Sonographer (integrated degree)

Degree apprenticeship (integrated degree) · Health and science route · Standard ST0554 v1.1

Level: 6
Typical duration: 36 months (about 3 years)
Max funding band: £24,000
Route: Health and science

Conducting diagnostic and screening ultrasound examinations.

About the role

This occupation is found in the health sector and includes the NHS and private healthcare providers working in hospitals and clinics.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to conduct diagnostic and screening ultrasound examinations. Ultrasound is the use of highly specialised scanning equipment to create echoes of high-frequency sound waves that can be bounced off body tissues. The echoes are then converted into an image called a sonogram. Ultrasound imaging allows an inside view of soft tissues and the body, to examine anatomy and identify problems. Sonographers perform and report a wide range of clinical ultrasound examinations within a defined area of practice. They undertake scans which may include but are not limited to cancer detection, women's health and pregnancy, abdominal, vascular and musculoskeletal examinations, although their individual scope of practice can be wide and varied. It requires extremely good hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness and excellent interpersonal skills.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with patients, their carers, members of the public and a range of healthcare professionals, e.g. doctors, midwives, nurses and radiographers. The sonographer will be competent to practice independently in this discipline but will work as part of a wider clinical team. They are independent professional practitioners responsible for managing their own work and for a wide range of specialist ultrasound scanning equipment and resources. They typically report to advanced practitioners, and may supervise healthcare assistants and clinical support workers.

How it compares

At 36 months (about 3 years), it is about average length for a degree-level apprenticeship (the average across all 172 Level 6+ standards is 39 months).

The funding band — the maximum an employer's levy can contribute to training costs — is £24,000, at or above the £21,500 average for degree-level standards. Apprentices never pay tuition either way.

Typical job titles

Sonographer

Entry requirements

Individual employers will set the selection criteria for appointing apprentices; candidates typically will have 5 GCSEs including English and Maths A-C or 4 and above, and 3 A-levels A-C including one science, or equivalent qualifications.

Entry requirements are ultimately set by each employer — treat these as the baseline, not the bar.

What you come out with

BSc Honours Ultrasound; BSc Honours Medical Ultrasound; BSc Honours Diagnostic Imaging; BSc Honours Diagnostic Ultrasound; BSc Honours Medical Imaging (Ultrasound); BSc Honours Ultrasound Imaging — Level 6 (integrated degree)
Professional recognition: Society and College of Radiographers — Sonographer
Professional recognition: British Medical Ultrasound Society — Sonographer

What you'll learn

The official standard defines 19 core duties, 29 knowledge areas, 42 skills, 6 behaviours. This is the actual assessed content of the apprenticeship — worth reading before an interview, because competency questions are usually written straight from these lists.

Core duties 19

Work independently to plan, organise and prioritise ultrasound patient sessions, including evaluating patient notes and assessing their suitability to undergo the imaging procedure to ensure it is the right test, at the right time for that particular patient.
Maintain data protection, patient confidentiality, effectively use relevant IT systems and undertake accurate data entry, patient report writing and record keeping with attention to detail.
Communicate effectively with patients, their family and carers and the Multi-Disciplinary team
Confirm patient consent for a variety of ultrasound procedures as a practitioner and understand limitations of own role within the consent process.
Comply with statutory and local departmental ultrasound policies including health and safety policies such as infection control, incident reporting, safeguarding, complaint procedures and accurate record keeping of patient information relating to imaging.
Carry out the range of ultrasound examinations within your scope of practice, to acquire and interpret ultrasound images and produce patient reports.
Optimise image quality by adjusting ultrasound machine and controls in order to obtain high quality scans and accurate diagnoses.
Evaluate the quality of images according to the clinical criteria. Recognise normal, normal variants and abnormal image appearances in order to provide a report and to escalate urgent and unexpected findings in a timely manner.
Recognise and appropriately act upon the emotional and psychological needs of patients, colleagues, team and oneself due to the exposure to distressing and emotional situations.
Communicate and discuss complex and sensitive information with Sonography patients in an empathetic and professional manner, ensuring their needs are met during the scan.
Take professional accountability for own practice and adhere to departmental policies relevant to the role of a Sonographer.
Supervise assistant practitioners, healthcare support worker, students and other learner groups within imaging and non-imaging services, facilitating their development and training, as appropriate.
Practise autonomously, safely, and effectively within the scope of Sonography practice and within the legal and ethical boundaries of a Sonographer.
Practise in a non-discriminatory way acting in the best interest of patients at all times and act as an advocate for patients and their families within the Imaging Multi-Disciplinary Team setting.
Contribute to patient management plan, seeking appropriate onward referral as required when findings are outside their scope of practice
Reflect on own Sonography practice and learning, and identify areas for personal development to maintain fitness to practice and to satisfy the requirements of relevant professional standards .
Develop procedures and changes to working practices or procedures for own work area, including research and audit of service delivery.
Assist in an agreed quality assurance programme including the regular inspection of ultrasound machines and ancillary equipment
Facilitate learning through delivering public health activities and education for patients and the general public

