One of the fastest ways to get into a medical career, without a lot of schooling, is by becoming an ultrasound technician. These professionals provide evidence to a doctor of what is inside a person’s body using images and measurements, so that the doctor can examine it and make a diagnosis.
Education & Training
- Davie, Coconut Creek, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Miramar
- Delray Beach, Miami Gardens, Altamonte Springs
- Ocala, Lecanto, Chiefland
- Jacksonville, Miramar, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers
- Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Palm Coast, New Smyrna Beach
- Lake Mary
- Hialeah, Miami
- Jacksonville, Yulee
- Tampa, Plant City, Ruskin, Riverview, MacDill Air Force Base
- Clearwater, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Melbourne, Miami, Naples, New Port Richey, Ocala, Orlando, Pembroke Pines, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa
- Sarasota
- Miami, Homestead, Hialeah, Doral
- Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Clearwater
- Gainesville, Alachua, Archer, Starke, Keystone Heights
- Orlando
- Boynton Beach, Miami Lakes, Royal Palm Beach
- Orlando, Auburndale, Brandon, Port Charlotte, Sanford, Tampa
- Tallahassee, Havana, Quincy, Crawfordville
Broward College
Broward College's Diagnostic Medical Sonography A.S. is a 77-credit, limited-access degree at North Campus. CAAHEP accredits it on the recommendation of the JRC-DMS, and graduates can sit for ARDMS exams in abdomen, OB/GYN and adult echocardiography. Admission is by supplemental application. At the in-state campus rate of $117.90 per credit, tuition and per-credit fees come to about $9,078 before lab and exam fees (our arithmetic).
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology
Cambridge's Diagnostic Medical Sonography associate degree is CAAHEP-accredited in abdomen-extended, OB/GYN and adult cardiac concentrations. It totals 2,378 clock hours (98 credits), including 1,088 clinical hours; the catalog lists both 90 and 105 weeks. Graduates sit ARDMS SPI plus a specialty exam, or CCI RCS. It is the college's largest program by 2024 awards. The total was $61,446 (April 2026). 2024–25 placement ran from 51% at Miami Gardens to 85% at Delray Beach.
College of Central Florida
The College of Central Florida's Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology A.S. is 77 credits, with Abdominal-Extended and OB/GYN concentrations and four program semesters, including one summer, in Building 6 at Ocala. Up to 24 students start each fall, selected using nine general-education prerequisites, the TEAS and a 2.0 GPA; a prior degree adds points but is not required. In the 2024 cohort, 86% graduated, all who tested passed their ARDMS specialty exams, and 83% found work.
Concorde Career Institute
Concorde Career Institute teaches both Diagnostic Medical Sonography (an associate degree of 20 to 21 months, 84.5 credits, with 300 lab hours plus clinicals) and Cardiovascular Sonography (21 months, 330 lab hours) at four Florida campuses. Only the Jacksonville and Tampa DMS programs list CAAHEP accreditation, and none of the Florida cardiovascular programs do, so check your campus's status. DMS prepares students for ARDMS exams.
Daytona State College
Daytona State's Diagnostic Medical Sonography AS is 77 credits over six semesters (about two years) on the Deltona campus, where a classroom building of about 30,000 square feet opened in 2024. The program started in summer 2024, is accredited by CAAHEP (JRC-DMS) and prepares students for ARDMS registry exams. Applicants need a TEAS score of at least 65%. Tuition and fees are about $7,883 at 2026–27 Florida-resident rates (our arithmetic; lab fees and books extra).
ECPI University
ECPI University's Diagnostic Medical Sonography associate degree takes about 1.5 years and is taught at Newport News and Richmond (Emerywood), VA and Orlando (Lake Mary), FL. ECPI's accreditation page lists no programmatic accreditation for it, so ask which registry exams graduates can sit before enrolling. Tuition was $9,984 per semester on ECPI's undated tuition page (checked Oct 2026). Sonography is one of the health programs eligible for ECPI's Futures, Advancement, Working Parent and Opportunity scholarships.
Florida National University
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Technology is an 84-credit AS with a general concentration in abdominal and OB/GYN scanning, taught at the Hialeah and South campuses. FNU lists only ARRT recognition for it; we found no CAAHEP accreditation, and the program page names no ARDMS exam, so ask how graduates qualify for the credential you need. Associate courses cost $700 per credit in 2024-25, the latest published rate, plus a $750 clinical fee each semester.
