Students are admitted to Valencia’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program by a selective admission process. The Health Sciences Admission Committee selects a limited number of students once per year to begin the program in the Fall term.

1. Read about Diagnostic Medical Sonography admission & program requirements and the Valencia College catalog; read this program guide in its entirety and confirm you are capable of meeting the Core Performance Standards listed within this guide.
2. Be a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. permanent resident or an International Student.
   International Students: F-1, J-1, and all other non-immigrant visa types eligible to enroll in degree-seeking programs, must complete their background check, fingerprinting, drug testing, immunizations and CPR certification at least six months in advance of the anticipated start term. Contact the Health Sciences Compliance Office to begin the compliance process and background check at email: HSCompliance@valenciacollege.edu.
   NOTE: All individuals who have DACA, Temporary Protection Status, Refugee, Asylee status, etc. must complete the Employment Authorization Permit (EAP) prior to submitting application.
3. Attend a Health Sciences Information Session (strongly recommended). Information Session dates are posted on the Health Sciences website
4. Submit a completed Valencia Application for Admission and pay the application fee; satisfy the requirements for Degree-Seeking Status, including submission of all official transcripts from all institutions (include High School transcripts or GED score report) must be submitted to Valencia College and posted on your record, and be in Active Student Status.
5. Must be at least 18 years of age at program start.
6. Satisfy the Valencia entry testing requirements and satisfactorily complete any mandatory courses in Reading, Professions of Caring or New Student Experience, Mathematics, English and English for Academic Purposes in which you are placed (must be at college-level for Reading, Mathematics, and English). Visit the Valencia College Catalog for more information about Mandatory Courses
7. Complete the prerequisites for admission with a minimum grade of "C":
   The grade for each of the following courses must be posted to your Valencia College transcript. To be competitive for admission, these and additional Science and General Education courses must be completed with high grades. See the point system that follows.
   • BSC 2093C Human Anatomy and Physiology I
   • BSC 2094C Human Anatomy and Physiology II
   • MAC 1105 College Algebra
   • PHY 1007C Physics with Medical Applications
   • ENC 1101 Freshman Composition I
   • PSY 2012 General Psychology
   • Any course that meets the General Education Humanities requirement
8. Have a minimum overall college GPA of 2.5 including all undergraduate transfer work for admission into program. Must be in good academic standing.
   NOTE: Transfer students with completed coursework at Valencia College also need to have a minimum Institutional/Valencia GPA of 2.0 at the time of applying (in addition to the minimum overall college GPA of 2.5)
9. Prior to submitting your program application, you are encouraged to meet with your assigned advisor. You can locate your assigned advisor by logging into Atlas, Courses tab, Academic Profile. We strongly recommend that you meet early in your course planning to ensure all requirements, including program pre-requisite courses mentioned in this guide are met.
10. Complete successfully the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with scores posted to your Valencia Atlas account (paper copies of scores NOT accepted) of a minimum passing score of 58.7. The examination fee is the responsibility of the student. Visit Valencia's Assessments Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) for information and verification about the ATI TEAS. ATI TEAS scores may be used for five years. To verify scores are on file at Valencia, email the Assessment Office at: Assessment@valenciacollege.edu
11. After completing the above steps and prior to the program application deadline, submit a Valencia Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program application, pay the $15 non-refundable Health Sciences program application fee, and submit any required documentation. 

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Valencia’s Health Science programs are offered through the School of Allied Health and the School of Nursing, which provide information about specific admission criteria for the programs. The Health Sciences Program Guides, of which this is one, are developed for a specific academic year (August to July) and, as a rule, changes to admission and program requirements becoming effective at the start of an academic year. Valencia College, however, reserves the right to make changes in admission and program requirements as circumstances require. If a mid-year change becomes necessary, it will be indicated in the information for the specific program. Review your Program's Updates.

Students interested in a health sciences career are encouraged to explore the many challenging and rewarding opportunities available in health professions. The health sciences programs may have clinical experiences that expose the student to blood borne pathogens via contact with bodily fluids including, but not limited to blood and saliva. Students accepted into these programs will be expected to adhere to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for the use of Standard Precautions. The CDC defines standard precautions as “a set of precautions designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), [and] other blood borne pathogens when providing first aid or health care.” Under standard precautions, blood and certain body fluids are considered potentially infectious for HIV, HBV, and other blood borne pathogens. Students will be expected to adhere to hand hygiene protocols and consistent use of personal protective equipment including masks, gloves and eyewear. In some of the health sciences programs, students may need to conduct peer-to-peer examinations in lab settings.

Valencia offers eight health sciences programs which lead to an A.S. degree. They are the Cardiovascular Technology, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Emergency Medical Services Technology (including EMT and Paramedic technical certificates), Health Information Technology (including Medical Information Coder/Biller technical certificate), Nursing (R.N.), Radiography, and Respiratory Care. Admission to these programs is limited because of clinical facilities and staff. Once you complete your A.S. degree in Cardiovascular Technology, you can continue at Valencia to earn your Bachelor’s degree in Cardiopulmonary Sciences or a bachelor-level Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) in Echocardiography. With additional education at the bachelor’s level and professional experience, you will enhance your skills and have more career options available.