Knowledge 29

Knowledge and understanding of the Society and College of Radiographers and British Medical Ultrasound Society (2017) Guidelines For Professional Ultrasound Practice, and national and local ultrasound policies.
Knowledge and understanding of the legislative and clinical governance frameworks associated with sonography and the political, social, and economic factors impacting on health and social care and ultrasound service delivery in the NHS, private and independent sectors.
Knowledge of the structure and function of the human body and how to relate these to normal, normal variants and abnormal ultrasound appearances and pathophysiology.
Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of disease and trauma that result in referral for ultrasound procedures, and the use of other diagnostic tests.
Understanding of the limitations of own scope of practice, knowledge and skills, and when to seek advice or refer to another professional.
Knowledge of the procedure for obtaining consent and the implications of not obtaining consent, including the Society and College of Radiographer consent guidance documentation
Knowledge and understanding of patient confidentiality, the responsibility to maintain it and understanding of the General Data Protection Regulation, including the need for accurate record keeping, in accordance with relevant legislation, protocols and guidelines.
Knowledge and understanding of how to modify and tailor own communication skills address factors such as age, capacity, learning ability and physical ability whilst performing ultrasound examinations and discussing outcomes to ensure the patient and people acting on their behalf understand the message you are conveying
Knowledge and understanding of the physics and technology of ultrasound imaging and image generation, including the underlying scientific principles.
Knowledge and understanding of ultrasound equipment and its safe use and function in order to ensure that it is appropriate for purpose
Knowledge and understanding of how to select, use and apply appropriate scientific and clinical terminology in all aspects of their professional practice.
Knowledge and understanding of how the risk-benefit philosophy applies to ultrasound safety, to protect both individual service users and the population.
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts and principles involved in the practice of ultrasound and ultrasound reporting, including clinical judgement, clinical decision making and when to escalate.
Knowledge and understanding of the importance of quality assurance, health and safety and patient centred care as they apply to the practice of ultrasound.
Knowledge and understanding of how to critically appraise current literature in order to support evidence based practice and research.
Knowledge and understanding of the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice in order to practice in a non-discriminatory manner, maintaining patients dignity and rights.
Knowledge and understanding of patient /service user centred care in the context of their professional practice.
Understanding of the importance of participation in training, supervision and mentoring.
Knowledge and understanding of appropriate supplementary procedures aligned to mandatory training including manual handling, data protection, confidentiality, infection control and disposal of bodily fluids.
Knowledge and understanding of medical ethics and mental capacity.
Knowledge and understanding of ergonomically sound practice to ensure own wellbeing.
Knowledge and understanding of the need to monitor and evaluate the quality of practice and the value of contributing to the generation of data for quality assurance and improvement programmes.
Understand the importance of reflective practice, lifelong learning and continuing professional development within their own ultrasound practice and that of others.
Understand the need to build and sustain professional relationships as both an independent professional and collaboratively as a member of a team.
Understand the need to engage and empower service users and carers in planning and evaluating.
Understanding of the role of the sonographer in the promotion of health and health education in relation to healthy living and health screening for disease detection.
Understanding of the concept of leadership and its application to sonography practice.
Knowledge and understanding of the pharmacology of ultrasound contrast media and drugs used during diagnosis and treatment, the methods of drugs administration, and how to remove and re-apply dressings.
Understand cyber security in relation to ultrasound practice.

Skills 42

Interpret, apply and reflect on professional codes of practice and legislation in order to deliver ultrasound examinations and take responsibility for own actions, exercising a professional duty of care.
Receive and justify appropriateness of referrals, and advise other healthcare professionals about the relevance and application of ultrasound examinations to the service user’s needs.
Use independent methods to establish and confirm service user identity and confirm patient consent prior to undertaking ultrasound procedures.
Assess patients clinical condition prior to, during and after ultrasound examinations, recognising changing signs, symptoms and progression of disease, and make appropriate decisions relating to ultrasound appearances and the immediate management of the patient
Use effective communication with the patient to determine their suitability for the procedure before and during their examination,.
Assess potential communication barriers and modify communication to ensure inclusivity and form relationships and rapport with all patients.
Acquire, interpret and report on the range of ultrasound examinations within their scope of practice with a high level of skill and accuracy.
Optimise the ultrasound machine and controls to perform a high quality scan.
Use spatial awareness and psychomotor skills when manipulating the patient’s body to produce accurate ultrasound images.
Distinguish between normal and abnormal appearances evident during the ultrasound examination and on resultant ultrasound images, and document findings in a written report.
Critically evaluate the quality of ultrasound images for clinical manifestations and technical accuracy in relation to their diagnostic value.
Work both independently and in a multi-professional team.
Use physical, graphical, verbal and electronic methods to collect and analyse information from a range of sources including service user’s clinical history, diagnostic images and reports, pathological tests and results.
Operate ultrasound equipment and related accessory equipment safely and accurately, and take appropriate action in the case of faulty functioning and operation.
Apply the risk-benefit philosophy to ultrasound safety considerations to protect both individual service users and the population.
Select and explain the rationale for examination and treatment techniques and immobilisation procedures appropriate to the service user’s physical and disease management requirements.
Take responsibility for reasoned decisions when performing a broad range of clinical, technical, managerial or scientific procedures and record appropriately.
Recognise verbal and non-verbal cues that indicate the patient may require emotional and psychological support.
Seek clinical supervision to ensure support whilst dealing with possibly distressing and difficult circumstances.
Seek advice from or refer to another professional when findings are outside your scope of practice.
Initiate resolutions to ultrasound problems using a comprehensive range of cognitive and practical skills associated with ultrasound.
Manage risk and report concerns about safety, and be open when things go wrong.
Keep accurate records of own work and promote and protect the interests of patients, staff, and public.
Maintain and respect patient confidentiality while following local safeguarding policy and national guidelines.
Recognise and respond appropriately to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard ultrasound patients or the wider public.
Provide patients or their advocates with the information necessary to enable them to make informed decisions, with regular reappraisal of their information needs, as appropriate.
Manage own workload and resources effectively and be able to practice accordingly.
Integrate theoretical and practical knowledge in order to solve problems.
Work within the limits of own knowledge and skills, delegate appropriately. Lead and manage in accordance with your level of responsibility.
Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge
Ability to support and facilitate learning for others.
Contribute to the development, design, and implementation of clinical audit and service improvement initiatives and use evidence-based research and clinical trials outcomes to explore and develop own clinical practice.
Work in partnership with service users, other professionals, support staff and others, and contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Reflect critically on practice and contemporary evidence that underpins ultrasound practice, and apply critical thinking and problem solving to professional decision making.
Apply findings from patient feedback audit and clinical trials to practice.
Apply conflict resolution strategies appropriately.
Keep accurate, comprehensive and comprehensible records and other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
Reflect on and learn from clinical incidences and complaints, and share learning with peers.
Signpost patients and their families to the patient complaint process, support them and colleagues during incidences and the reporting process.
Use information and communication technologies appropriate to their practice.
Remove and re-apply dressings and supports appropriately and in a safe, effective and considerate manner.
Use basic life support techniques and be able to deal safely with clinical emergencies

Behaviours 6

Behave with dignity, respecting an individual’s diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, and preferences.
Show respect, empathy and the right to privacy for everyone in their work environment and have the courage to challenge areas of concern.
Be adaptable, reliable, and consistent.
Show discretion, resilience and self-awareness.
Act with professionalism, honesty, integrity and respect in all interactions. Maintain good character as outlined in their professional code of conduct and not bring their profession or organisation into disrepute.
Demonstrate emotional intelligence, remaining calm in distressing and adverse situations.

Live vacancies

No live vacancies for this course as of 2026-07-24 — new adverts appear on Find an apprenticeship daily, and many degree apprenticeship employers recruit on their own careers sites instead.

Universities registered to deliver it

1 universities are on the government provider register for this standard. Registration means they can deliver it — live vacancies depend on employer partnerships each recruitment cycle.

Sheffield Hallam University

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Official sources

Occupational summary, duties, knowledge, skills and behaviours reproduced from the ST0554 apprenticeship standard (last updated 2021-08-11) — contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always check the official page before applying: standards get revised.