DO NOT GO TO ULTRASOUND SCHOOL UNACCREDITED BY CAAHEP!!!!

James in Los Angeles, California said: Hey NDL, I went to ATI College located in Norwalk. From what I hear they also have a branch in Tustin as well. Buy yeha, if you don't already have your bachelors then I suggest you stay FAR FAR away from schools unaccredited by the CAAHEP. Hope this helps.....

I am thinking about enrolling in ATI, any success yet?

Went to ATI in Miami. What a waste of money. There is a huge lawsuit against the school right now. I was fortunate to get a job in Ultrasound, but all of my classmates have not found work 8 months later. ATI only does 380 clinical hours. They do not have any good sites, because they lost most of them due to the students they accept at the school. They will take anyone if they can pay. It doesn't matter what your gpa was.
Stay far away from that school. They are going tobe reimbursing thousands of dollars to the students in the lawsuit for tuition.

I am thinking about Mountain state unversity ....online for DMS. I asked for I could sit for my boards diredtly after completeing the prgram they said:
Yes, once the requirements of the program are completed , students may apply to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers for examinations in Physics, Abdomen, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cardiovascular Principles, Vascular, and Echocardiography."
IS APPLYING THE SAME A SITTING OR I AM JUST BEING FOOLED AGAIN INTO THINKING THIS IS A REAL PROGRAM?!

Basically what it means by applying is that you have to have all that is required by the ARDMS in order to sit for the exam. So in a nut shell applying does not guarantee that you'll be able to sit for the exam. Hope this helps....

hey i was wonderig what a ARDMS is i am lookinf into the ultrasound field and would like to know what i am getting myself into. Can you or anybody help

Monica in Boca Raton, Florida said: Wow- I was literally on my way to register for the ultrasound program at Sanford Brown in Ft. Lauderdale and just decided to google the name real quick and this came up! Thank you all so much for this info, I was steps away from spend 30+ on my education! So now I guess it's time for plan B? I went into Keiser but there is a 1 year waiting list. Is that normal? I also went to PBCC but it's pretty much a 4 year program. Any suggestions? I have my associates but it is in Communications. Should I put my name on the waiting list for Keiser? It that school a scam? I would be so grateful for any input!!

Keiser is legit....TD

K in Atlanta, Georgia said: Absolutely.......There ARE jobs in Ultrasound!!!!! I am CCI Registered in Cardiovascular and had NO PROBLEM finding employment. CCI is also an international registry, where ARDMS is NOT. You will have NO PROBLEM FINDING EMPLOYMENT with a CCI registry! I am making $79K with my CCI Registry. I took and passed my Science, Physics and Math portion of the CCI registry during my second month of externship. Then, 6 weeks after completing my externship, I took the Echo portion of the exam and passed!! I work a 3 day, 12 hour shift. Not so bad for a new grad. I am now studying for my vascular registry and am also taking courses in conversational Spanish. I know having the additional registry and being bi-lingual will dramatically increase my income and employment opportunities. BEST WISHES!!

Just so you know, CCI will NOT except you unless you have 1yr. of work experience FIRST. Trust me, I contacted them after I graduated from an unaccredited college.

So, by reading some of these posts did I understand correctly?
You need to work 12months (no pay) in order to be elgible to sit for the ARDMS exam even if the school is accredited or if you have BS degree?
I went to SBI for medical assisting, originally I wanted to go for ultrasound program but as many of you said they rip you off by making you take the MA program in order to get into the ultrasound program. Now, I want to get into the ultrasound program but since SBI is NOT accredited in NY, then what other school would you reccoment, anyone? is IAMP accredited by CAAHEP? I would appreciate any help!

Hi Dee...Try Long Island University in the Brooklyn Campus. They offer a certificate &/or associates degree program, and will take two years. I'm not sure what their tuition is, but it's accredited with CAAHEP. I believe LIU is a CUNY school so the tuition shouldn't be more than $1,500 a semester if you go full-time.

Anna in Middle Village, New York said: Hi Dee..