Students whose official records indicate they are seeking admission to a limited access Associate in Science (A.S.) health sciences program will have the health sciences program designated as their secondary major and the Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree designated as their primary major in order to maximize their educational opportunities. If the student has already earned a Bachelor’s or A.A. degree, the student will not have A.A. designated as a major.

Application Information

Most programs have an application deadline, but some do not. If a program application deadline falls on Saturday, Sunday or a Valencia holiday, the deadline will become the following Valencia business day. Health Sciences program applications are available on each program's page. Program applications received after the deadline date will not be considered for the identified term. Students who are not accepted will need to reapply for a future term.

Students must complete a Valencia application for admission and the application for the specific health sciences program. Admission to Valencia does not imply acceptance to the health sciences program.

Students may apply to more than one limited access Health Sciences program; however, enrollment is limited to only one Health Sciences program in a term. A new program application is required if reapplying for admission. Having previously earned a college degree does not grant an advantage in admission to a Health Sciences program that does not require a degree for admission nor does it exempt students from taking the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) if the ATI TEAS is required for admission to the program.

All communication from Valencia relative to program admission will be sent via your Atlas e-mail address. Written communication you initiate with Valencia staff should also be via your Atlas e-mail account and should include your full name and your Valencia ID number.

Background Check, Fingerprinting, Drug Testing, Immunizations and CPR Certification

The Health Sciences programs include student clinical rotations in external affiliate health care facilities with which Valencia has agreements for student clinical assignments. The affiliates’ policies require that students serving in a clinical rotation be cleared of offenses that would disqualify them from participating in student clinical assignments. Thus, all students conditionally* accepted to a Health Sciences program are required to submit to a criminal background check, fingerprinting and drug testing as well as provide documentation of specific immunizations and American Heart Association (AHA) and Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification following acceptance to a program. The timeframe for meeting these requirements will be provided in the Orientation information that will be sent to the student upon acceptance through ATLAS email.
NOTE: Non-Immigrant visa holders must complete their background check, fingerprinting, drug testing, immunizations and CPR certification at least six months in advance of the anticipated start term.

Students may need to renew their background and drug testing requirements annually. See the Compliance Department for more details at Orientation & Compliance

* If you have a positive background check, fingerprint or drug screening, you may be denied enrollment in a Health Sciences program due to the inability to participate in a student clinical assignment. If you have concerns regarding known background issues, it is recommended that you email questions to HSCompliance@valenciacollege.edu.

Mandatory Orientation

The mandatory program Orientation for accepted students usually is held four to six weeks prior to the program start date. Once accepted to a program, students will receive an email via ATLAS regarding the Orientation date, requirements and deadlines. The Orientation materials will give the student information regarding the processes for completing background checks, fingerprinting, drug screening, and other requirements through Castle Branch Student Portal.

Transportation to Clinical Sites

If accepted to a program, students will be responsible for furnishing transportation to the community and/or hospital facilities used by Valencia for clinical practice.

Valencia is an Equal Opportunity Institution

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The Health Sciences Admission Committee uses the following point system as a guide in the selection of 12 qualified students to be admitted to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. Student selection is based on the total number of points earned. In case of a tie, overall GPA and the Health Sciences entrance test score will be considered.
NOTE: If a student was previously accepted into a Health Sciences Program at Valencia College and subsequently deemed ineligible for return to the program, the selection committee has the right to contact the applicant’s previous program. This information will be included in the consideration for program admission

Total Possible Points: 78

Prerequisite Course Requirements that Award Admission Points

The first three courses are prerequisite courses that must be completed by the program application deadline. You may not repeat a course for grade forgiveness for which you previously have earned a grade of A, B or C.

Degree Course Requirements that Award Admission Points

The following courses are required for the degree and will result in more points toward admission if completed with a minimum grade of C prior to the application deadline.

Transfer courses may need to be reviewed by an Advisor for potential course substitution or equivalency.
NOTE: courses taken at other institutions may not be equivalent to Valencia Allied Health Program course requirement, as listed in this guide. Course substitution or equivalency must be on your Valencia record before submitting program application.

Additional Admission Points (optional)

Related Experience Admission Points Awarded

Points may be earned for ONLY ONE of the following and documentation must be submitted.

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Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements. Based on these requirements, the following list of "Core Performance Standards" has been developed. Each standard has an example of an activity or activities, which a student will be required to perform while enrolled in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. These standards are a part of each Diagnostic Medical Sonography course and of the professional role expectation of a Cardiovascular Technologist.

For the purpose of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, a “qualified individual with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodations or modifications, meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in the program.” The School of Allied Health at Valencia makes no preadmission inquiries concerning an applicant’s disability status. Information related to an applicant’s disabilities is not a part of the information reviewed by the Admission Committee.

These Performance Standards should be used to assist students in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary for the student to meet program requirements. A student who identifies potential difficulties with meeting the Performance Standards should communicate his/her concerns to an advisor in the Office for Students with Disabilities. The student has the responsibility to identify and document the disability and to request reasonable and appropriate adjustments. Determination is made on an individual basis as to whether any accommodations or modifications can be reasonably made.