How to Become a Sonographer in Australia
Most sonographers in Australia train through a postgraduate course, but there is also a direct-entry undergraduate option. If you're a student, graduate sonographer, or someone exploring the career, this guide explains both entry routes and the steps through to ASAR accreditation and beyond.
Two ways in
Direct undergraduate entry (4 years)
CQUniversity offers a 4-year integrated undergraduate program (Bachelor of Medical Sonography / Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography). It's open to school leavers and career changers without a prior university degree, and clinical placements are built into the course.
Postgraduate entry (most common)
Most pathways are postgraduate. You first complete an undergraduate degree — often in medical radiation science (radiography), nursing, physiotherapy or another health field — then enrol in an ASAR-accredited Graduate Diploma or Master of Medical Ultrasound. Some programs require a placement before you can enrol.
The steps to accreditation
Choose your entry route
Enrol in an ASAR-accredited program — either a direct-entry undergraduate course such as CQUniversity's, or a postgraduate ultrasound qualification after a prior degree.
Complete supervised clinical experience
Accredited programs include a substantial supervised clinical placement component, where you build scanning competency under experienced sonographers. Many students work in a supervised trainee role within a practice while they study.
Register with ASAR as an accredited medical sonographer
After completing an accredited program, you can apply to ASAR for accreditation as an Accredited Medical Sonographer (AMS). Employers and Medicare billing arrangements generally expect ASAR accreditation.
Maintain continuing professional development
Accredited sonographers maintain their registration through ongoing CPD. Keep your skills current across your practice areas and stay across evolving guidelines.
Clinical placement: choosing a course that fits your situation
Supervised clinical placement is the heart of sonography training — but not every course treats it the same way, and sourcing a placement on your own can be very difficult. Before you enrol, understand how each pathway handles placement:
Undergraduate pathways (e.g. CQUniversity)
CQUniversity offers an undergraduate sonography course that helps students find their clinical placements. If you don't yet have a degree, this can be the most straightforward route — you start studying and the university works to place you in clinical sites as part of the program.
Postgraduate courses that require a placement first (e.g. QUT)
Some postgraduate programs, such as the one offered by QUT, are only open to students who have already sourced their own clinical placement. You need a practice or hospital willing to train you before you can start — which means securing that position first.
Postgraduate courses you can start without a placement
Other postgraduate courses allow students to enrol and begin study before they have a placement. This can suit students who want to start their coursework immediately, but you will still need to find clinical experience to complete the qualification — and that part is often the hardest step.
Placements are hardest without existing affiliations
Finding a workplace to provide access to clinical placement can be very challenging for those with no pre-existing affiliations. Positions are limited and competition is strong, and starting a course without a placement arranged can leave students stuck partway through. Before enrolling in any program, ask the university how placements are sourced, whether they are guaranteed or found by you, and speak to practices early — a placement offer in hand changes everything.
Preparing for your ultrasound exams
Postgraduate ultrasound study is demanding: physics, anatomy, pathology, scan technique and case interpretation all at once. SonoReady Australia is built to support that journey — a question bank with worked explanations, mock exams, flashcards, scan protocols, and reference libraries for pathology and key measurements, all organised around everyday Australian practice.
- Question bank across eight subject areas
- Mock exams to test under pressure
- Scan protocols and image checklists
- Pathology appearances and key measurements
Useful links
- Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) — accreditation, accredited course listings and CPD requirements.
- Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) — professional body, education and guidelines.
Always confirm current entry requirements and accreditation arrangements directly with ASAR and your chosen university — requirements can change.