The course at LIU is Vascular Ultrasound only. It is 1 year long and costs $20k. SUNY downstate is a 4 year course but is only 1500 per semester. Both require pre-reqs but I dont think they accept Stanford Brown credits

Hi Ano. I knew about SUNY Downstate, but that's a four year degree and I didn't think Dee was looking for a four year college. I am going to start Downstate in a few weeks. She could call Dr. Joyce Miller @ 718-270-7760, and speak to her about the credits she has. She needs 60 credits to get in with a minimum of a B average. I didn't realize that LIU's program was so expensive and so short! Ihope Dee finds a program she likes and that is accredited. Good Luck Dee, and to you too Ano.

lol funny you mentioned that school Anna, I've e-mailed them a couple of weeks ago and asked if they'll accept my MA credits, they said that they wwont accept them but you do need 60 college credits to get in ultrasound prog. I have only 19 college credits and I'd like to start the ultrasound program as soon as possible... so that wont work for me but thank you and good luck to you as well.
this sucks =(
Does anyone know if IAMP is accredited? on their website it says that they are but it doesn't say by whom.

Dee in Bronx, New York said: lol funny you mentioned that school Anna, I've e-mailed them a couple of weeks ago and asked if they'll accept my MA credits, they said that they wwont accept them but you do need 60 college credits to get in ultrasound prog. I have only 19 college credits and I'd like to start the ultrasound program as soon as possible... so that wont work for me but thank you and good luck to you as well.
this sucks =(
Does anyone know if IAMP is accredited? on their website it says that they are but it doesn't say by whom.

They are not accredited by CAAHEP.

Thanks Ano
=(

WHat if the school is accredited by ACICS lets say, does it matter? or does it have to be accredited by CAAHEP in order for you toconsider going to that school.??

Dee in Bronx, New York said: WHat if the school is accredited by ACICS lets say, does it matter? or does it have to be accredited by CAAHEP in order for you toconsider going to that school.??

IF you want to take your ARDMS straight away and you do not have a degree you need to attend a CAAHEP school. The 3 CAAHEP schools in NYC have the best internship hospitals, so the best connections for the students. If you are not at the top of the class at IAMP you will end up a doctor's office seeing maybe 2 patients a day. If you have a degree and go to an unaccredited school you will need to pass your exams to get a job (there are some lucky people who do not have to , but in most cases this is true)

hey has anyone graduated from SCHOOL OF ALLIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONS - the Ultrasound program????

I want to apply but am a bit scared to with all of these requirements after graduating and making sure you dont get jipped..

Any advice is it a good school?...is it hard finding a job after graduation?.. Can you get your license after graduating or do you have to wait a yr??

Please any advice or info on this school would help me a BUNCH!!! THNX

Do not go to Sanford Brown...go onto www.Ripoff reports.com, and type in Sanford Brown, and be ready to read about 50 or so complaints about that school. IF that's not enough...go onto other sonography forums on indeed.com, (there's about four others) and there will be literally 100 other people complaining about how hospitals don't want to hire Sanford Brown graduates because the school's reputation, at least here in NY and other parts of the country. However since you stated that it's accredited with caahep, maybe that school has a better reputation there. If you could find another school in your area that's accredited, go for that one instead, especially if it's in a community college, it will cost you less than the $28k SBI wants for their sonography program not to mention the $9k you will have to pay for the Medically assisting program they are forcing you to take. So you will end up payin close to $40k. Call the hospitals in you area and ask them if they hire Sanford Brown students and if they say no...ask them why? Good luck! :o)

in pa sbi charges 14 grand for the medical assisting program and like 30-35 for the ultrasound riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippppp offffffffffffffffffff

Back To School in Saint Louis, Missouri said: I am considering attending a non-accrediated cardiac sonography associates in applied science but now I am too scared. Does anyone know if the Jackson Community College online cardiac sonography program is a good one? Do online cardiac sonography programs get you real jobs?

Jackson CC is accredited through CAHEPP. I atttend the online DMS program and have one class left before I start my hospital rounds. They do however only accept so many students per progam per year. Hope this helps! I still have to apply and hope I get in for May!

Hi Tam! Does Jackson CC set up the clinicals for you?

Yes to an extent. Once you are chosen for the program (job shadow, oral interview etc completed) then they work with local area hospitals to set up an agreement. In rare instances they may not be able to secure an agreement with a local hospital and it may be a bigger commute. The general aned vascular start in May and run until Aug of the following year and the cardiac starts in Jan and runs until July I believe of the following year. At this time you will also take online classes as well as complete between 1200 and 1500 hrs of clincals. The first semester is an average of 32 hrs a week or so from what I gather on top of the ultrasound classes. I use financial aid and they are very helpful and the instructors are wonderful. If I had just known about this school when we lived in Michigan lol! The tuition is pretty reasonable for an online program 4 classes runs me about 3100. Hope this helps!

OMG after reading all this im so confuse.... I already started SBI in New York and im paying with loans..... I already work as a medical Assistan but idont have any certificate... I guess ill graduate from here take the RMA exam and then jus tgo some where else to follow another degree.... With the certificate u can transfer them to 32 credits towards another degree. Im not sure. but any ways can anyone help look for a better school for RN after i finish at SBI

Hey everyone!
Can I get a little knowledgeable advice? My plan is to receive an associates degree in radiologic technology then pursue ultrasound. I too have heard a lot of negative things about Sanford Brown. The Florida Hospital College is an accredited online program. Will I be able to do clinicals locally? I am a single mother and cannot just pick up and move. What do yall think?

Hi DY. I was talking to the receptionist at my optomologist two days ago. When she found out that I was going to school to be a sonographer she gave me such a look of disgust, and made very snide remarks about how once you graduate I won't be able to find a job because there isnt' any jobs out there that will hire you...yada, yada, yada. I told her that my school offers job placement upon graduation and she said that was b.s. bcuz the school will tell you anything to get your money. She was very nasty about it. I told her that I was going for my Bachelor's Degree, and then she asked me what school was I going to and I told her that I was starting Downstate next week. She said that it didn't matter what school one goes to because there's no jobs out there for sonography. I became concerned and asked her if she graduated from Downstate and she said arrogantly said."No, I went to SB." I asked her, "What's SB?" and at the same time we said Sanford Brown. I chuckled. I told her, "Well, You just answered why YOU couldn't get a job, and it's because no hospital in NY will hire you if you graduated from Sanford Brown, because it's not an accredited school." She argued with me about it, and I told her to go to Cahaap's site and it will state ALL the schools that are accredited by them, and Sanford Brown DEFINITELY wasn't. Then I told her about these forums and ALL the people who complained about the school and are looking into getting a class action suit against them. I told her everything I learned from this site, and the difference between her school and Downstate. Downstate has over 200 affliated clinical sites whereas SBI doesn't. She said that she graduated and she had to do clinicals after graduation. I asked her how could she graduate a sonography course without doing clinicals BEFORE graduation. SHe said that they did sonograms on each other. Well what good is that? You're looking at each other and assuming everyone is healthy, how would you learn to find pathology

(continued from previous post) if you haven't seen it. At Downstate, you start doing clinical in a hospital the very first semester, actually it's four weeks after beginning the semester! She stated that SBI didn't have any clinical sites and she graduated years ago and still hasn't been able to sit for the registery exam because she can't get a job (hence the reason why she's working as a receptionist at an optomologist's office) and owing over $25k to pay for the "education" she can't do anything with. I told her to go onto this site and read all the things that people have stated about SBI and gave her the website of www.ripoffreport.com and told her to look up SBI and see all the complaints about them. It's sad. I have read alot of people who have been screwed over by SBI, but to actually know someone who has been a VICTIM of that scam school, it's even sadder. When she asked me what my tuition is for Downstate and I told her it was only $2100 a semester if you go full-time, and the entire two years would only cost $8400, she nearly had a fit! Then when I told her that Downstate placed over 95% of their graduates, she was ready to explode. So the bottom line is this, it DOES matter what school you go to...not necessarily whether you get a certificate, an associates or a bachelor's degree, but whether it's an ACCREDITED school. I hope you decide to find another school if you choose to go the route of sonography. IF not, try Queensborough Community College for their nursing program. It's hard to get in, but you can't beat the tuition, only $1200 a semester for two years. Good luck!

