For a Career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Diagnostic Medical Sonography, commonly known as ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves to examine the developing fetus, heart, abdomen, pelvis, and blood vessels. These examination are separated into 2 main areas:
- Cardiac: focuses on the heart and is typically performed in either cardiology or diagnostic imaging departments of hospitals.
- General: includes fetal, abdominal, pelvic, vascular (blood vessels) and superficial structures and is typically performed in hospital diagnostic imaging departments or outpatient imaging clinics.
Each patient comes with unique needs and, as a student, you will learn diagnostic problem-solving and team collaboration skills to give each patient the highest quality of care.
BCIT offers specialized diploma programs in sonography, catering to different career paths in the field. The General Sonography Diploma is 22 months long and focuses on abdominal, obstetric, gynecologic, and vascular ultrasound. For those seeking broader expertise, the Dual Sonography Diploma is 27 months long, and encompasses both General and Cardiac Sonography,
The BCIT Sonography (Cardiac Option) is a 12 month long Advanced Diploma program dedicated to training specialists in cardiac sonography.
BCIT also offers microcredential programs in Breast Sonography and Musculoskeletal Sonography designed to upskill currently registered general sonographers in British Columbia. These specialized programs provide targeted, advanced training that enhances the expertise of practicing sonographers.
Ready to Learn More?
Explore the individual program pages for details. You’ll find links to all program options on this page.