How to Become a Sonography Technician in Arkansas (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas employs about 640 sonography technicians earning a median $81,500 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Sonography Technician here means completing a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Sonography Technician Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
177.9$11,064$69,97175%Yes*226 mi
257.5$18,850$59,57433%—210 mi
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356.6$4,470 in-state / $7,710 out-of-state$43,16334%Yes*217 mi
454.0$5,040 in-state / $6,480 out-of-state$50,47862%Yes*95 mi
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553.6$4,250 in-state / $7,300 out-of-state$40,04243%Yes*218 mi
652.6$3,342 in-state / $5,238 out-of-state$48,05631%Yes*139 mi
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748.7$3,792 in-state / $9,720 out-of-state$50,75528%Yes*219 mi
842.3$4,283$43,03315%Yes*183 mi
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936.0Contact school for pricing$34,50155%—141 mi
1032.4$2,700 in-state / $5,700 out-of-state$45,22038%—202 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arkansas employs approximately 640 sonography technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $81,500 1. Nationally, sonography technician employment is projected to grow 13.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 5,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Sonography Technician in Arkansas, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: CAAHEP-accredited sonography program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI
  • Exam: ARDMS or CCI
  • Median wage (Arkansas): $81,500 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sonography Technician in Arkansas

How to become a Sonography Technician in Arkansas? Complete a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? Yes. Arkansas typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do sonography technicians earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in Arkansas is $81,500 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $64,280 and experienced professionals can earn $102,190 or more 1.

How to Become a Sonography Technician in Arkansas

  1. Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED and science prerequisites.
  2. Complete a CAAHEP-accredited sonography program. Finish a diagnostic medical sonography program in Arkansas. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  3. Earn ARDMS or CCI. Pass ARDMS or CCI specialty exams employers expect.
  4. Confirm state licensure. Some states license sonographers. Confirm with the program and employer.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Sonography Technician License Requirements in Arkansas

Sonographers typically complete a CAAHEP-accredited program and earn ARDMS or CCI. Some states add licensure.

Typical path

  1. Complete a CAAHEP-accredited program.

  2. Earn ARDMS or CCI.

  3. Apply for state licensure if Arkansas requires it.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Sonography Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), diagnostic medical sonographers wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Memphis390$82,930$81,590$66,290$100,880
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway190$82,200$82,200$66,900$100,100
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers120$84,820$88,050$67,830$106,680
Fort Smith80$100,140$91,590$74,420$102,190
Jonesboro50$81,880$89,130$69,760$100,970
Texarkana30$83,340$81,430$60,600$98,280

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for sonography technicians in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 640 sonography technicians 1. Nationally, sonography technician employment is projected to grow 13.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a sonography technician in Arkansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas.

How much do sonography technicians earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in Arkansas is $81,500, which is $7,840 below the national median of $89,340 according to BLS data 1.

In Arkansas

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)