Sonography is the most operator dependent diagnostic modality in modern medicine, and as such requires intense clinical education and training. Not all sonographic programs are accredited and many do not provide adequate clinical education. Be sure you attend a www.CAAHEP.org accredited school. There are many different accreditations and some are not recognized by the sonographic profession.
Regional Accreditation, National Accreditation, and other accreditations
http://www.elearners.com/guide-to-online-education/regional-and-national-accreditation.asp When deciding which type of accreditation is right for you, there are several issues you may wish to consider.
The main issue is the transferability of credits from one institution to another. While nationally accredited institutions will usually accept credit from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, regionally accredited schools often do not accept credit from nationally accredited institutions.
This also means that if you hold an Associate's degree from a nationally accredited school, you may have to start over if you later decide to pursue a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school. Similarly, if you hold a nationally accredited Bachelor's degree, you may not be eligible to enter a Master's program at some regionally accredited institutions. Considering that state colleges and universities are regionally accredited, and are an inexpensive local option for many students, this is definitely something to keep in mind.
Another important issue is cost. There are a few nationally accredited schools that are extremely inexpensive, and that low tuition rate can be enticing. However, there are also regionally accredited bargains out there for those who do their research.
The final issue to consider is acceptability by prospective employers. To be frank, most employers don't know the difference between the two types of accreditation. Usually, once they know that your credentials are accredited, they'll ask no more questions about it. If there are employers that are particularly appealing to you, or if you hope that your degree will lead to a promotion at your current job, it would be best to speak with Human Resources personnel and ask specific questions.
Good luck, Terry J. DuBose,