Online Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Master your skills and prepare to sit for the ARDMS Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer exam with the online Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
You must already hold an imaging credential to apply for this certificate.
Want to learn more?
Designed for Credentialed Professionals
This certificate is designed for students who already hold an imaging credential and want to transition into diagnostic medical sonography.
If you do not meet this requirement, you are not eligible to apply for this certificate. Please review our pre-advanced medical imaging pathway for options that do not require an imaging credential.
Modality Considerations by Location
If you plan to complete your clinical in the Treasure Valley, modality program directors will only accept the number of students for which clinical placement is available. You must apply before the application deadline to be considered.
Discover which modality fits your goals by taking the Medical Imaging Program Selection Quiz.
Courses
The online Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a 36-credit program. You can complete the program in as little as 12 months when attending full-time.
Review the following table for required courses.
| Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| HLTH 300 Pathophysiology | 4 |
| IMGSCI 408 Advanced Sectional Anatomy in Imaging Sciences | 3 |
| AMI 400 Advanced Modality Case Studies | 2 |
| AMI 460 Sonographic Physics and Instrumentation | 3 |
| AMI 461 Abdominal Sonography | 2 |
| AMI 461L Abdominal Scan Simulation | 2 |
| AMI 462 Obstetrics/Gynecology Sonography | 3 |
| AMI 463 Doppler Procedures | 2 |
| AMI 463L Doppler Scan Simulation | 1 |
| AMI 465 Clinical Experience in Diagnostic Medical Sonography I | 4 |
| AMI 466 Clinical Experience in Diagnostic Medical Sonography II | 4 |
| AMI 467 Clinical Experience in Diagnostic Medical Sonography III | 6 |
Course descriptions are published on the undergraduate catalog website. To find a course, click the “Courses” tab and select the drop-down list that aligns with your desired course prefix (e.g. AMI 204). You may also use the search bar to search for the course prefix.
Admission into the advanced medical imaging program does not guarantee clinical placement. Clinical experiences in some modalities across the country can be highly competitive. After being admitted to Boise State, students will receive access to a resource site with best practices on how to find a clinical site and receive mentoring from our program’s team of experts.
Program Costs
Boise State Online offers reasonably priced tuition, ongoing support, financial aid options and degree paths that help ensure you reach your goals quickly and efficiently.
Review the following table for program costs.
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Boise State Admissions Application Fee (non-refundable) | $50 |
| Courses (per-credit rate)* | $395 |
| Books | $1,026 |
| Room/Board** | $5,688 |
| Transportation** | $1,248 |
*The per-credit fees are for the 2024-25 academic year. Future academic year per-credit fees may vary slightly and are finalized each May. Clinical experience courses include a clinical course fee that covers items such as radiation badges, student ID badges, postage and clinical tracking software and will vary depending on the modality selected.
**Costs for room, board and transportation are used to calculate financial aid and are included to disclose the full cost of attendance. These costs are not required for students pursuing a fully online degree.
Other potential expenses may include a personal computer, webcam, headphones with mic and internet access — all of which are required for this program.
Note to Boise State and other Idaho higher education employees: Fee waivers do not apply to this program.
Career Opportunities
Our online Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography prepares you for the future of imaging.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 10% growth for diagnostic medical sonography technologists between 2022 and 2032.
The Idaho Department of Labor’s 2022-2032 projections set the growth rates even higher — at 31% — for workers living in Idaho.
Additionally, a report published by Indeed.com shows that the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) certification ranks at #15 for the top 20 most in-demand certifications.
Possible Careers:
- Ultrasound Technologist
- Field Clinical Specialist
- Medical Imaging Manager
- Lead Technologist
We’re Here To Help!
From deciding if an online degree is right for you to determining what credits transfer from previous schools, talking to a student success coach is the best place to start.
Application Process
Boise State Application Deadlines
To be considered for this certificate program, you must apply to Boise State by the application deadline, as shown in the following table.
| Semester | Application Deadline 1st 7-Week |
Class Start 1st 7-Week |
Application Deadline 2nd 7-Week |
Class Start 2nd 7-Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | December 1* | Early January | February 1* | Early March |
| Summer | April 15* | Early May | June 1* | Late June |
| Fall | July 15* | Late August | September 15* | Late October |
*Students interested in financial aid are encouraged to apply one month prior to these posted deadlines.
Program Application Deadlines
To be eligible for the modality year and clinical experiences, you must secure a clinical site by March 1 for fall semester clinical experiences.
Clinical experiences are a capstone of the advanced medical imaging program. These experiences are conducted in your local area, prepare you for licensure exams and give you hands-on experience in the industry. You are expected to find and secure your own clinical site by using resources provided by the program.
Application deadlines ensure an appropriate clinical site is approved in time for your first clinical experience course, which happens in your final year of the program.
Industry Research Resources
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is a competitive pathway for those entering the medical imaging industry. Due to high saturation, clinical experiences in some regions can be challenging to obtain.
We advise you to complete industry research in your area to develop a strong understanding of employability in your region. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great place to start your research:
Certificate Outcomes
After completing the diagnostic medical sonography certificate, you will be able to:
- Prepare for the RDMS credentialing exam.
- Advocate for patients, recognize professional impact related to patient outcomes and develop a culture of safety.
- Demonstrate effective, appropriate and respectful communication with diverse populations of patients, co-workers, physicians and the community to improve patient outcomes by performing beyond technical application.
- Apply ethical practice as a professional technologist from a legal, compliance and systems perspective within the healthcare realm.
- Actively lead and/or participate as part of an interprofessional team to improve communication amongst healthcare providers and decrease patient risk.
- Perform as a master of advanced imaging principles and applications.
- Appropriately share data within a healthcare team while maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.
- Successfully participate as a leader in the medical imaging profession by making meaningful contributions within your department, your healthcare organization, your community as well as on a national level.
- Attain and maintain national credentialing within a modality of focus.
Authorization
Boise State maintains authorization to offer online programs in Idaho and beyond. Detailed information about state authorization is available on the eCampus Center website.
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Contact our enrollment and student success team for support by emailing us at AMIonline@boisestate.edu or calling (208) 426-5921.