The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program (General Concentration) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of JRC-DMS.
The program may also include the address and phone number:
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775

CSP’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) prepares students to take the ARDMS board examinations (SPI and a specialty board) upon completion of 12 months of full-time clinical ultrasound experience. To see what is required to sit for each ARDMS board examination, please click here. The ARDMS board examinations (SPI and a specialty board) are required to practice in each state. In addition, currently New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon are the only states with approved legislation mandating the licensure of sonographers within those particular states as an additional requirement. To see the additional requirements for each of those states, please click here.

To prepare competent entry-level Abdominal – Extended and Obstetric and Gynecologic sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

• What does it stand for?
  • Test of Essential Academic Skills
• What does it test?
  • TEAS test comprises 170 Multiple Choice questions that test the basic academic skills you will need to perform successfully in the areas of: reading, math, science, and English/language usage.
• Can I take the TEAS any time?
  • TEAS exam needs to be completed within one year of application to the DMS program and it can be retaken to improve your score.
•  Is there a minimum TEAS score required?
  • CSP ranks applicants by their overall TEAS percentile. A minimum score of 62% is required.

• Is the Sonography program-Echo Concentration accredited? The General program achieved accreditation by CAAHEP upon the recommendation of JRC-DMS on September 17, 2021. If you chose to sit for the ARDMS board exams, you must take both the SPI(Ultrasound Physics) and the specialty (Ab or Ob) in order to become registered.  To find more information about these, click here
• What is the sonography program cost, and are there any fees? The DMS program charges two program fees. Please see the tuition and fees website here for specific details regarding the DMS Program Fee cost per credit.  
• In what format are sonography classes offered? The general concentration classes are online and labs are in person on CSP’s St. Paul campus.
• What are the start dates for the general Concentration? The general concentration starts a new cohort every fall and spring.
• What is the deadline to apply for the sonography program? Applications for the fall cohort are due July 1. Spring applications are due November 1.
• How many students are accepted to the program? Up to 16 students are accepted into the general concentration program each fall and spring semester.
• What are some essential abilities required of this profession? DMS students/sonographers must be capable of the physical, mental, and emotional demands of this program/profession.  All students must be able to do each of the essential abilities that are listed below in order to be eligible for this program.Essential Abilities Required for Sonography
  • Stand and walk for long periods of time with some bending, stooping, and stretching
  • Lift up to 50 lbs
  • Transport, move, and lift patients from a wheelchair/stretcher to ultrasound bed and physically assist patients into proper positions for examination
  • Be able to do portable exams throughout a facility which would include pushing and adjusting a variety of ultrasound equipment weighing up to 300 lbs on wheels
  • Possess sufficient strength, finger dexterity and finite motor skills
  • Have hand/eye coordination skills to perform sonographic examinations
  • Be able to recognize changes to optimize patient care using senses (vision, hearing, and touch)
  • Recognize and demonstrate color acuity
  • Be able to effectively communicate with patients as well as all members of their care team
  • Be able to complete exam, with no special accommodations, in time allotted for each exam (usually 30-45 minutes)
  • Be able to handle stressful situations related to technical, procedural standards, and situations with patients
  • Provide physical and emotional support to the patient during sonographic procedures and be able to respond to emergency situations
• What do I need to know about clinical training? Clinical Training is the final phase of the Sonography Program. The student will utilize all the knowledge acquired throughout the program within the clinical environment, on real patients. The Sonography Program requires 960 hours of clinical training and this will be completed in the last six months of the program. Clinical Training will likely require placement at a site outside the Twin Cities area or outside of Minnesota. This may create financial hardship and separation of families during this six-month period. The University makes every effort to secure sites that allow for the best learning environment for each individual student. Clinical sites may vary year-to-year in accordance with the site’s ability to provide a quality learning environment for the student. We have/had clinical sites in the following states(subject to change): Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Program Director and Clinical Coordinator will assign student(s) to a clinical facility, matching the student(s) with the internship site. Consideration will be given to the site’s needs and student’s desires based on availability. Students may not turn down a site. CSP does not guarantee a student an alternative placement under these circumstances.
• Do all general education courses need to be completed before being admitted to the DMS Program? General education courses can be taken at any point during the program prior to graduation.
• How long is the program? The program can be completed in 20 months with 5 consecutive semesters, including summers. There is no part-time option available.
• Can I work while in the program? The program is a full-time day program. Once in the sonography program, it is recommended students prioritize coursework and minimize work commitments. The program requires dedicated practice time to ensure competencies are achieved. If students fall behind, it can be challenging to catch up.

This information in this section is reported annually and numbers are based on the previous year.  2021 numbers will be updated in December 2022.