As of 2010, 82 schools in the U.S. offer accredited sonography certificate programs. Accreditation is granted by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). To become accredited, a school must meet standards and guidelines established by CAAHEP. For diagnostic medical sonographer programs, these standards and guidelines cover the goals of the educational program, resources to meet the goals and evaluation of students and graduates' educational outcomes.
The 82 accredited sonography certificate programs are offered in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Some programs are offered at colleges and universities. Other programs are taught at hospitals and medical centers. Certificate programs typically take a year to complete, but some programs may be completed in a little less or a little more than one year.
Accredited programs will include prerequisite college courses, which students must complete before starting coursework in sonography. Prerequisite classes include physics, pathophysiology, care of patients, medical terms and ethics, human anatomy and physiology, a higher math such as algebra or statistics and a communication course such as speech or English. Schools may also require students to have a two- or four-year degree in a medical field from an accredited school before starting the sonography program. There may be other prerequisites required by individual schools, hospitals or medical centers offering sonography programs. Each institution must be contacted directly for graduation requirements.
Some coursework may vary between schools, hospitals and medical centers offering sonographer programs, but each accredited program is required to include certain components in their curriculum. This includes use of ultrasound equipment and instruments, understanding tissue and ultrasound interaction, and courses in ultrasound principles, pathology, physiology and acoustic physics. Students must also be taught how to use both oral and written communication skills, interact with physicians, work with medical records and understand legal principles relevant to sonography. Other required competencies include scanning techniques, how to position patients and adjust equipment and administrative and quality control and assurance procedures.