Admission Requirements
The DMS Program admits one class per year with a January start date. Deadline for prerequisite completion and application submission is August 31 of each year.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE CURRENT MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM:
–Prospective students must gain acceptance to Polk State College as credit-seeking students with all required admission documents received by the Registrar’s Office.
Official transcripts from ALL of colleges/universities attended. *At the time of program application submission, transcripts must be received, evaluated by Student Services, and posted to student’s Polk State College transcript.
–Take the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS).
The ATI TEAS is an admission requirement for the Polk State Associate in Science (AS) in Sonography. This is true even if the student already has a prior degree. Click here for more information.
–Students must complete any required college preparatory courses
–At the time of application, students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
–At the time of application, students must have a grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses
Students must complete the following prerequisite courses with a C or better PRIOR to submission of a program application:
- ENC 1101: College Composition I
- MAC 1105: College Algebra
- BSC 2085C: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BSC 2086C: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
HSC 1531: Medical Terminology - PHY 2020C: Fundamentals of Physics
Applications must be submitted by August 31 of each year for a January start date. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance (or alternate status) by email approximately 4-6 weeks after the application deadline. These notices will be sent to the email submitted in your application, so it is important that you notify us of any changes.
Additional Program Requirements
Admission requirements to be completed after admission into the program:
- Physical examination and essential functions
- Required immunizations
- Drug screening
- Current CPR certification
- Signed Affidavit of Moral Character attesting to the non-committance of specific criminal acts
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) background check
The program director will provide information regarding the completion of these additional admission requirements with the letter of acceptance.
Admission Process
Applicants are admitted to the Sonography Program using a selective admission process. Students seeking admission to the program should complete the program application using the “Apply Now” button on the main program webpage (contact a college academic advisor for assistance, if needed). Failure to complete all requirements will dismiss the applicant from the selection process for the upcoming class.
The application window for admission to the Sonography Program is August 1-31. Deadline for application submission is August 31 of each year for the January program admission date. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance (or alternate status) via email by mid-October.
A selection committee utilizes a point system as a GUIDE in the selection of qualified students for the Sonography program. The following areas evaluated by the committee include overall college GPA, prerequisite GPA, military experience, college degree, co-requisite courses completed and Polk County residency.
Program Cost
The cost of the program is approximately $11,000.00. This cost estimate includes course fees, textbooks, uniforms, medical physical, background check, and healthcare provider CPR certification. This estimate does not include any prep or other courses in which the student may enroll.
Certification Examination
Following the completion of all requirements for graduation from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, graduates are eligible to sit for the national registry exams administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS.org). After successful completion of these exams, the graduate will earn the credentials of Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS).
Polk State College reserves the right to make changes to the admission criteria as circumstances require. Every reasonable effort will be made to communicate changes in the program to potential students.