Florida State College at Jacksonville
FSCJ teaches ultrasound in two 77-credit A.S. degrees. Cardiovascular Technology, CAAHEP-accredited and taught at the Nassau Center in Yulee, has an adult echocardiography track whose students passed their exam at rates of 100% (2023), 100% (2024) and 84% (2025); FSCJ estimates its cost at about $8,076. A separate Diagnostic Medical Sonography A.S. is also offered, but its page did not show accreditation or outcomes, so ask.
Hillsborough College
Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Hillsborough College is a 77-credit AS at the Dale Mabry campus, accredited by CAAHEP, covering abdomen-extended and OB/GYN sonography with clinical practicums and leading to the ARDMS registry exams. A separate 77-credit Echocardiography AS trains cardiac sonographers for ARDMS. Both admit through the limited-access Health Sciences application. At the Florida-resident rate listed in October 2026, 77 credits come to about $8,038 in tuition and fees (our calculation).
Keiser University
Keiser's Diagnostic Medical Sonography AS comes in two tracks: abdominal-extended with OB/GYN (81 credits), or the same plus vascular (91 credits). Either takes about 24 to 28 months on campus and includes six to eight clinical rotation courses. Graduates prepare for ARDMS exams in abdomen, OB/GYN and vascular technology. Keiser lists the program at nine campuses, but only five (Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Melbourne and New Port Richey) are on its CAAHEP accreditation list.
Meridian College
Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound is Meridian's longest and most expensive program with published figures: an Associate of Science of about 27 months, with 2024-25 tuition and fees of $38,100 plus $4,200 for books and supplies at the Sarasota, FL campus (IPEDS). The school says graduates are eligible for ARRT's certification exam. It lists no programmatic accreditation for the program, such as CAAHEP, so ask which certification routes graduates have actually used before enrolling.
Miami Dade College
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Specialist is an AS at the Medical Campus, accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of JRC-DMS, that prepares graduates for the ARDMS registry exams. The same campus teaches Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology and Radiation Therapy, and the CT and MRI certificates, so students comparing imaging careers can see several options in one place. Admission is limited access. Courses cost $118.22 per credit for Florida residents and $402.51 for non-residents at current published rates.
Nova Southeastern University
NSU's two sonography bachelor's degrees each end with a 12-month clinical externship and are CAAHEP-accredited. Medical Sonography, at Fort Lauderdale/Davie, takes 27 months and covers abdominal-extended, OB/GYN and vascular sonography; students can sit ARDMS exams 60 days before graduating. Cardiovascular Sonography, at Tampa Bay (Clearwater), takes 24 months; NSU reports 100% pass rates on three ARDMS exams and 100% employment for 2022–24. Tuition is $25,016 a year (2026-27).
Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College's Diagnostic Medical Sonography A.S. is an 80-credit, five-semester program accredited by CAAHEP in abdomen-extended and OB/GYN sonography. Clinical placements can be anywhere in Florida, so students should plan for travel. For the class of 2025 the college reports 94% completion and 93% employment. The estimated cost is $13,447 for Florida residents and $35,538 for non-residents. Cardiovascular Sonography and Invasive Cardiovascular Technology are separate A.S. degrees.
South College
South College's Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is taught fully in person or hybrid and prepares graduates for the ARDMS exams. Concentrations differ by campus: Nashville added echocardiography in December 2025 and Marietta launched two concentrations in August 2026. The program is CAAHEP-accredited at seven campuses; Dallas and Marietta are not yet on that list. 2025-26 tuition was $7,325 a quarter full-time, plus $195 imaging and $695 technology fees.
Southeastern College
Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a 24-month associate degree, or 31 months part time, covering abdominal and extended OB/GYN sonography with six clinical rotations: 85 credits in the Carolinas and 87 in Florida. The college lists CAAHEP accreditation only for the Boynton Beach and Miami Lakes, FL campuses, so students elsewhere should ask how graduates qualify for the credentialing exam. It has the college's highest Wonderlic entry score, 20, and no admission on appeal. 2026-27 tuition is $12,576 per semester in NC and Florida.
Southern Technical College
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography AS runs at STC's Tampa campus only: eight terms (about 24 months) and 98 quarter credits, with Abdominal-Extended and OB/GYN concentrations. It is accredited by CAAHEP, and students must sit an ARDMS or ARRT exam within 30 days of finishing. At $48,900 in total for 2026-27, books included, it is STC's most expensive program (the tuition supplement effective 3 August 2026). In ACCSC's 2026 report, 44% of April 2022 to March 2023 starts graduated (11 of 25) and 82% of graduates found work.
