Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Applications to this program are no longer being accepted for fall 2012. 

Please consider other relevant programs in the School of Health and Public Safety such as Medical Radiologic Technology or Nuclear Medicine Technology. Applications to the fall 2013 intake of Diagnostic Medical Sonography will open October 19, 2012. We encourage you to apply early.

• 26-month diploma
• Fall start
• Four clinical practica
• Graduates in high demand

Program Description

Ultrasound, or diagnostic medical sonography, is a technology involving the application of high-frequency sound waves toward patients to help physicians in medical diagnoses. Diagnostic medical sonographers work as members of patient care teams, assessing patients and providing information to physicians for diagnoses and monitoring patients’ health status. This is a specialized vocation requiring a high-degree of technical skills and exceptional interpersonal skills. This program teaches key aspects of ultrasound technology including obstetrics and gynecology, the cardiac and vascular systems and the abdomen and superficial structures. Studies also include patient care, physics, anatomy and physiology, equipment instrumentation, quality control and performance of diagnostic scanning procedures.

The 26 month program consists of theory and lab courses onsite at SAIT along with practicum rotations off campus. Clinical practica sites are currently located in Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Ottawa, Red Deer, Regina, Saskatoon, Victoria and Penticton. Practicum locations are constantly changing. All students can expect to be placed outside of Calgary (including out of province). Students are expected to return to SAIT campus for classes in the second and third year of the program. These on-campus classes will provide an opportunity to integrate theory with the hands-on skills learned during practica.

To support their learning, students may be required to participate in online courses throughout their practicum and will require access to a computer with Internet access and a printer.

Your Career

Graduates find work as diagnostic medical sonographers in hospitals and community clinics.

Admission Requirements

Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent, with the following admission requirements or equivalents:

• At least 60% in Pure Math 30 or Applied Math 30 or Math 30-1 or Math 31, or at least 70% in Math 30-2, AND,
• At least 60% in English Language Arts 30-1, AND,
• At least 60% in Biology 30, and Physics 30, and Chemistry 20.
• All applicants to SAIT Polytechnic must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada. For more information, please visit English Proficiency.
• View High School Course Equivalencies Admission Equivalencies by Province.

Selection

To be included in selection, applications along with all supporting documents must be submitted by January 31. There will be 22 seats offered in the fall intake.

Selection Process

Selection is done on a continuous basis. Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. Applicants who apply after January 31 will be placed on a waitlist.

The program will use email as the primary source of communication. Applicants must ensure their email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications.

All applicants must meet the admission requirements to receive a selection package. Completed selection packages will be scored and approximately the top 66 applicants will continue in the selection process and be invited to attend an interview at SAIT. Telephone interviews will not be accepted.  Applicants progress through selection in the following order:

1. Diagnostic Imaging Selection Package
2. Career Investigation and/or Interview
   Preparing for the Diagnostic Imaging Selection Process

Note: Final selection recommendations may give consideration to regional distribution in support of practicum sites. A maximum of four seats are reserved for Saskatchewan residents.

Due to limited practicum placements you will be required to relocate outside of Calgary for at least two rotations.  We currently place students in Calgary, Regina, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Penticton, Victoria, Saskatoon and Ottawa.

Successful candidates must sign a practicum agreement contract prior to final acceptance into the program. Applicants who are successful in gaining admission will be requested to provide proof of the following prior to the start of practicum:

1. Updated Immunization Records. Details are included in the orientation package for successful candidates.
   Please note: Practicum sites require students to demonstrate updated immunization status prior to attending practicum. Failure to do so will jeopardize your ability to complete the practicum portion of your program.
2. Security Clearance: According to the Protection for Persons in Care Act, our practicum sites require that students obtain a criminal records check prior to going on practicum. Any criminal code offence for which a pardon has not been received, may be a deterrent to a student’s entry into practicum, and therefore will result in an uncompleted program, or non-graduating status.
3. In compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, G8.40 Respiratory protection – Fit test, students are fit-tested for respiratory masks prior to their practica. Fit-testing is available on campus. Failure to adequately fit an N-95 mask may result in a restricted practicum and\or limited employment. Facial abnormality/hair may result in unsuccessful fit testing.
4. Current Basic Rescuer (Level C) CPR to Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation Standards. SAIT, in conjunction with the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation, offers CPRS 212 that meets this standard. The CPR requirement must be maintained for the duration of your program.

Program Specific Selection Package

The applicant is solely responsible to ensure the information in the selection package is legible, articulate and best reflects the candidate. Falsifying information will result in the application being removed immediately from the selection process.

Due to the significant number of applications that the program receives the selection process can take some time. We appreciate your patience in this process and we will notify you of our decision concerning your application status as soon as possible. You can also log on to mysait.ca to check admission decision status.

Unfortunately, due to the extremely large volume of applicants, we cannot provide any assistance or follow-up as to why the candidate was not competitive.

Student Success

• Students with higher secondary or post-secondary marks usually experience greater success in SAIT programs. Students are expected to spend approximately 20 hours per week outside of class studying.
• Students who experience success in this program have effective communication skills in English.
• Health care practitioners are detail oriented in the care they provide and enjoy working in a team environment.
• Because of the nature of this work, students must be capable of lifting heavy patients, standing for long periods of time, and using upper body strength while scanning patients in awkward positions. Individuals with previous chronic or repetitive strain injuries have experienced re-injury or aggravation of these conditions in this program and/or as a sonographer.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Credentials

After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT diploma in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Graduates of this program will be eligible to write registry exams in Abdomen and Superficial Structures, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Adult Echocardiography. In addition, students will have received the foundational theory needed to enable them to work towards their Vascular Sonography credential after graduation.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Canadian Medical Association. The program also works closely with our Advisory Committee to ensure that our curriculum continues to exceed provincial and national accreditation standards.

Tuition And Fees (Subject To Change)

• Please refer to the Tuition and Fee Table.
• International Students, please refer to International Student Fees.
• For student funding, please refer to Financial Assistance.
• CPRS 212 Health Care Provider course in CPR. Annual update required – CPRS 222 Health Care Provider Renewal. All CPR courses must be from the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Call SAIT Life Support Training at 403.210.4009 for further information.
• Fees to write the ARDMS certification exams total approximately $1,900.
• Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practica including relocation costs to practicum sites outside Calgary.
• Fees to write the CARDUP certification exam are approximately $850.
• The cost for a criminal record check, which is a requirement for practicum, is up to $40 or more.

Books And Supplies (Subject To Change)

• Books and supplies are approximately $2,700 for the first year, $600 for the second year and $500 for the third year.
• Students must purchase the Canadian Association of Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (CARDUP) Clinical Tools for approximately $500.
• Students are required to have access to a personal computer with the specifications listed in Fees and Expenses.

Program Outline

• This program is being reviewed and could undergo changes.
• SAIT students are offered an opportunity to develop lifelong learning skills in an online environment. One or more courses in the DMS program are offered fully or partially online.
• To find the course description for a course shown below, please go to our Course Finder and enter the course acronym and numbers (i.e., DMST-202) into the Quick Search by Course Code field.

For More Information

Information: 403.284.8500
Email: hps.info@sait.ca
Web: School of Health and Public Safety
Academic Chair: Lisa Allen

Transfer with Diploma to...

Through SAIT Polytechnic transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this SAIT program may be eligible for credit at the following universities and colleges:

• Athabasca University
• Memorial University
• NAIT
• SAIT Polytechnic
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of New Brunswick, Saint John
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Transfer options may also be available at other post-secondary institutions where credits from SAIT programs are evaluated on an individual basis. Interested students should contact the post-secondary institute of their choice for more information.

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

Related Links (Internal):

• School of Health and Public Safety
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition