How to Become a Sonography Technician in Virginia (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Virginia employs about 2,160 sonography technicians earning a median $95,660 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 Virginia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. 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)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
180.6Contact school for pricingNot reportedNot reported—62 mi
278.8Contact school for pricing$76,113Not reported—71 mi
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367.6Contact school for pricing$67,735Not reportedYes*124 mi
464.4$2,756 - $11,230$48,14432%Yes*124 mi
Sponsored Ad
562.5Contact school for pricing$57,48735%Yes*134 mi
662.2Contact school for pricing$51,09037%Yes*53 mi
Sponsored Ad
760.6Contact school for pricing$42,844Not reportedYes*127 mi
855.3Contact school for pricing$49,034Not reportedYes*112 mi
Sponsored Ad
952.9Contact school for pricing$48,62531%Yes*121 mi
1050.3Contact school for pricing$47,349Not reportedYes*116 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.

Virginia employs approximately 2,160 sonography technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $95,660 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 Virginia, 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 (Virginia): $95,660 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sonography Technician in Virginia

How to become a Sonography Technician in Virginia? 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 Virginia? Yes. Virginia typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do sonography technicians earn in Virginia? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in Virginia is $95,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $77,540 and experienced professionals can earn $122,930 or more 1.

How to Become a Sonography Technician in Virginia

  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 Virginia. 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 Virginia

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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria1,550$105,290$106,040$87,820$131,500
Richmond440$95,660$91,820$79,740$103,010
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk370$86,630$88,890$75,620$104,770
Kingsport-Bristol110$75,440$75,850$53,920$96,900
Roanoke110$83,140$89,400$75,420$99,720
Charlottesville100$88,700$101,560$68,820$138,450
Lynchburg60$95,130$88,180$66,170$102,740
Winchester40$83,470$86,070$72,570$101,630

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 Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 2,160 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 Virginia with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do sonography technicians earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in Virginia is $95,660, which is $6,320 above the national median of $89,340 according to BLS data 1.

In Virginia

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)