BCIT has received funding to expand their Diagnostic Sonography program. The 27-month full-time Diploma program, commonly known as Ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves to examine the developing fetus, heart, abdomen, pelvis, and blood vessels.
The program will add 16 first-year seats; eight seats were added in September 2019, and another eight first year seats to be added in 2020 will increase total capacity to 48 first-year seats.
While the academic requirements for admission include high school English, Math, Biology and Physics, the highly selective admissions process gives preference to applicants with some post-secondary experience, in addition to a strong GPA, and demonstrated interest in the field.
BCIT was the first post-secondary to offer diagnostic sonography in BC and is also one of only three institutions in Canada to teach cardiovascular profusion, both of which are critically important specialties in the healthcare system.
In October 2019, the Province announced Vancouver Island’s first Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will be launched at Camosun College, and in 2020-21 the Province will provide operating funding toward northern BC’s first sonography program at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) in Prince George.
Sonographers are in the top 13 health professions that have been identified as in high demand. The 2018 BC Labour Market Outlook projected 82,100 job openings in the health professions by 2028.