Diagnostic Medical Sonography

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

On average, approximately 200 students apply for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program each application period. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Advanced Technical Certificate program and Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate Degree program are merged into one selection and only the top 26 students will be selected in the fall semester and 16 students will be selected in the spring semester.

When the number of eligible applications exceeds program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission. Selective criteria are awarded based on the following:

• 75% may be awarded based on the program's academic criteria.
  (grades earned from pre-entry form, required courses, and general education requirements)
• 25% will be awarded based on HESI scores in Reading, Grammar, Anatomy & Physiology, and Critical Thinking.
• Applicant must meet the HEP. B, MMR, and Varicella Immunization requirements.
• All application requirements must be satisfied by the close of the application window.

ARDMS Rules

ARDMS rules indicate that ARDMS may take action against an applicant, candidate or registrant in the case of conviction, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere to any crime. If you are presently charged with, or been convicted or found guilty of or plead nolo contendere to any crime (felony and/or misdemeanor), other than a speeding or parking violation, you may have questions concerning this rule and may wish to obtain clarification as to how it pertains to your circumstances. ARDMS conducts a "pre-application review," for a $125 non-refundable fee, for individuals who wish to determine the impact of a previous criminal matter on their eligibility to apply for ARDMS certification. The pre-application review process is recommended for individuals who have not yet applied for examination and are contemplating employment in the field of sonography and/or enrollment in a sonography program. Go online at www.ardms.org for details on the pre-application review process.

The program information session is a mandatory requirement of the admission process. Applicant must view the DMSO Information Video in the virtual world.

Start the mandatory information session

If you have questions, join a live instructor on the last Monday of every month, at noon, in the virtual world for Q&A.

Academic Course Requirements

Placement Test:  N/A

Cumulative GPA:  A minimum of 3.3 or higher is required. If you have completed prerequisite courses at more than one college, then all college GPAs will be used to calculate your total Cumulative GPA.    

Prerequisite Courses: Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’ by the application deadline.

Academic Courses: Additional academic courses are not required for the application, but HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to be taken in advance. Completion of these academic courses with a minimum grade of "C" or better is required to earn the AAS degree in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program.

Note: From the following recommended courses, only DMSO 1210 will be used for rubric points. DMSO 1210 must be taken at HCC within two years of the application deadline.

Immunization requirements

As a part of the application requirements, an applicant must create an account with the Compliance system (houstoncccompliance.com), and upload the required Hep. B, MMR, and Varicella immunization records with positive titers showing immunity. We will not be able to consider your application until you have completed and submitted all the requirements by the application submission deadline.

• Completion of Hepatitis B immunization series (may take up to 6 months to complete) and should be valid within 10 years; fast track is accepted. Upon completion of the Hep B series, a positive titer must be taken to prove immunity.
• Completion of 2 Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) shots and a positive titer within the last year.
• Completion of 2 Varicella shots and a positive titer within the last year.

Note: If you get admitted to the program, upload the rest of the immunizations listed below in the Complio system by September 1.

• Completion of the Tuberculin Test (PPD) has to be done annually.
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) shot and the titer; it should be valid within 10 years.
• Completion of Hepatitis C blood draw to show negative results.

HESI Pre-entrance Exam Requirements

The HESI A2 (Health Education Systems Inc.)- Admissions Assessment entrance exam is required to apply for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at HCC Coleman College.

Schedule HESI-A2 test: Please contact HCC Coleman College Testing Center via email: coleman.testing@hccs.edu. The cost of the HESI is $75.00 per attempt; payment must be made by either credit or debit card.

HESI-A2 required sections: No minimum score is required for admission; however, all sections listed below must be taken. Application rubric points are awarded based on the range of scores for each section: Anatomy & Physiology, Grammar, Reading, Critical Thinking.