Tallahassee State College
TSC's Diagnostic Medical Sonography A.S. covers abdomen-extended and OB/GYN sonography and is taught at the Ghazvini Center. Admission is limited and points-based, with a HESI exam; the Fall 2027 application deadline is 14 May 2027. The college's list of programmatic accreditations names no accreditor for sonography, so applicants should ask about accreditation and which registry exams graduates can sit before applying.
At a minimum, you will need to earn a diploma in Ultrasound Technology / Diagnostic Medical Sonography from a reputable school in order to enter this career.
Keiser University offers an Associate of Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS). For the degree, you must have completed prerequisite general education courses and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
The objective of the program is to set you up for an entry level job in DMS.
How Long Does It Take?
The program last 24 to 28 months and meets approximately 20 to 25 hours per week.
How Much Does It Cost?
According to the school’s tuition calculator, the cost could be anywhere between $22,000 and $26,000 but as low as $18,000 with a grant.
Program Description
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography course integrates classroom learning, practical laboratory exercises, and valuable clinical experience. Through this program, you will develop the essential skills to conduct diagnostic procedures, capture precise diagnostic images, and interpret technical data accurately.
The comprehensive coursework encompasses various critical areas, such as abdominal, obstetrics/gynecology, and vascular sonography. You will delve into topics like acoustic physics and instrumentation, as well as cross-sectional anatomy to deepen your understanding of the field.
During your externship phase, you will be provided with hands-on opportunities to gain real-world experience in actual healthcare settings. This practical exposure will bolster your confidence and competence as you apply your acquired knowledge in real-life scenarios.
Certification
In addition to education, many employers would be more likely to hire someone who has a form of national certification. The classes at Keiser meet state educational requirements for professional licensure.
ARDMS
The most common certification is provided by The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) who certifies each person who passes a six-section exam testing basic physical principles and instrumentation knowledge as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS). If you wish you to specialize in a certain area of the body, the credential is provided for different areas, but you must pass the specialization test within five years of getting the RDMS certificate.
CPR
Employers, especially in hospitals or large clinics, also want to hire someone who has a Basic Life Support for healthcare providers certification from the American Heart Association. The course can be taken online or you can find a 4 and 1/2 hour class near you.
Ultrasound Technician Job Description
Ultrasound technicians, also sometimes called diagnostic medical sonographers, use high powered equipment to send different forms of sound waves through a person’s body in order to create an echo image for diagnostic purposes.
Unlike traditional x-rays and imaging techniques such as MRI and CT scans, ultrasound does not use ionizing or radiation waves, so it is not deemed to be dangerous and, for that reason, is commonly used to view fetuses during pregnancy.
Although ultrasound technicians may be trained at reading the images they create, they are not typically allowed to make a diagnosis themselves, but simply provide the images for the doctor. Even when patients have questions, ultrasound technicians must be skilled at communicating in order to make their patients feel at ease so the images come out clearly, but without communicating anything that would make a patient jump to conclusions about a diagnosis.
Workplaces
Ultrasound techs can work in hospitals, including in emergency rooms, or they can work in clinical settings or outpatient care centers, examining a patient after a surgery for instance, or they can work in specialized offices such as a gynecologist’s office, or a children’s clinic.
Salary of an Ultrasound Technician
Below are approximated median annual salaries for ultrasound technicians in major metropolitan cities:
| Area Name | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage(2) |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 37.93 | 78900 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | 34.04 | 70800 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 32.85 | 68330 |
| Gainesville | 32.86 | 68350 |
| Homosassa Springs | 30.89 | 64240 |
| Jacksonville | 36.15 | 75180 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | 35.19 | 73190 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | 36.15 | 75190 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island | 37.29 | 77550 |
| North Florida | 33.29 | 69240 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton | 38.49 | 80050 |
| Ocala | 31.6 | 65730 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 34.46 | 71670 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 36.72 | 76390 |
| Panama City | 30.81 | 64080 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 32.97 | 68570 |
| Port St. Lucie | 34.58 | 71930 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach | 33.41 | 69490 |
| Tallahassee | 37.48 | 77960 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 36.24 | 75370 |
| The Villages | 32.13 | 66830 |
source: data.bls.gov
Occupation:Diagnostic Medical Sonographers(SOC Code292032); Period:May 2022