(found 9 schools, updated in March 2017)
North Carolina is well known for being a beautiful state with a variety of landscapes that include Cape Hatteras and the Great Smoky Mountains. It also is filled with historical attractions like the Biltmore House and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. North Carolina has a thriving healthcare industry that plays an important role in the state’s economic growth. It is reported that the healthcare industry had an $88 billion economic impact in the state, indicating excellent opportunities for Diagnostic Medical Sonography professionals.
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Sonography Education in North Carolina
In 2017, all the nine CAAHEP accredited ultrasound technology schools in North Carolina offering diplomas or Associate degrees in Diagnostic Medical Sonography are either a community college or a technical institute. One school is both a community college and technical school. The schools are located in a variety of locations that include larger cities like Asheville and Winston-Salem and smaller cities or towns like Hudson and Sylva. Depending on the school chosen, sonography students can earn a diploma, or an Associate degree. Concentrations include general sonography, cardiac sonography and vascular sonography. It is highly recommended that students register with ARDMS after completing sonography training.
Salaries and Career Outlook for Sonographers in North Carolina
The average salary for Ultrasound technologists in North Carolina varied significantly by area of employment. For example, in the Durham-Chapel Hill area the median salary is $70,230, but in Asheville it is $64,200. The median salary statewide per the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment survey was $69,650. There are approximately 1,750 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers working in North Carolina, and there is an excellent projected growth rate of 100 average annual openings. By the year 2024, it is expected there will be 2,590 sonography positions. | See Job Openings
Best Paying Regions in North Carolina
Here are the 10 top paying regions in North Carolina in terms of annual median wages:
- Wilmington: $70,830
- Durham-Chapel Hill: $70,230
- Greensboro-High Point: $68,820
- Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area: $64,720
- Winston-Salem: $64,620
- Raleigh: $64,350
- Asheville: $64,200
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC: $63,550
- Fayetteville: $63,040
- Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area: $62,580
Best Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in North Carolina in 2017
There are 3 cities in eastern North Carolina, 3 cities in western North Carolina and 2 cities in central North Carolina with accredited ultrasound technician programs in 2017.
Accredited Sonography Schools in Eastern North Carolina
Pitt Community College
Address: PO Box 7007
Zip: 27835
City: Greenville
Website: www.pittcc.edu
Contact Person: Heather Costanzo
Contact Email: send mail
Contact Phone: (252) 493-7240
Program: Diploma in Cardiac Sonography, Associates Degree in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP Accredited and ARRT Recognized
Application Deadline: April 30
Program Start Date: Fall
What to Learn: Medical Sonography Associate Degree – Introduction to Sonography, Obstetrical Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, Vascular Sonography, Sonographic Physics, SON Clinical Education; Cardiovascular Sonography Program – Echo, Conceptual Physics, Cardiovascular topics, Vascular Sonography, Sonographic Physics, CVS Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Numerous clinical sites; Contact the Health Sciences Division for more information
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition Per Credit Hour – $76 (in-state), $268 (out-of-state); Uniform – $150; CRC Testing – $39; Additional Costs including textbooks, criminal check and drug screening, activity fee, technology fee, lab fee, radiation dosimetry badge, insurances, ARDMS examination fees, parking permit, student ID, graduation, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Grants including Pell Grant, FSEOG and State Student Incentive Grant; NC Community College Grant; Federal loans like Federal Stafford Direct Loan program and Parent PLUS Loans; Scholarships including numerous institutional merit scholarships and PCC Foundation scholarships, etc.
Cape Fear Community College
Address: 411 North Front Street
Zip: 28401
City: Wilmington
Website: www.cfcc.edu
Contact Person: Kellee Stacks (general sonography) and Kristen Bottiglier (cardiac sonography)
Contact Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Contact Phone: (910) 362-7482 and (910) 362-7268
Program: Accredited Associate Degree Program in Cardiac and General Sonography, and Accredited Diploma Program in Cardiac Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Application Deadline: March 23, 2017
Program Start Date: Fall
What to Learn: Sonographic Physics, Introduction to Sonography, Gynecological Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, Advanced Pathology, Vascular Sonography, Obstetrical Sonography, Sonographic Topics, SON Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Clinical rotation is required; Contact Medical Sonography Program for site names
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition – $5,739.25 (in-state), $18,987.25 (out-of-state); Technology Fees Per Credit Hour – $2.25; Liability Insurance – $15; Uniforms & Shoes – $210; Criminal Background check/Drug Screening/Immunization Tracker – $97; Textbooks – $1,200; Calculator – $10; Notebooks – $50; ARDMS Exam Fee – $450; Additional expenses including NCUS membership and meetings
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal grants and state grants including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and North Carolina Community College Grant; Loans including Federal Stafford Direct Loan and Federal Direct PLUS Loan; Scholarships like North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship
Johnston Community College
Address: 245 College Road
Zip: 27577
City: Smithfield
Website: www.johnstoncc.edu
Contact Person: Cathy Godwin Daniels M.Ed., RT(R), RDMS, RDCS, RVT
Contact Email: send mail
Contact Phone: (919) 209-2158
Program: Associates Degree in General Sonography, Cardiac Sonography and Vascular Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP Accredited and ARRT Recognized
Program Length: Medical Sonography Program – 70 to 71 credit hours for sonography courses and 16 credit hours for prerequisite courses; Cardiac and Vascular Sonography – 71 to 72 credit hours for sonography education and 16 credit hours for prerequisite courses
Application Deadline: February 20
Program Start Date: Fall
What to Learn: Medical Sonography Program – Introduction to Sonography, Doppler Sonography Topics, Sonographic Physics, Abdominal Sonography, Obstetrical Sonography, Gynecological Sonography, Neurosonology, Vascular Sonography, Clinical Education; Cardiac and Vascular Program – Cardiovascular Sonography, Echo, Vascular Sonography, Cardiovascular Topics, Doppler Sonography, Sonographic Physics and Terminology, CVS Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Many sites available including Central Carolina Hospital, Raleigh Radiology, Sampson Regional Medical Center, UNC Hospitals, etc.
