JJC Alert: Due to extreme cold, JJC will operate virtually on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Classes will take place virtually. Students must check iCampus for course specific instructions from faculty members.
For more information on JJC’s decision-making process regarding winter weather conditions, visit jjc.edu/closures
January 20, 2025 08:41:55
Diagnostic medical sonographers are highly skilled health care professionals who assist physicians in collecting patient data in order to reach diagnostic decisions. Sonographers use specialized equipment to perform sonographic examinations and create images of areas inside the body.
All students are encouraged to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to entrance into the program in order to complete clinical requirements. Proof of other immunity and/or vaccination and a drug screen and criminal background check are also required and will be communicated to applicants when provisionally accepted into the program.
If a student is accepted into the program and fails the criminal background check or drug screen and/or does not have the mandatory vaccinations, the student will be removed from the program.
This degree is a seven-semester, full-time day program that provides both theoretical and clinical instruction in sonography at the JJC Main Campus, at hospitals and other health care organizations in the surrounding area. Up to 20 students are accepted into the program every fall. Most classes are offered face-to-face with the exception of two online courses (DMS 113 and DMS 120).
Joliet Junior College is proud to be one of only two CAAHEP-accredited DMS community college programs in the state of Illinois with three learning concentrations:
This in-demand program can lead to a great career with a median income of $75,920 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2020).
If you are a JJC health care program student and are seeking tutoring, financial assistance, advising or any other type of support, please visit the CASH Center in U-2012 for more information.
The Associate in Applied Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (AAS) program is designed to prepare individuals to enter the diagnostic medical sonography profession upon graduation. This degree is a seven-semester full-time day program that provides both theoretical and clinical instruction in sonography at JJC's Main Campus, and at hospitals and other health care organizations in the surrounding area. Up to 20 students are accepted into the program every fall. Most classes are offered face-to-face with the exception of two online courses (DMS 113 and DMS 120).
Diagnostic medical sonographers are highly skilled professionals who provide patient services using diagnostic techniques under the supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine. Diagnostic medical sonographers use specialized equipment to create images of structures inside the human body and perform a variety of diagnostic sonographic examinations of the abdomen, pelvis, small parts, pregnancy, superficial structures, vascular studies and other procedures. Diagnostic medical sonographers assist physicians in collecting patient diagnosis data necessary to reach diagnostic decisions. This profession requires the sonographer to use critical judgment and the ability to provide appropriate health care services.
The Diagnostic Medical Imaging Sonography Program at Joliet Junior College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
For information about the eligibility to sit for the ARDMS examinations please visit: ARDMS and ARDMS Prerequisites.
NOTE: Diagnostic Medical Sonography students of the AAS program must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in each of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography courses and all of the general education courses before they are eligible for graduation.
Loading...
The online Diagnostic Medical Sonography application for the AAS degree program is available each February for the opportunity to begin the program the following fall semester. If a student is not admitted to the program or chooses to defer acceptance, the student will need to re-apply the following year. No application will be kept on file after the start of classes.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography AAS degree program has special admission criteria and limited enrollment. Applications for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree program will be accepted by the Admissions Office in February for the following fall semester. Applicants are responsible for ensuring the requirements are met and all necessary documentation is on file. Only complete files will be considered.
Students must be able to complete the following:
Students who have met the above admissions criteria are free to apply to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program in the month of February to enter the point ranking system. The application can be found only online in the month of February in MyJJC under “Campus Events”.
If granted admission, the applicant will be informed as to when these requirements must be completed. The applicant does not need to complete these requirements until notified.
Additional Class Requirements
These additional general education courses are not required to be considered for admission, but they are required for completion of the AAS Degree. Taking these courses will add points to the applicant’s overall score used in the ranking system above. Higher grades in these classes will earn more points. All courses must be passed with a C grade or higher.
If these courses are not completed at the time of application, they must be completed prior to starting sonography courses in the fall.
Important note: Mandatory information sessions are held throughout the semester. Please call the Student Advising Center at 815-280-2673 to make an appointment to assist you with your individual educational planning. For questions about the admissions process please call Kathleen Cartwright at 815-280-2429 or email kcartwri@jjc.edu. If you’ve completed the required pre-requisites and TEAS exam and want to schedule a 30-minute advising session with the Sonography Coordinator/Advisor, please email ultrasound@jjc.edu.
This criteria is subject to change. It is the applicant's responsibility to review the criteria on a regular basis.
Go to the Recommended Course Guide to see semester by semester schedule.
Info sessions are a mandatory first step for all sonography students.
The recorded information session and attendance verification is required before applying to the program.
Send us a form with the information below.
If you have any questions after the information session, please email ultrasound@jjc.edu.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program in the Abdominal-Extended, OB/GYN and Vascular learning concentrations at JJC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)9355 - 113th St. N, #7709 Website: https://www.caahep.org |
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be qualified to take the abdomen, obstetrics/gynecology, Vascular Technology, and Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examinations given by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
Program Effectiveness Data (PDF)
Program Effectiveness Data is statistical information that is updated annually to provide performance information about the JJC DMS Program.
Note: 2021 credential success rates are not available due to the addition of the new vascular semester to the DMS program.
Joliet Junior College partners with healthcare facilities to provide clinical experiences for its students. These facilities prescribe various health requirements for all students who are placed at their clinical sites. Students who intend to participate in the clinical component of any program must submit documentation reflecting their compliance with the following clinical health requirements prior to the deadline established by their program coordinator.
Unless otherwise indicated, in writing, by a student's assigned clinical site, all of the above health requirements must be met before the student may participate in a clinical rotation. If a student is accepted into the program and fails the criminal background check or drug screen and/or does not have the mandatory vaccinations, the student will be removed from the program.
Students applying for admission into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program need to complete their TEAS 7 exam by the last day of February of each calendar year to be considered qualified for the admission process for the following Fall semester.
ATI TEAS exams will take place only at the following locations:
The TEAS exam is a timed, computer-based exam conducted by the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). "TEAS" stands for the Test of Essential Academic Skills. This three-and-a-half-hour exam includes 170 questions.
Cost & Fees
Photo IDs Required: Please bring a current, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport to your testing appointment.
You are only allowed three attempts at taking the TEAS exam within a five-year period.
Program Specific Information: Review the TEAS Interpretation Guide for information about your TEAS scores, program advisor, retesting, and next steps.
Students should only take the TEAS exam once per semester. A semester begins on the first day of classes for a given semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) and ends on the day before the first day of classes for the next semester. Visit our Academic Calendar for reference and view our chart below.
Please Note: With the new version of the TEAS (7) in June of 2022, the counter will be reset. Students who had taken TEAS (6) 3-times will now be able to take TEAS (7) 3-times in 5 years. Only the highest score of any semester is valid for ranking in our programs. All other attempts in a semester are counted against your total allowed attempts in 5 years.
| JJC Semesters | The Semester Begins on... | The Semester Ends on... |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | The first day of Fall semester classes | The day before first day of Spring semester classes |
| Spring | The first day of Spring semester classes | The day before first day of Summer I semester classes |
| Summer | The first day of Summer I semester classes | The day before first day of Fall Semester classes |
ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute) will provide you with your TEAS score. After the test is completed, results are available within a few hours. Scores may be accessed on the “My Results” page found in your personal ATI online student account.
Admissions to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will be determined by a point ranking system. Each eligible applicant will be given a number for anonymity by the admissions office.
Questions? Email testingservices@jjc.edu or call 815.280.2261.
Employment opportunities for DMS graduates are generally found in hospitals, outpatient medical centers, imaging centers and doctors’ offices. Additionally, some Diagnostic Medical Sonographers obtain higher degrees and become managers, educators or administrators.
For information about the eligibility to sit for the ARDMS examinations please visit: ARDMS and ARDMS Prerequisites.
Ultrasound Lab Volunteers Needed!
The Sonography Program at JJC is looking for lab volunteers so students can practice their skills in abdominal and obstetric sonography. The sessions are not diagnostic and are performed by the sonography students under the direct or indirect supervision of the instructors*. These training sessions provide a great opportunity for students to learn.
For expectant mothers, this allows you to bond with your baby. As a token of appreciation, pregnant volunteers will receive free pictures of their babies and have a chance to observe their babies under ultrasound. Please see the requirement below.
We really appreciate your willingness to help our students improve their scanning skills. Thank you so much for your consideration!
Criteria for all volunteers:
Additional pregnant volunteer criteria:
Consent forms for lab volunteers:
Email ultrasound@jjc.edu for more information.
*Please note any pathologies found will not be officially sent to your physician. We will suggest that you make a physician appointment to obtain further testing. JJC DMS program volunteer services is not to be used as a replacement imaging service.
Employment opportunities for DMS graduates are generally found in hospitals, outpatient medical centers, imaging centers and doctors’ offices. Additionally, some Diagnostic Medical Sonographers obtain higher degrees and become managers, educators or administrators.
For information about the eligibility to sit for the ARDMS examinations please visit: ARDMS and ARDMS Prerequisites.
hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: '487869', formId: '2920f344-24ca-445f-8b51-b253efe987cf' });