Ana... question who did you speak to from downstate I wasthinking about going down there but was scared of there tuition. They are cheaper than liu!!! Could you please give me a number and some info as to when they start and everything. Thanks a bunch!!

Hi Katie. The person you want to contact is the person who runs the program. Her name is Joyce Miller. You must have 60 credits before you could get into the program; 2 english classes, A&P 1&2, chemistry, physics, psychology, college math, and I think one or two other courses to be eligible. The rest of the other courses to make 60 credits could be art and gym for all that they care. It's the excellent grades in those core courses that matter to them. The school is located in Crown Heights in Brooklyn. It's a highly regarded school since they were the first college to offer a sonography program. I am really excited going there. I feel lucky that I got in because they only accept 27 people a year. Orientation will be next Wednesday...I can't wait to finally start the sonography program after attending QCC for four years (part-time). They also offer part-time classes, (which is what I am doing) but the classes are all during the day. Good luck, and let me know what they said when you call them. Keep me posted!! :o)

So true yet so scary. I myself was looking into ultrasound and considering Western Suffolk Boces, caheep accredited, because it covered general ultrasound and then I would specialize in obgyn. NYU is ridulously expensive, suny downstate I thought was 4 years, bachelors only, and LIU is for only only vascular sonography. With that all in mind and Boces having clinicals being done at rotating hospitals as far as the Hamptons, I am somewhat discouraged to pursue ultrasound and contemplating nursing at Hunter instead. Traveling soo far everyday for 2yrs can put make things very hard & unjoyable.

Curious to hear your feedback on everything and what you have discovered in the field of nursing.

manisha jasty in Edison, New Jersey said: Hi,

I am in the process of preparing for my ARDMS- in OB/Gyn, please let me know what is the best study material to be well prepared for the exam.
1) Which text book ?
2)Which Practise exam material?

Please reply at the earliest convenience.

Thanks

By any chance did you go to school in NY or was is NJ?

I went to SB in NYC. I already had my bachelor and a few science credits SB required. Did my classes, did my externship, no problems anywhere. Passed the ARDMS, will be taking my second specialty in October. I have been working in 2 places since graduating the last 12/2005. 2 part times that make a full time. I was hired after I passed Physics, 5 months before taking my first specialty. Most hospitals or imaging places do not care where you went to school. They care about ARDMS, your attitude, and especially how well you scan. I never worried about SB not being accreditted. I worried about myself being able to scan properly and being able to pass ARDMS. Maybe SB could do better in the way they present the ARDMS material, maybe they should tell students that the exam is not quite as easy.
All in all for me, I needed to concentrate on my work and not worry about what anyone else says or does.
Good luck to everyone!

Hi Nicole. You could try QCC for nursing. THe program is two years and only $1200 a semester, and it's in Queens. I'm not sure where you are in NY but there are people going there that live in the Bronx trying to get into their nursing program. And yes, Downstate is a bachelor's degree, but you have to come in with 60 credits, they don't do freshman or sophmore years there. Good luck Nicole. By the way...Downstate isn't that hard to get to with the trains especially if you're coming from the city. If you have previous college credits, you only need a few in science courses and you be eligible. Good luck.

HI, I know how you feel, but don't get discourage, while you're waiting for those three years, you can go to school for your associates in DMS. Mountain State University offers DMS online. You don't need to be certified or a registered DMS. All you need to do is work for someone that is affiliated with this school so that you can do your clinicals with them. Classes are online. You will need an associates or a bachelors in DMS to work in a hospital. There web address is www.msu.edu

So if I have my associates in business management or my bachelors in healthcare mgmt I would only need to 2 years at downstate to get a bachelors? Thank you for your help and look forward to hearing from you.

hi, you're probably right, since you have an associates in healthcare, you might already have some of the pre-reqs to start your bachelor's degree. you might need like 2 or 2 1/2 years to comeplete your bachelors.

Also, I gave the wrong web address to mountain state university, the correct one is www.mountainstate.edu

Hi Nicole. You need the following prerequisites: 2 english courses, A&P 1 & 2, a semester in the following: chemistry, physics, psychology, college math. You could go onto www.downstate.edu, look onto the left side of the page, and I think it has EDUCATION as one of the boxes you could click on, and then you go into CHRP (College of Health Related Professions) and once you click onto there, click onto Diagnostic Medical Imaging. I believe on the side of that page you could click onto prerequisites. It's an excellent school and has a wonderful reputation and has over 200 clinical sites where you could get experience by working in hospitals. The 1st semester you will be in the hospital one day a week all day from 9 to 4pm. Then the 2nd semester it's 2 days, the 3rd it's 3 days, etc. until you get to your last semester and when you get to your last semester, you will be in the hospital all week. You can't get more experience than that. Downstate is the first college to have a sonography program in the U.S. and they are very proud of it. AND most of all, since you are working with hospitals and they see how you work, by the time you are ready to graduate, the hospitals offer you a job. Not to mention, having a bachelor's degree can NEVER hurt you, and if you choose to continue your education and get a master's in healthcare, you could look into working in the administration of the hospital where you would be making FABULOUS salary! I understand that supposedly "it doesn't matter where you went to school, it's how you scan" but having a college degree give you other options should you choose to do something else after a few years. Also, if you have a school that puts you in a hospital setting for training during clinical you're getting not only the best education but also the best training experience! God, I should get paid for advertising that school!! LOL. No but seriously, you can't bet the education for the cost. You get the biggest bang for your buck! good luck!! :o

Nicole...the phone number to the Diagnostic Medical Imaging program is (718) 270-7760. Ask to speak to Joyce Miller who is the program director. She is very informative patient. Or if you don't feel comfortable speaking to her directly, you could email her at: Joyce.Miller@Downstate.edu. Ask her all the questions you have and what are the prerequisites, but I think I gave all that are required. You must have at least a B average in order to qualify. Then when they get your application, they will call you and want to meet with you. You will most likely be speaking to Marie Towele, (she was the one who interviewed me). Once they interview you, and see if you are serious about your desire to get into the school, they will send you a letter within two weeks telling you whether you have been accepted into their program. Since you have your associates in Healthcare, you already have your english classes, your math class, I'm sure you must've taken one psychology course, so you will only need to take A&P 1 & 2, chemistry and physics if you haven't already. But I think you may have most if not almost all of the prereq's. If you don't then all you need is four courses and you could be in by next year. (Downstate new classes start in Sept.) It may take you an extra year to reach your goals, but I know that when you set your mind to it, you will achieve your dreams (without going broke. lol.) Good luck, and keep me posted as to what they tell you, and hopefully, I will get to meet you there next year if or should I say WHEN you get accepted. Take Care! :o)

TLove1 in Bethpage, New York said: Yes Rae... I am going to check out IAMP in the omni building on Monday, I will let you know how it goes if your intrested.

I would definately check out SBI Garden city first. All instructors are registered.

The SBI Garden City campus also has a fairly large on site lab.

Thank you for all your help and the best of luck to you.

I'm trying to change my career and advise about this field, how much it's paid in Southern California? Any comment about Newbridge college in Santa Ana and Long Beach, CA for the ultrasound program.What are the chances of getting job after finishing your diploma?I have my BS, does it make a difference in sitting the exam and experince? Any respond is appreciated.

Brian, I checked out SBI in Garden City... WASTE OF TIME!!! Instructors in IAMP are registered also...

Hi There,
Does anyone have information about the Florida Institute of Ultrasound in Pensacola? I am thinking about going there next year.
Thanks a lot!!

do not go to Sanford institute the dont acept accredited Hs go to Jersey city Micro Tech the school is good and you guet a good job they dont discriminate your High School by Continental Academy so if tou have the diploma you can guet anything you want with the Continental Academy they have medical assistant. surgical tech. ultrasound tech.etc so if you have the continental academy dont way call them and you wont be disspointed.they are register as medical training they have two campus one in Jersey city and the other in Newark. I hope this help you guys.

