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Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program

Applications for Fall 2023 entrance through Fall 2025 entrance (DMSD)

Application Timeline Campus Locations
Fall Enrollment - Apply in February Lincoln - Evening/Weekend

Admissions Guidelines

(PLEASE NOTE NEW TESTING REQUIREMENTS (HESI A2) WILL BE IN PLACE BY LATE SEPTEMBER FOR THE FEBRUARY 2023 APPLICATION PERIOD). 

Minimum requirements to apply to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program:

  1. CCRI Application for Enrollment into General Studies with a pre-Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMSD) concentration.
  2. Official copy of a high school transcript, GED® transcript or baccalaureate transcript from an accredited institution, including date of graduation or completion.
  3. ACCUPLACER test issued by CCRI's Department of Advising and Counseling.
    • Reading Comprehension Requirement:
      • Score of 80 or above in Classic Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension
        or score of 253 or above in Next Generation Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension
        or ENGL 0890: Critical Reading with a grade of "B-" or better
        or a Bachelor's degree
  4. Complete the following required prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better:
    • ENGL 1010: Composition I
      ENGL 1300 will not substitute for ENGL 1010.
    • MATH 1200: College Algebra
      MATH 2111 and MATH 2141 also meet this requirement
      MATH 1700, while no longer offered at CCRI, will still be accepted
    • PHYS 1000: Physical Science
      PHYS 1030 will also meet this requirement
  5. Complete the following required prerequisite course with a grade of "B-" or better:
    • BIOL 1070: Anatomy and Physiology
  6. Take the HESI A2 Test. (For more information on the HESI test, click here)
  7. A minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required to apply to the program and be maintained until enrolled in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

All the above requirements must be met satisfactorily BEFORE submission of the Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS) application and does not guarantee acceptance.  Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester must resubmit a PBHS application for the program and meet current requirements.  Once accepted into the program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Allied and Rehabilitative Health Department.


  1. Complete and submit an online PBHS application here.
    Deadlines are listed on the form.

Conditionally accepted students are required to complete the following:

    • When directed by notification from the Office of Enrollment Services, students must submit a background check
      Results of BCI may prevent admission due to clinical agencies' requirements.
    • Applicants must have a physical examination and the required immunizations completed prior to beginning the clinical portion of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.
    • Students also must have a current CPR card (American Heart Association, Healthcare Provider level) obtained through an AHA-recognized community training center. This course is also available at CCRI (HEAL 0200). CPR must be documented prior to the start of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program

Final acceptance is based upon the completion of the above criteria.

Please note: Requirements are subject to change.
For more clarifying information regarding any of the above please contact the Office of Enrollment Services at:

  • Mike Hynes, Knight Campus, 401-825-2266, [email protected]
  • If more specific information is needed, contact Paula Cardillo, the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director, at 401-333-7449 or via email at [email protected]

 


Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Admission Criteria Point System

The performance‐based acceptance process is based on the performance indicators identified for the program. A point system based on the admissions guidelines has been assigned to the performance criteria.

The criteria for the incoming class will include:

  • GPA in prerequisite courses
  • Grades in MATH 1200 (or MATH 2111 or 2141) and BIOL 1070 
  • ACCUPLACER reading score/degree completion
  • HESI A2 Test
GPA for prerequisite courses ENGL 1010, MATH 1200(or MATH 2111 or 2141), PHYS 1000, and BIOL 1070  
Example: 3.67 GPA x 10 = 36.7 points  
Maximum points 40 points
   
Grade in MATH 1200 (or MATH 2111 or 2141) and BIOL 1070  Each course's letter grade is converted to points and added
A     (4.0) 15 points
A-    (3.7) 12 points
B+   (3.3) 10 points
B     (3.0) 8 points
B-    (2.7) 6 points
C+   (2.3) 4 points
C     (2.0) 2 points
Maximum points 30 points
   
ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension Test* Score  
ACCUPLACER score of 90 or better  
or Next Generation ACCUPLACER score of 259 or better  
or a bachelor's degree   
or  a grade of "A" in ENGL 0890  
Maximum points 10 points (can only receive points once, even if multiple criteria are met)
   
HESI A2 Preadmission Test  
HESI Categories             Points awarded for each of the four sections
Reading 4-5 points (e.g., 80%=4 points or 100% = 5 points)
Math 4-5 points 
Vocabulary/General Knowledge 3.5-5 points 
Grammar 3.5-5 points
   
Maximum HESI A2 Preadmission Test Points 20 points
   
Maximum Total Points 100 points

*HESI A2: If the student does not achieve the percentage score required on one or more of the tests, he or she may retake the necessary test(s) once within the next 12 months. Students are limited to two attempts within a 12-month period from the date the original test was taken. A minimum of two weeks between exams is required. Please note: HESI test scores do not expire.

In the event of a tie, the students' earliest date of application will be used as the tie-breaker.

Credits granted through AP, CLEP, challenge exams or assessment of prior learning will be recognized as satisfying course requirements and will be assigned points equivalent to a grade of "B."

A student with a baccalaureate degree or higher may still be required to complete an ACCUPLACER test depending on the prerequisites for individual general education courses.

Please review the Department of Health website to learn about licensing requirements for the health sciences professions.

Please note: A Social Security number is required to begin the certification process for the health sciences professions.