The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Boise State University received a ten-year continuing accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Boise State sonography program has continually maintained CAAHEP accreditation since 2001. Boise State is one of only 32 CAAHEP accredited programs across the nation offering a bachelor degree. Boise State is home to the only sonography program in the state of Idaho.
A major strength of the Boise State Sonography Program is the extensive network of local hospitals and clinics, physicians and sonographers that offer a variety of educational experiences. Students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a variety of clinical experiences at 21 clinical sites throughout the Treasure Valley. The entire clinical team consists of one faculty, one clinical coordinator, one medical director, and 26 clinical instructors, as well as numerous sonographers and physicians. The team guides the students’ didactic and clinical experiences throughout the professional component of the program.
CAAHEP accreditation is highly valued by students and employers alike. Accredited programs have demonstrated rigorous standards, attract high quality students and produce graduates that are highly recruited. Graduate surveys from the past five years indicate 96 percent of Boise State sonography graduates are employed in sonography within three months of graduating, with 67 percent indicating they were hired before graduating.
The CAAHEP is a programmatic postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and carries out its accrediting activities in cooperation with 19 review committees. CAAHEP currently accredits over 2100 entry level education programs in 23 health science professions.
The accreditation standards include program/institutional goals, resources, curriculum, student/graduate evaluation, and fair practices. The rigorous accreditation standards are established by CAAHEP in conjunction with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, American College of Cardiology Foundation, American College of Radiology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Society for Vascular Surgery, and Society for Vascular Ultrasound.
More information about the Boise State Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is available at www.boisestate.edu/radiologicsciences/sonography/. More information about CAAHEP is available at www.caahep.org.