Medical Sonography

Central Carolina Community College's General Medical Sonography (MS) Program is an Associate's Degree program that educates and trains students to operate special equipment to create images that help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions and/or assist physicians and surgeons during invasive procedures.

The Associate's Degree in General Medical Sonography will prepare you for the ARRT and the ARDMS exams. Students will be educated and trained in:

  • Abdominal Sonography: imaging a patient's abdominal cavity and nearby organs, such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. You will also image anatomy outside of the abdominal cavity such as the thyroid and soft tissue of the extremities.
  • Breast Sonography: imaging patient's breast tissues. Sonography can confirm the presence of cysts and tumors detected on mammography. Breast sonographers work closely with physicians and assist in procedures that provide information used in decision making about treatment options for breast cancer.
  • Obstetric and Gynecologic Sonography: imaging the female reproductive system. Obstetrical sonographers work closely with physicians in detecting congenital birth defects and tracking baby's growth and health before birth. Gynecologic sonograms provide physicians with information used to diagnose abnormalities in the female reproductive system such as fibroids, ovarian torsion, ovarian cancer, and in the diagnosis of infertility.
  • Pediatric Sonography: imaging neonate, infant, and children. Pediatric sonographers work closely with pediatricians and caregivers imaging medical conditions associated with premature births, birth defects, and diseases specific to this age group.
  • Musculoskeletal Sonography: imaging muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints throughout the body. Musculoskeletal sonographers assist orthopedic providers in diagnosing sprains, strains, tears, and other soft tissue conditions and with invasive procedures.

Students will also be educated in Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation. This will prepare students for the ARRT Sonography exam and the ARDMS SPI exam. There is not a separate Physics exam for ARRT Sonography credential, but there is a separate Breast Sonography exam for students who wish to specialize in breast sonography. Upon passing the ARRT Sonography and/or Breast Sonography exam, the ARDMS SPI and specialty exam(s) students will be Registered Medical Sonographers and increase their job opportunities and salary range.

Watch the video below to learn more about this career: