Online Sonography Programs in North Carolina: A Guide for Students

Whether you’ve just graduated high school or have been weighing the possibility of changing careers for as long as you can remember, you can be confident that there are plenty of amazing in-person and online sonography programs in NC to choose from.

If you’re struggling to narrow down your options, consider asking yourself a few questions. Do you want to attend college physically or virtually? Do you meet the admission requirements of the NC programs that interest you? Does a sonography program fit into your current budget? Find answers to these questions and more in our guide so you can feel confident about choosing the right sonography and ultrasound technician school for you. Read on to discover which school made it onto our list as the best choice for those wanting to jumpstart a new career.

Sonography & Ultrasound Tech Program Checklist

Developing a checklist of must-have features can help you quickly and efficiently identify the best ultrasound tech or sonography school in NC for you. This checklist should include the factors that are most important to you. Maybe you want a school that will help you advance your career, find a clinical placement, or receive support. Explore the items we’ve included on our checklist (and consider adding them to yours).

FAQs About Ultrasound and Sonography Programs

You probably have several questions about applying for ultrasound tech and sonography programs in NC that we haven’t addressed yet. Whether you’re still curious about college costs, certifications, online programs, prerequisites, or potential jobs after college, the following FAQs about sonography and ultrasound tech schools in NC hold the answers you need:

Are there online sonography programs in North Carolina?

While there are no full-time online sonography programs in North Carolina, there are hybrid programs, such as the Medical Sonography Associate in Applied Science degree at Wake Technical Community College. If you’re looking for an online ultrasound tech school in NC, you might consider studying mammography at Pitt Community College — a two-semester certificate program that can help you become a registered mammographer.

Can I get an advanced degree in sonography?

Most sonography schools in NC offer an associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography, which allows students to apply for registration with the ARDMS. According to the ARDMS, most practicing sonographers earn their certification through an associate degree program, suggesting you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s or advanced degree to work as a sonographer. In fact, master’s programs in sonography in NC are uncommon. If you want to gain a deeper understanding of the field, consider pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a concentration in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, like the one offered at South College Asheville.

How do I get certified?

To get certified as a medical sonographer, you must take the appropriate ARDMSexams, which can vary depending on your specialty of interest. For example, if you want to become a cardiac sonographer, you’d apply for the Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) credential. You can also take specific exams to become a vascular, musculoskeletal, or diagnostic medical sonographer.

How much does a sonography and ultrasound tech program cost?

According to DataUSA, the median tuition cost for diagnostic medical sonography programs across the top five institutions was $4,050 for in-state students and $28,080 for out-of-state students, as of 2021. The average tuition for in-state students at sonography schools in NC ranges from $9,912 at Central Carolina Community College to $24,394 at Johnston Community College.

What is the difference between a sonographer and an ultrasound technician?

According to ARDMS, the terms “sonographer” and “ultrasound technician” are used interchangeably, but sonographers undergo additional training and gain extra certifications. Both use sound waves to visualize organs and diagnose disease. This imaging method differs from others because it uses sound instead of radiation to visualize organs.

What prerequisites do I need before I start a sonography program?

Those interested in sonography should take physiology, anatomy, mathematics, and physics in high school. These prerequisites can vary slightly between sonography schools in NC. For example, CCCC wants students with a 2.0 cumulative GPA who have completed the ATI TEAS exam. In contrast, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College requires students to take additional basic anatomy, physiology, and health sciences classes.

What jobs can I get after graduation and how well do they pay?

After you graduate, you can apply for entry-level jobs in hospitals, physician offices, medical laboratories, and outpatient care centers, the largest employers of medical sonographers in 2023. Diagnostic medical sonographers earn a median annual salary of $84,470, with those in outpatient care centers earning as much as $122,380.

North Carolina Licensing & Regulatory Requirements

After attending a sonography program in NC online or on-campus, you will need to get certified as a registered medical sonographer before you can land your first job. You’ll also need to fulfill various criteria such as minimum hours or months of clinical experience, sit specific examinations, and gain CME credits regularly to maintain your certification. Learn more about the regulatory requirements for this career path below:

Clinical Experience

According to the ARDMS, if you want to sit their exams and get registration, you need at least 12 months of full-time clinical ultrasound or vascular experience. This clinical experience applies to all students sitting their first set of exams before graduating from a sonography program, including students in North Carolina. To register, you need a letter from a supervising registered sonographer or physician attesting that you have 12 months of clinical experience, including dates, as well as a completed, signed clinical verification form.

Continuing Education, Renewal & Career Advancement

To maintain your registration as a medical sonographer, you must gain CME credits from a professional organization they recognize. The number of credits you need depends on your specialty. For instance, a diagnostic medical sonographer needs 30 CME credits per year, while a registered musculoskeletal sonographer needs 10 CMEs in musculoskeletal sonography and 20 CMEs in any other specialty area. Sonographers earning these credits from organizations like the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

Educational Pathways

Students interested in becoming medical sonographers or ultrasound technologists can get associate and bachelor’s degrees in this field. Most sonography schools in NC offer an associate degree in medical sonography, allowing students to qualify to sit ARDMS exams, gain registration, and practice as general or specialist diagnostic medical sonographers.

Examination & Certification Requirements

According to the ARDMS, aspiring sonographers must take the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination in addition to a specialty exam to become registered sonographers. Students must take these exams within five years of completing their programs to qualify. Students can take specialty exams on the abdomen, breast, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric sonography, or fetal echocardiography. To specialize in cardiology, you must take the SPI and the adult, pediatric, or fetal echocardiography exams.

Scope of Practice and Regulations

According to the SDMS, diagnostic medical sonographers do not practice independently—they work under physicians. They use ultrasound to perform abdominal, breast, cardiac, OB/GYN, pediatric, phlebology, and vascular sonography. As a sonographer or ultrasound technician, you must show competency through certification with recognized credentialing organizations, such as the ARDMS. You must also adhere to clinical standards related to patient assessment and communication, diagnostic examination, result evaluation, documentation, quality of care, ethics, self-assessment, collaboration, and maintenance of professional certification, among others.

Job Prospects & Salary Insights for Sonographers in North Carolina

North Carolinians looking for a new career should consider sonography. For starters, the state has a significantly high growth rate for sonographers (26.5%, to be exact). Compare that to the national growth rate for sonographers of 14.3%, and you can see why North Carolina is a great place to enroll in a sonography and ultrasound training program. High growth should equate to more room for promotions, an easier job application process, and increased opportunities to negotiate a higher salary. Speaking of pay, the average salary range for sonographers in North Carolina is from $63,630 to $99,950. Some sonographers earn even more, depending on their specific region of North Carolina. In Raleigh, for example, the 90th percentile earns $101,600 or more per year. Sonographers located in the Durham-Chapel Hill area can expect even higher salaries, with the 90th percentile earning over $107,460 annually.