• Fall 2026: Scores are valid for 3 years (5/1/2023 - 5/15/2026) by the application deadline.
• Spring 2027: Scores are valid for 3 years (10/1/2023 - 10/15/2026) by the application deadline.
• Please note that HESI-A2 official scores, including the Critical Thinking section, must be downloaded directly from the Elsevier/Evolve website in a .pdf format and submitted with the program application (regardless taken at HCC or outside of HCC - No Exception). The application will be declined if HESI-A2 exam results are not submitted with the application by the application deadline.
• Please note HESI Remediation through Elsevier is FREE.

Additional HESI Resources:

• How to access your HESI exam scores, including critical thinking scores
• Resources for HESI study materials

If You Are Offered Admissions

Please note that the Program Director will be in contact with you once your Letter of Intent has been received to provide you with the information on the process of getting a background check, drug screen, personal health insurance, and deadlines for immunizations. Please check your email regularly for updates and information.

• Complete the letter of Intent form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer email that will be sent to your submitted email address with the program application.
• Proof of personal health insurance: If you need to purchase health insurance, please visit the Student Health Insurance webpage for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance needs. Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings.
• Passing drug screen. 
• Physical examination.
• Immunization record showing: Completion of Influenza – after September 1st.
• Cleared Criminal Background. Please note individuals with a positive background will need to declare it with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Compliance Policies by the time of the application deadline.
• Complete mandatory student services and program orientation on the date provided in your admission offer email. (Please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations. If you are offered admissions for Fall Term – plan to attend orientations between July and August.)

HCC Coleman College Grading Scale

To best prepare students for success in their chosen fields, Health Sciences Programs have high standards for progression. Unlike other HCC programs, the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program requires a C (75%) or better to progress to the next course or semester in the program. For specific questions about grades, grading, and progression within Health Science programs, please contact Coleman College at co.sonography@hccs.edu. 

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Grading Scale

• A = 100 – 90%
• B = 89 – 80%
• C = 79 – 75%*
• D = 74 – 60%
• F = 59 – 0%

*A grade of C (75%) or better must be achieved to progress to the next course or semester. 

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.

"The Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics & Gynecology DMS Program at Houston City College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)."

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Effectiveness Data

Psychomotor Skills

Cognitive Skills

Sensory Skills

Social-Behavioral Skills

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

On average, approximately 200 students apply for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program each application period. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Advanced Technical Certificate program and Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate Degree program are merged into one selection and only the top 26 students will be selected in the fall semester and 16 students will be selected in the spring semester.

When the number of eligible applications exceeds program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission. Selective criteria are awarded based on the following:

• 75% may be awarded based on the program's academic criteria.
  (grades earned from pre-entry form, required courses, and general education requirements)
• 25% will be awarded based on HESI scores in Reading, Grammar, Anatomy & Physiology, and Critical Thinking.
• Applicant must meet the HEP. B, MMR, and Varicella Immunization requirements.
• All application requirements must be satisfied by the close of the application window.

ARDMS Rules

ARDMS rules indicate that ARDMS may take action against an applicant, candidate or registrant in the case of conviction, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere to any crime. If you are presently charged with, or been convicted or found guilty of or plead nolo contendere to any crime (felony and/or misdemeanor), other than a speeding or parking violation, you may have questions concerning this rule and may wish to obtain clarification as to how it pertains to your circumstances. ARDMS conducts a "pre-application review," for a $125 non-refundable fee, for individuals who wish to determine the impact of a previous criminal matter on their eligibility to apply for ARDMS certification. The pre-application review process is recommended for individuals who have not yet applied for examination and are contemplating employment in the field of sonography and/or enrollment in a sonography program. Go online at www.ardms.org for details on the pre-application review process.

To apply for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ATC) program, prospective students must have completed an Associate Degree in Allied Health (two-year educational program in a patient-care-related area) OR a Bachelor's degree in any area. (An Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) is NOT equivalent to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Allied Health. Official college transcript should show degree was conferred.)

Academic Course Requirements

Placement Test:  N/A

Cumulative GPA:  A minimum of 3.3 or higher is required. If you have completed prerequisite courses at more than one college, then all college GPAs will be used to calculate your total Cumulative GPA.    