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition – $5,103 (Medical Sonography Program, in-state), $4,987 (Cardiac and Vascular Sonography Program, in-state); Textbooks – $1,500 (Medical Sonography Program), $1,300 (Cardiac and Vascular Sonography Program); Uniforms and Shoes – $310; Background Check and Drug Screening – $120; Liability Insurance – $40; ARDMS Examination Fees – $450; Trajecsys Clinical Reporting System – $150; North Carolina Ultrasound Society Symposium Registration – $200; Additional costs including CPR certification, medical examination, lab work, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal and state grants including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant and North Carolina Community College Grant; Scholarships including North Caroline Education Lottery Scholarship and more
Accredited Sonography Schools in Central North Carolina
Forsyth Technical Community College
Address: 2100 Silas Creek Parkway
Zip: 27103
City: Winston-Salem
Website: www.forsythtech.edu
Contact Person: John B. Cassell (general sonography) and David Wood (cardiac sonography)
Contact Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Contact Phone: (336) 734-7430 and (336) 757-3313
Program: Diploma and Associates Degree in Cardiac Sonography, Associates Degree Program in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: General Sonography Program – 76 credit hours (5 semesters); Cardiovascular Degree Program – 75 credit hours (5 semesters); Diploma Program – 47 credit hours (3 semesters)
Application Deadline: March 23, 2017
Program Start Date: Fall
Class Size: General Sonography Program – 8 students; Cardiovascular Degree Program – 5 students; Diploma Program – 5 students
What to Learn: General Sonography Program – Abdominal Sonography, Gynecological Sonography, Obstetrical Sonography, Advanced Pathology, Vascular Sonography, Sonographic Terminology and Physics, Introduction to Sonography, Clinical Education; Cardiovascular Degree Program – Echo, Sonographic Physics, Doppler Sonography Topics, Vascular Sonography, CVS Clinical Education; Diploma Program – Echo, Sonographic Physics, Doppler Sonography Topics, CVS Clinical Training
Clinical Sites: Clinical sites including hospitals, medical centers and diagnostic radiology & imaging centers in Asheboro, Burlington, Concord, Eden, Elkin, Greensboro, High Point, Kernersville, Lexington, Mount Airy, Salisbury, Thomasville, Winston-Salem
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition Per Credit Hour – $76 (in-state), $286 (out-of-state); Student Activity Fee – $35 per semester for Fall & Spring; Technology Fee – $48; Uniforms – $200-$300; Other Costs including textbooks, lab fees, liability insurance, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Many Scholarships including the Forsyth Technical Community College Alumni Association Scholarship, Jane Gaither Murray Scholarship, Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Snyder Sr. Scholarships, Louise G. Wilson Scholarship and more; Grants including Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant and North Carolina Community College Grant; Federal Direct Loan Program; Veteran’s Benefits including the Montgomery GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill – Post 9/11 New GI Bill
South Piedmont Community College
Address: 4209 Old Charlotte Highway
Zip: 28110
City: Monroe
Website: www.spcc.edu
Contact Person: Amy Dela Cruz
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: (704) 290-5209
Program: Accredited Associates Degree Program in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP Accredited and ARRT Recognized
Program Length: 76 credit hours (25 credit hours of general education, 51 credit hours of sonography core courses)
Application Deadline: January 31, 2017
Program Start Date: Summer
What to Learn: Introduction to Sonography, Gynecologic and Obstetrical Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, Fetal Echocardiography, Vascular Sonography, Embryology in Sonography, Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Contact SPCC
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: $25,010.40 including tuition, student fees, insurance, textbooks, uniform, lab fee, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Contact SPCC
Accredited Sonography Schools in Western North Carolina
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Address: 340 Victoria Road
Zip: 28801
City: Asheville
Website: www.abtech.edu
Contact Person: Chastity Coates Case
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: (828) 398-7470
Program: Accredited Associates Degree Program in General Sonography, Accredited Associates Degree Program in Vascular Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: 5 semesters to complete 76 credit hours (16 credit hours of general education and 60 credit hours of sonography education)
Application Deadline: March 3, 2017
Program Start Date: Fall
