Things you will need BEFORE you can complete your online Sonography application:
- RRCC Student S#. Not an RRCC Student? Apply here
- Transfer all completed pre-reqs so they appear on your RRCC transcript (see #1 below)
Submit the online DMS General Program Application with pdf file attachments during the application window of January 5th to end of February at Midnight for both DMS AAS Degree Programs (General and Cardiac).
To apply for the Cardiac Degree; Echocardiography AAS Degree program
APPLICATIONS FOR THE DMS AAS PROGRAMS RECEIVED OUTSIDE OF THE JAN. 5 - end of Feb. WINDOW WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Applicants can apply to multiple medical imaging programs at the same time. Candidates who are deemed eligible to interview for multiple programs can only interview for one program per year and will be asked to choose which program they wish to interview for.
Online application PDF attachments:
Step 1:
Red Rocks Community College Transcript:
- Must include all completed pre-reqs, circled or underlined. Only an official or unofficial RRCC transcript is accepted. Do not attach transcripts from other schools. It may take 4-6 weeks for transfer credit processing. Please plan ahead and submit your transfer credit form and official transcripts early. We recommend that all transfer credit transcripts, credit for prior learning (CLEP), and advanced placement testing be submitted by February to RRCC Student Records, Lakewood Campus.
- Applicants submitting pre-req documentation after February will be processed in the order they are received.
- All email communication should be done via your (cccs.edu) account.
- To transfer in the prerequisite credits for the DMS program, please complete the Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form. On the form you will indicate AAS: DMS. You would then need to send official transcripts by one of the methods listed below.
- Electronic transcripts can be sent directly from the school to: student.records@rrcc.edu ***If an electronic transcript is issued to the student or any other party and then forwarded to us, it is not considered official.
- Official Transcripts can be mailed to: Student Records, Box 8 Red Rocks Community College 13300 W 6th Ave Lakewood CO 80228-1255
****For a paper transcript to be official, it must still be in the sealed envelope from the issuing institution. It may be mailed directly to student records from the school, or brought to student records by the student***
- Once a request is received, previous college credits will be transferred in according to the transfer of credits policies in the catalog.
- ****COVID-19: Please note that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Student Records services are currently 100% remote. We do check the mail weekly but expect delays in processing for physical transcripts. Please keep this in mind when considering your options.****
- For additional information, please visit the Student Records webpage, or email your questions to Student.Records@rrcc.edu.
- In-progress pre-reqs must be complete by May. No transcripts are required – instead you will report these in-progress pre-reqs in your application. Candidates may be required to submit in-progress grades via email in April, and the grade at that time may be used to score the application.
- If any pre-reqs are missing from the RRCC transcript or not reported in-progress, the application will not be considered.
Step 2:
Resume, to include:
- Paid Patient Care Experience (optional): paid employment in patient care within the last 10 years, providing face to face medical services to people as a member of a team of professional healthcare providers, in a medical or in-home environment. Experience in specific patient care fields listed here will result in higher points.
- Community Service (optional): any amount of volunteer experience in the last 5 years will earn points.
Step 3:
Two letters of reference, dated within the last 2 years, with a signature and phone contact information. Letters are scored based on quality of content. Letters from supervisors and/or healthcare professionals will receive more points.
Step 4:
- A title page
- Your background, goals, interests, achievements
- Motivation for attending the program and career plans
- Description of a challenging situation you have experienced and description of how you used problem-solving and critical thinking skills to find a solution
- Format: 2-3 pages (not including title page), double-spaced, 12 pt font
- Essay score is based on quality of essay content. The RRCC Writing Center can provide support to students needing assistance with writing skills.
Step 5:
Job Shadowing Forms (optional)
Job Shadowing/Lab Volunteering is optional, but strongly recommended. Job shadowing hours must be done with a registered/licensed sonographer and the completed RRCC Sonographer job shadowing form must be submitted with the application to receive credit. The school does not arrange or recommend sites. Points are awarded based on hours reported on job shadowing form(s). 1 point is awarded for every 4 hours of shadowing, up to a maximum of 40 hours.
Sonography students can also earn job shadowing hours for volunteering to be scanned by students in the RRCC ultrasound scan lab. Interested students can apply with the Lab Volunteer Sign-up Form (in the section below). After a lab volunteer session, candidates must ask for a signed Lab Volunteer Form and include it in their application to receive credit. *Please note volunteers will only be contacted if a time slot is available. Volunteers do not receive a copy of their images, diagnostic results or medical advice as part of their scan
Step 6:
Copy of your 2yr Allied Health Degree or Bachelor's Degree
Step 7:
Copy of National License/Registry card (does not apply to Bachelor Degreed candidates)
To view a timeline of what happens after you apply, please see the Admissions Timeline in the above section.
How the Applications are Scored
Nearly 75% of score is based on essay, GPA, and 101 grade.
Rank Item
1 - Essay
2 - GPA in prerequisite coursework only
3 - DMS 101 Grade
4 - Letters of Refence
5 - Paid Patient Care Experience
6 - Job Shadowing / Lab Volunteering
7 - Community Service
ADMISSIONS INFORMATION/REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Timeline for Admissions Process
- Application Window: January 5 - February 28
- Notification of Interview: February
- Interviews: March
- Offer of Preliminary Acceptance: April
- Completion of Screening Process: June
- Official Acceptance into Program: Early-July
- Orientation: Mid-July
- First Day of Program: Mid-August
Interview
Candidates with the highest application scores will be selected for an interview. The interview may consist of various activities and interview sessions. Top performing interviewees will earn a spot in the program, solely on their interview performance. Of candidates interviewed, typically 40-50% get offered a spot in the program.
Physical & Health Requirements
Inability to meet physical and health requirements at any time during the program may result in disruption of clinical/classroom education, delayed graduation or program dismissal. Students admitted to the program are required to have current, compliant documentation of the following items on file with the program:
- Drug Screen
- Background Check (see Disqualifying Criminal Offenses)
- Physical Exam Certification (see Technical Standards)
- MMR Vaccination
- Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccination
- Hepatitis B Vaccination
- Tuberculosis Screening
- Tdap Vaccination
- Health Insurance Card (proof of active medical insurance)
- Seasonal Flu Vaccination
- AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Certification
- Other physical and safety requirements as assigned by the program or clinical site
Students may be required to undergo vaccination and/or medical evaluation to be eligible to participate in the program, and these requirements are subject to change.
RRCC is an approved member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
Go to https://www.nc-sara.org/ for more information and click here for more information on professional licensure, and visit our RRCC Professional Licensure page here.