Prerequisite Courses: Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’ by the application deadline.

Academic Course: DMSO 1210 - Introduction to Sonography course is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to be taken in advance at HCC, but is not required as a part of the application process. Completion of the DMSO 1210 course at HCC with a minimum grade of "C" or better within 2 years of the application deadline will assign additional points on the rubric.

Immunization requirements

As a part of the application requirements, an applicant must create an account with the Compliance system (houstoncccompliance.com), and upload the required Hep. B, MMR, and Varicella immunization records with positive titers showing immunity. We will not be able to consider your application until you have completed and submitted all the requirements by the application submission deadline.

• Completion of Hepatitis B immunization series (may take up to 6 months to complete) and should be valid within 10 years; fast track is accepted. Upon completion of the Hep B series, a positive titer must be taken to prove immunity.
• Completion of 2 Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) shots and a positive titer within the last year.
• Completion of 2 Varicella shots and a positive titer within the last year.

Note: If you get admitted to the program, upload the rest of the immunizations listed below in the Complio system by September 1.

• Completion of the Tuberculin Test (PPD) has to be done annually.
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) shot and the titer; it should be valid within 10 years.
• Completion of Hepatitis C blood draw to show negative results.

HESI Pre-entrance Exam Requirements

The HESI A2 (Health Education Systems Inc.)- Admissions Assessment entrance exam is required to apply for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at HCC Coleman College.

Schedule HESI-A2 test: Please contact HCC Coleman College Testing Center via email: coleman.testing@hccs.edu. The cost of the HESI is $75.00 per attempt; payment must be made by either credit or debit card.

HESI-A2 required sections: No minimum score is required for admission; however, all sections listed below must be taken. Application rubric points are awarded based on the range of scores for each section: Anatomy & Physiology, Grammar, Reading, Critical Thinking.

• Fall 2026: Scores are valid for 3 years (5/1/2023 - 5/15/2026) by the application deadline.
• Spring 2027: Scores are valid for 3 years (10/1/2023 - 10/15/2026) by the application deadline.
• Please note that HESI-A2 official scores, including the Critical Thinking section, must be downloaded directly from the Elsevier/Evolve website in a .pdf format and submitted with the program application (regardless taken at HCC or outside of HCC - No Exception). The application will be declined if HESI-A2 exam results are not submitted with the application by the application deadline.
• Please note HESI Remediation through Elsevier is FREE.

If You Are Offered Admissions

Please note that the Program Director will be in contact with you once your Letter of Intent has been received to provide you with the information on the process of getting a background check, drug screen, personal health insurance, and deadlines for immunizations. Please check your email regularly for updates and information.

• Complete the letter of Intent form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer email that will be sent to your submitted email address with the program application.
• Proof of personal health insurance: If you need to purchase health insurance, please visit the Student Health Insurance webpage for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance needs. Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings.
• Passing drug screen. 
• Physical examination.
• Immunization record showing: Completion of Influenza – after September 1st.
• Cleared Criminal Background. Please note individuals with a positive background will need to declare it with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Compliance Policies by the time of the application deadline.
• Complete mandatory student services and program orientation on the date provided in your admission offer email. (Please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations. If you are offered admissions for Fall Term – plan to attend orientations between July and August.)

HCC Coleman College Grading Scale

To best prepare students for success in their chosen fields, Health Sciences Programs have high standards for progression. Unlike other HCC programs, the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program requires a C (75%) or better to progress to the next course or semester in the program. For specific questions about grades, grading, and progression within Health Science programs, please contact Coleman College at co.sonography@hccs.edu. 

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Grading Scale

• A = 100 – 90%
• B = 89 – 80%
• C = 79 – 75%*
• D = 74 – 60%
• F = 59 – 0%

*A grade of C (75%) or better must be achieved to progress to the next course or semester. 

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.

The Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics & Gynecology DMS Program at Houston City College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).

Psychomotor Skills

Cognitive Skills

Sensory Skills

Social-Behavioral Skills