What to Learn: Introduction to Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, Vascular Sonography, Obstetrical Sonography, Sonographic Topics and Physics, Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: 16 Clinical Education Centers that include Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, Hope Women’s Cancer Center in Asheville, Margaret R. Pardee Medical Center and Radiology Outpatient Center in Hendersonville, Asheville Imaging Center and others located in Brevard, Clyde, Fletcher, Marion, Morganton, Rutherfordton and Spartanburg
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition – $1,216 (16 credit hours or more per semester, in-state), $4,288 (16 credit hours or more, out-of-state), $76 per credit hour (15 credit hours or less, in-state), $268 (15 credit hours or less, out-of-state); Computer Use and Technology Fee – $48 per semester; Activity Fee – $32 per semester (9 or more credit hours), $22 per semester (8 or less credit hours); Student Insurance – $2 per semester; Books – $1,575; Uniforms and Tools – $500; Background Check and Drug Screen – $250; Immunizations – $220-$500; CPR Certification – $85, Health Physical Exam – $125; ARDMS Certification Examination – $950; Course Fees – $190.40 per semester; TEAS Test – $66; CAPS Fee – $10 per semester; Consumable Supply Fees – $68 per SON class; Other costs including table, state society membership and access to online clinical management system
Financial Aid Opportunity: Scholarships including SDMS Scholarship and Anne Jones Scholarship and more; Federal and state grants
South College Asheville Learning Site
Address: 140 Sweeten Creek Road
Zip: 28803-1526
City: Asheville
Website: www.southcollegetn.edu
Contact Person: Kristy Michael
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: (828) 398-2549
Program: Accredited Associates Degree Program in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Southwestern Community College
Address: 447 College Drive
Zip: 28779
City: Sylva
Website: www.southwesterncc.edu
Contact Person: Debbie Eavenson
Contact Email: send mail
Contact Phone: (828) 339-4323
Program: Associates Degree Program in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP Accredited and ARRT Recognized
Program Length: prerequisite courses (15 credit hours) and core curriculum (60 credit hours)
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Start Date: Core sonography program begins with Fall Semester
What to Learn: Sonographic Physics, Introduction to Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, Obstetrical Sonography, Vascular Sonography, Sonography Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Located in North Carolina (Bryson City, Clayton, Clyde, Franklin, Highlands, Murphy, Sylva) and Georgia (Demorest, Gainesville, Hiawassee, Toccoa)
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition Per Credit Hour – $76 (NC resident), $268 (non-NC resident); Other costs like textbooks, uniforms, supplies, insurance, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal and State Grants including PELL Grant, FSEOG, NCCCG and NCELS; Loans including Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Parent PLUS Loan; Veterans’ Educational Benefits; Scholarship including Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, Edward & Hortense Wilson Scholarship and more
Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute
Address: 2855 Hickory Boulevard
Zip: 28638
City: Hudson
Website: www.cccti.edu
Contact Person: Robin Nichols
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: (828) 726-2322
Program: Accredited Associates Degree Program in General Sonography, Accredited Associates Degree Program in Cardiac Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP Accredited and ARRT Recognized
Program Length: Medical Sonography Program – 74 credits including 15 credits of prerequisites courses and 59 credits of core education; Cardiovascular Sonography Program – 75 credits (15 credits of prerequisites education and 60 credits of sonogrpahy education)
Class Size: Medical Sonography Program – 7-11 students; Cardiovascular Sonography Program – 7-9 students
Application Deadline: October 1, 2017
Program Start Date: Fall
What to Learn: Medical Sonography Program – Abdominal Sonography, Introduction to Sonography, Gynecological Sonography, Vascular Sonography, Obstetrical Sonography, Clinical Education; Cardiovascular Sonography Program – Echo, Sonographic Physics, Cardiovascular Topics, Vascular Sonography, Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Medical Sonography Program – clinical sites located in Boone, Charlotte, Concord, Cornelius, Gastonia, Hickory, Lenoir, Marion, Mooresville, Morganton, North Wilkesboro, Rutherford College and Spruce Pine; Cardiovascular Sonography Program – clinical sites located in North Carolina (Asheville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Franklin, Kings Mountain, Gastonia, Hickory, Rutherford College, Rutherfordton, Statesville, Winston-Salem) and South Carolina (Greenville)
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition – $3,200 (in-state), $17,500 (out-of-state); Books – $1,000; Uniforms and Shoes – $500
Financial Aid Opportunity: Available scholarships like NC Division of Veterans Affairs Scholarship, Beverly Holt Scholarship and more; Grants and loan programs
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