Amy in Orlando, Florida said: Hi Tam! Does Jackson CC set up the clinicals for you?

I am a older sonographer who scanned 3 years on the job,then went to school. I am glad to find a forum to let the students out there know that ARDMS, and the SDMS, are doing nothing to monitor the clinic hours that our new student are actually receiving.

The truth is these allied schools , be they community college base or certificate programs. Or even masters programs, are TEACHING THE TEST! They sit you in a room for anywhere from 14 months to 2 years, teaching you the answers to the last 10 years of Registry exams. And you know what, you PASS the registry. The only problem is when you get into the clinical setting and sit down in front of a monitor. You DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT!
This is Cheating the student . The person who has paid the school to teach them how to do ultrasound examination . Then you get a bad rep.
It is your right as a paying customer to know 1. How many hours of clinic per week you will have with a one on one instructor. Don't let them just drop you off at a hospital somewhere , leave you to the wolfs, check on you once a week.
They asked me to take a student recently. I ask : "What is are the objectives of this year that the student will spend with me?"
The clinical director stated. "Well the first semister show them where the laundry cart is . and teach them how to put people in the wheelchair. ( In other words used them to change the bed and go get patients. 2. The second semister, start showing them things about the exam., and hopefully by the time they graduate in 14 months-2 years they will be able to do an exam. I told her I wanted no part of their program. I made enemies in the ultrasound community where I live. I am not Sorry. I was once a student. I had great clinicals. And by the way this is a ACCREDITATED PROGRAM!! Please demand to get what you pay for..!! We need well trained sonographer out here..

So you’re saying I'm not well trained because I went to a 2 year program? I had to study my butt off and scan every day! My testing was based on both images and written tests. I went to work and now I am eligible for the ARDMS. What I see here is a bunch of people that are not willing to put forth the effort it takes to get the job. You must send out resumes daily till you get the job. If you can’t scan your out of luck you have wasted your money! Make sure the school you go to has several different types of machines. You only have one chance to prove yourself during an interview. I trashed my first interview because I did not know the GE 400 machine that the doctor used.

Rosalyn in Long Beach, California said: Erica-
I have an appointment with someone from that school next week but at the Long Beach one, do you know how much it was, and if it is a good school overall?

Rates range from 21,000 and above. I heard that the lady that handles school loans just resigned so you may have issues with that getting this done. Also ask the counselor about the externship programs. Will they be able to put you in a good hospital for training? Long Beach branch has a free clinic for students but can they manage all their students in the clinic? There are too many ultrasound schools here in CA and hospitals know this. Its hard to get a good job if there are others more qualified than one that just graduated.

Maggie in Los Angeles, California said: Anyone that has gone to Newbrige College in Monterey Park? Are they accreditated> Is it a good school?

Monterey branch closed a couple of months ago. Try Newbridge, Long Beach and Santa Ana.

Haj in Phoenix, Arizona said: I'm trying to change my career and advise about this field, how much it's paid in Southern California? Any comment about Newbridge college in Santa Ana and Long Beach, CA for the ultrasound program.What are the chances of getting job after finishing your diploma?I have my BS, does it make a difference in sitting the exam and experince? Any respond is appreciated.

It's okay to study in CA but looking for a good job is another issue. You can find a job faster outside of Ca after graduating.

Do not waist your time and money attending Newbridge or Modern Technology. They are the same owner. It is an awful school. I trade in my hard earning money for a feces education. The instructors are incompetence; late to school, instructors eat in class with mouth wide open. Instructors come to school unprepared. They come straight from the gym; nasty and all smelly. I wish somebody would have told me. I can go on and on, but to keep it short. BOTH OF THE SCHOOL IS A JOKE. Initially, they put up a very nice store front to lure you in, after that they dissect your pocket.