Applicant Selection Process

The Ascension St. Vincent Sonography Program does not discriminate on the basis of disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not request disability information from program applicants. Likewise, candidates are advised to not discuss or disclose a disability to program faculty, students or other Ascension St. Vincent associates or representatives. If accepted into the Sonography Program, candidates will have the opportunity to request accommodations for disabilities as defined by the American with Disabilities Act. The program, in consultation and guidance from the Ascension St. Vincent Offices of Associate Health , will determine if disability accommodations are reasonable. The program reserves the right to deny disability accommodations that are not deemed to be reasonable. 

All applicants will be asked on the application to disclose any criminal actions or proceedings, excluding speeding and minor traffic violations. Applicants who disclose their criminal history must provide details as directed on the application. Failure to disclose a positive criminal history will result in denial of the application. In addition, enrolled students are required to disclose any criminal actions, excluding speeding and traffic violations,  that occur at any time during enrollment in the program. Students who disclose their criminal actions must provide details of the proceedings . If the criminal proceedings are in progress, the student is expected to provide a timeline of the court proceedings and submit the final verdict and actions to the program director. Failure to disclose a criminal action or proceedings will result in corrective action.

The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) may deny eligibility to apply for the certification examinations to individuals who have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor excluding speeding and minor traffic violations. Upon disclosure of criminal proceedings, the student is required to submit a Compliance Pre-determination application to the ARDMS at their own expense. Upon receipt of the decision, the student will be required to forward the decision of the ARDMS to the program director. The decision of the ARDMS will be considered when determining if the student will remain enrolled in the program. Denial of pre-eligibility by the ARDMS will result in immediate termination of the student. 

The DMS program reserves the right to consult with Human Resources personnel regarding the criminal verdict and may elect to terminate the student if circumstances merit expulsion regardless of the ARDMS pre-eligibility decision.

All applicants will be asked on the application to disclose if they have ever had a professional license or certification suspended or revoked by any certifying agency or governing body. Applicants must provide details of the suspended or revoked professional license or certification as directed in the application. Failure to disclose a suspended or revoked professional license or certification will result in denial of consideration or withdrawal of conditional acceptance. The School of Medical Imaging reserves the right to deny acceptance or rescind conditional acceptance to any individual with a history of suspended or revoked professional license or certification based on individual circumstances.

Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside does not have a transfer placement or transfer student/credit policy. Applicants are expected to enter the program with the minimum of an associates degree plus the following prerequisites: Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Medical Terminology, College Algebra, Introduction to Physics, and one of the following: English Composition, Communications, Written Communication, or Speech. Applicants who are accepted into the Sonography Program will be required to complete the program in its entirety.