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: Step-by-Step Guide

Diagnostic medical sonographers play a huge role in helping monitor and diagnose medical issues. They do this by using specialized imaging equipment.

To become a diagnostic medical sonographer, you'll need to complete a medical sonography degree or diploma program. You may also want to become certified.

Keep reading to learn more about what a diagnostic medical sonographer does and the steps to take to become one.

What is a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

A diagnostic medical sonographer is a medical professional who uses sonography to create images of the inside of the body.

Sonography uses sound waves to produce images, which are called ultrasounds. This type of imaging is mainly used to see soft tissues, muscles, organs, and blood vessels.

The most well-known use of sonography is to check in on a fetus during pregnancy, but it can be used to diagnose a multitude of conditions as well as assist with certain medical procedures.

The job duties of a sonographer may vary slightly depending on the sonographer's specialty, but typically include:

• explaining procedures to patients and answering questions
• identifying abnormalities in images and bringing them to the attention of the physician
• maintaining and troubleshooting equipment
• operating image equipment
• preparing the exam room and sonography equipment
• situating patients for imaging

Often, a diagnostic medical sonographer specializes in a particular area of the body or a particular body system. These specializations include:

• abdominal sonography: abdominal sonography focuses on imaging the abdomen and internal organs, like the kidney and liver.
• breast sonography: breast sonography is used to find things like cysts or tumors within breast tissue.
• cardiac sonography: cardiac sonography, called an echocardiogram, is used to see the heart and blood vessels.
• musculoskeletal sonography: musculoskeletal sonography is the imaging of joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
• pediatric sonography: pediatric sonography is performed on infants and children.
• obstetric and gynecologic (OB/GYN) sonography: OB/GYN sonography looks at the female reproductive system. It's used to monitor fetal development but also to diagnose conditions like endometriosis or PCOS.
• vascular sonography: vascular sonography looks specifically at blood vessels throughout the body. This can be used to find things like blocked arteries or blood clots.

While part of a diagnostic medical sonographer's job is to find abnormalities in the images, they are not the ones who make the actual diagnosis. A licensed physician must do that.

Steps To Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

To become a diagnostic medical sonographer, you'll need to complete a medical sonography training program. You may also want to pursue certification.

We've broken down these steps below.

Step 1: Complete a Medical Sonography Training Program

The first step to becoming a medical sonographer is to complete a medical sonography training program.

These are typically offered as two-year associate sonography degrees but may also be offered as shorter diploma programs or four-year bachelor's degree programs.

You're most likely to find these programs through community, career, and technical colleges, but may be able to find them at larger colleges and universities as well.

Medical sonography training programs cover topics such as:

• anatomy and physiology
• medical terminology
• professionalism and patient care
• sonography procedures and technology

Often, these programs include general medical and diagnostic sonography courses, as well as courses that focus on your sonography specialty.

Most programs also include a clinical component, where you get hands-on experience performing sonographies and working with sonography equipment.

Step 2: Become Certified as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

While certification isn't required to become a diagnostic medical sonographer, some employers require employees to be certified.

Certification can also give you an edge over other candidates when you're applying for jobs and help you negotiate a raise or promotion.

There are two primary bodies for diagnostic medical sonographer certification: the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and the American Registry of Radiologic Technicians.

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) offers several certifications, but the primary certification is the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.

To obtain this certification, you'll need to have completed a sonography training program. You'll also need to pass two exams.

The first exam is the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam. It's a multiple-choice exam that includes about 110 hours and takes two hours.

The exam assesses your knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of clinical safety, physical principles, pulsed echo instrumentation, and quality assurance.

You can take this exam at one of the many Pearson VUE testing sites around the country or take it online from home.

Next, you'll need to take the specialty exam that corresponds to your sonography specialty area. The specialty exams available through ARDMS are:

• abdomen
• breast
• fetal echocardiography
• obstetrics and gynecology
• pediatric

Each exam is three hours and contains between 145-170 multiple-choice questions, depending on the specialty. Some can be taken from home, but others must be taken through a testing site.

Other certifications available from the ARDMS include:

• Midwife Sonography
• Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer
• Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer
• Registered Vascular Sonographer

All require applicants to take the SPI, but additional testing is dependent on the specific certification and any subspecialties.

American Registry of Radiologic Technicians

The American Registry of Radiologic Technicians (ARRT) primarily certifies radiologic specialties, but also has certifications for sonographers.

Applicants can start with a primary certification in either sonography or vascular sonography. To qualify for certification, you must:

• hold an associate degree or higher in sonography
• pass the ethics review
• pass the certification exam

The sonography certification exam includes 360 scored questions and is divided into two parts. The first part covers procedures, and the second part covers image production.

The first session is timed for 240 minutes, and the second for 150 minutes. You get a 30-minute break in between.

The vascular sonographer exam consists of 175 scored questions, and you'll have a total of 225 minutes to complete the exam.

After you obtain certification, you can continue on for a specialty certification. The specialty sonography certifications offered by ARRT are breast sonography and vascular sonography.

All exams are computer-based but must be taken through an approved testing location.

Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

To become a diagnostic medical sonographer, you'll need to complete a diagnostic medical sonography program and will likely want to pursue certification.

With the steps above, you can be on your way to becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer today!