A medical professional wearing a white coat points at an ultrasound image on a monitor.

Enter an evolving industry as an ultrasound technician

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Ontario College Advanced Diploma program

Start a rewarding career in a cutting-edge healthcare field. Get hands-on training with ultrasound technology in simulation labs. Expert faculty and small class sizes prepare you for unique patient needs.

Program code SONO
Duration 3 Years
Credential Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Program Delivery Full-time
Program delivery method(s) In person What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

Imagine yourself as a compassionate professional and a vital member of a cutting-edge healthcare field. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program equips you with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to excel in this rapidly advancing industry. Also known as ultrasound, diagnostic medical sonography utilizes high-frequency sound waves to assess the developing fetus, abdomen, pelvis, and blood vessels. Every patient presents unique needs, and as a student, you develop diagnostic problem-solving abilities and teamwork skills to provide exceptional care. Guided by experienced faculty, you build a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and quality sonographic imaging. Hands-on training in simulation labs prepares you for clinical placements in diverse healthcare settings. Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on interprofessional collaboration, patient safety, effective communication, and high standards of patient care, ensuring you are well-prepared to succeed as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Fall 2026 Barrie

Tuition and fees

Work-integrated learning

  • This program includes a clinical placement component where you’ll get clinical experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional.
  • Learn about types of work-integrated learning at Georgian.

What are the admission requirements for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program?

Diagnostic Medical Sonography admission requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • Grade 12 Mathematics (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Physics (C or U)

Admission requirements may be met by completing Georgian College’s Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees certificate, or equivalent courses from Academic Upgrading programs offered by Colleges across Ontario.

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Selection Process

Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry is recommended, in addition to the required Biology to support students in this science-based program.

This is a highly competitive program. Applicants will be assessed and ranked based on academic grades. The overall minimum GPA is determined annually.

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not pardoned will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical or work placement.

Information about placement requirements

To help you navigate the requirements to complete the clinical placement component(s) of this program (e.g. immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and other non-academic requirements), please review the details below.

For more information about placements, visit the Placement Offices webpage.

Placement requirementsGeorgian College Chevron

In order to provide quality practicum placements (“Placements”), students are placed in a variety of agencies, largely in the region serviced by the campus. Students are required to provide their own transportation to Placements. Placements may vary in length (e.g. six to 12 hour days) and may include weekends and evenings, with varying start and end times (e.g. day, afternoon, overnight).

Many programs, including Health and Wellness, have immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and  other non-academic requirements that need to be met prior to Placements starting. You are responsible for carefully reviewing and meeting these requirements. The failure to meet them may mean that the host agency may refuse to accept you for a Placement or, if you have started one, that you may be prevented from continuing. The result may be that you cannot complete your program. Program-specific requirements can be found on page 2 of the Clinical Preparedness Permit specific to your program.

You are responsible for meeting all immunization, criminal screening and other requirements by the deadline provided by your program and before you start your Placement.

Notes regarding the Criminal Record Check (“CRC”) and Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)

Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not yet pardoned or who have adverse entries on their CRC or VSS will be prohibited from proceeding to a Placement. Such a student will normally be counselled to withdraw from the program because the successful completion of a Placement is a program requirement.

Obtaining the CRC and VSS usually requires a processing time of up to 12 weeks and can vary between police jurisdictions. As some jurisdictions require longer lead time for processing, ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. Record checks and screenings conducted earlier than six months may not be considered current and not be acceptable. Refer to your Clinical Preparedness Permit for information regarding this. A host agency may refuse a Placement if the CRC or VSS is not satisfactory to it. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the necessary completed documents prior to the start of a Placement at the designated check time, and in the format set by Georgian College and stated in the Clinical Preparedness Permit Information Package. More information can be found on the Placement Offices webpage.

The costs associated with the provision of the CRC and VSS, anything related to them (including, if applicable, obtaining a pardon), and meeting any immunization and other Placement requirements, are to be borne by the student. The non-academic requirements of clinical agencies as described in the Clinical Preparedness Permit are subject to change at any time and host agencies may accept or decline students for any reason at their discretion. Georgian College  is not responsible for any of the costs associated with the foregoing, nor for the consequences of failing to comply with, any of the requirements set out above.  

What career paths can I take as a sonographer?

Your Diagnostic Medical Sonography diploma gives you many career opportunities

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers commonly work in:

  • community and teaching hospitals
  • imaging centres
  • urgent care clinics
  • ultrasound system industries
  • education and research 

What courses are included in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program?

Course overview

25 Program Courses
2 Clinical Placements
1 Communications Course
3 General Education Courses

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program outline.

  • BIOL 1050 – Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Imaging 1
  • IMAG 1000 – Patient Care and Management 1
  • IMAG 1001 – Ultrasound of the Abdomen and Superficial Structures 1
  • IMAG 1002 – Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation 1
  • IMAG 1003 – Ultrasound Skills Lab 1
  • Select 1 course from the Communications list during registration.
  • Select 1 course from the General Education list during registration.

Your course delivery method(s)

In person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

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