SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY STUDIES

DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY

Sonographers are the Radiologist’s eyes.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a diverse and dynamic profession. Sonographers are active in many areas of
healthcare. Algonquin College offers a Graduate Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography for the Generalist.
This credential allows you to competently assess a wide variety of organ systems. Examples of these can include
Abdominal, Obstetrical, Gynecological, Superficial Structure exams and Lower Extremity Venous and Carotid duplex
Doppler exams.
Sonographers are an integral part of the healthcare team, playing a critical role by providing key information that
enables diagnosis and assists in patient management. The quality of an ultrasound study is highly dependent on the
skill of the sonographer. In order to perform a thorough ultrasound, the sonographer must adapt their study in
response to their sonographic findings.
Sonographers bring together an important combination of skills including technical competency, decision
making, critical thinking, professional practice and patient care. The sonographer must have an educational
background strong in ultrasound physics, anatomy, physiology and pathology. They must analyze data, make
judgements, differentiate normal from abnormal, based on real time physiologic information and effectively
communicate with patients and other members of the healthcare team. The final diagnostic report relies on
information compiled by the sonographer concerning patient history, clinical symptoms and sonographic findings.

YOUR CAREER
You may find employment as:
Diagnostic medical sonographers
Sonography educators
Medical technical salespeople
Application specialists
Medical researchers
Managers or supervisors in related fields.
Upon successful completion of the program, to become credentialed a student must write the Sonography
Canada Certification Exam. Graduates will also have the opportunity to write the ARDMS (American Registered
Diagnostic Medical Sonography) certification examination. Although this is not currently a regulated profession
under the Health Regulated Professions Act in Ontario, most employers require successful completion of the
Sonography Canada and/or ARDMS certification exams.

You are best suited for this program if you have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and are
self–directed in a team environment, possess good hand-eye coordination, detail oriented, proficiency in technology,
have strong analytical and perceptual skills and are able to work in a variety of challenging and stressful work
situations.
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY STUDIES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the admission requirements for this Will I be able to stay in Ottawa for clinical
program? placement?
An Ontario College Advanced Diploma or The Diagnostic Medical Sonography site selection
Degree in the following: process is fair and transparent. Therefore you may not
necessarily be able to stay in Ottawa.
Medical Radiation Technology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology Can i do dedicated cardiac and vascular sonography
Nuclear Medicine Technology with this program?
Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer No. This is a generalist program with minimal cardiac
Diagnostic Vascular Sonographer and vascular to meet the Sonography Canada’s General-
Massage Therapy ist competency requirements. You may take additional
Nursing (> three years) training for these.
Paramedic If I am internationally educated in the medical
Respiratory Therapy OR equivalent with profession will my education be assessed?
Departmental approval. Accepted degrees require a
You are responsible to have your documentation assessed
minimum of 1 Anatomy and Physiology and 5 Health
by International Credential Assessment Service of Cana-
related courses.
da (ICAS ) or World Education Services (WES) prior to
• Applicants must provide proof of registration to
applying to the program. This process can take several
practice in their respective professions.
weeks.
• Once you meet the program requirements above,
you will be asked to take a pre-entrance test called
HOAE - Health Occupation Aptitude Examination. Will I have to write an English language test?
The applicants are then ranked and offered Oral and written communication are an essential part of
admission based on their scores from this test. sonography. If English is not your first language you will
require an English test or a level 8 in ESL.
What is the format of the HOAE?
.The exam is divided into 5 parts to be completed within Does it matter where I do my clinical placement?
a 2½ hour period. Included are: You cannot select your own placement. Many diagnostic
1. Academic Aptitude faciilities are affiliated with the program. Although most
Verbal (30 questions) clinical placement sites are in Ontario, students may also
Math (30 questions) be placed out of province depending on site
Analytical reasoning (30 questions) availability. Sites are selected by a lottery process and
2. Spelling (60 questions) the cost of reloaction is the students’s
3. Reading Comprehension (45 questions) responsibility. Clinical sites are limited and will be
4. Natural Science (65 questions) assigned to you by the Clinical Coordinator. Each of the
5. Vocational Adjustment (90 questions) clinical sites is carefully selected to offer able to offer a
good learning experience to meet the competency
profile set by the professional association so that you
Who is best suited for this program? can go work anywhere you want. within the scope of
You are best suited for this program if you have excellent practice of the Generalist Sonographer.
communication and interpersonal skills, and are
self-directed in a team environment, possess good Will I be able to get a job after I graduate?
hand-eye coordination, detail oriented, proficiency in Yes, there are opportunities within the region. Typical-
technology, have strong analytical and perceptual skills ly you start as a casual or part-time employee and then
and are able to work in a variety of challenging and move to a full-time job. You can be hired by hospitals and
stressful work clinics anywhere. Your certification will also allow you to
situations. work in all of the provinces in Canada. Please note that if
you would like to find employment in Quebec, a language
Where can I do my clinical placement? proficiency test may be required.
The clinical placements are in a variety of places, large
and community hospitals and clinics.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

Jane St. Germain algonquincollege.com/dmu
Program Coordinator
613-727-4723 ext. 2145
stgermj1@algonquincollege.com
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