CAAHEP accreditation of a sonography or cardiovascular technology program is programmatic accreditation from CAAHEP, based on the review and recommendation of its Committee on Accreditation: JRC-DMS for diagnostic medical sonography and JRC-CVT for cardiovascular technology. It is for colleges, hospital education departments and training organizations that run or plan to start these programs. Integral Healthcare Solutions (IHS) builds the self-study workplan and competency record system; your faculty own curriculum and clinical assessment.

Last reviewed: October 2026. CAAHEP's standards, process, FAQ and governing-documents pages, the JRC-DMS accreditation, process and fee pages, ARRT's recognized-agencies page and JRCERT's standards page were read on October 2, 2026.

What is CAAHEP accreditation for sonography and cardiovascular programs?

CAAHEP accreditation rests on published standards for each profession: "At the heart of the CAAHEP accreditation system are our nationally-recognized Standards and Guidelines," which are "reviewed at least every ten years" (CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines). The governing text depends on the profession. CAAHEP's standards page lists:

• Diagnostic Medical Sonography: the file DMSStandardsApproved9-18-20_Update2024-09-03, with a revision in development. Committee on Accreditation: JRC-DMS.
• Cardiovascular Technology: the file CVTStandardsApproved9-20-24_update1-27-25, "Effective: August 1, 2025." Committee on Accreditation: JRC-CVT.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Sonography: the 2020 standards, "Effective through December 31, 2026," and revised standards approved 7-15-26, "Effective January 1, 2027."

The review is done by the committee for the discipline: "Each Committee on Accreditation (CoA) in the CAAHEP system works directly with programs in its discipline throughout the accreditation process" (CAAHEP Accreditation Process). The decision is CAAHEP's. JRC-DMS puts it in four words: "Only CAAHEP grants accreditation" (JRC-DMS process).

The core of the review is the program's self-study. CAAHEP: "The self-study report is completed by the program, and documents how the program meets each of the Standards as outlined in the Standards and Guidelines document for the applicable profession" (CAAHEP Accreditation Process). JRC-DMS describes the same step: "Self-Study: The program does its own analysis of how well it measures up to the established Standards," and says its review "provides participating programs with a mechanism for assessing their curriculum, personnel and other procedures to assure compliance with nationally recognized standards" (JRC-DMS process; JRC-DMS accreditation). The site visit follows: "A team of 'site visitors' travels to the institution to determine how accurately the self study reflects the status of the program" (JRC-DMS process).

Who needs it and what triggers it

The buyers are colleges, hospital education departments and training organizations that offer sonography or cardiovascular technology education. The triggers:

• Creating a program. The program prepares a self-study against the standards for its profession, then files the RAS form "within 30 days of submission of the self-study report to the Committee on Accreditation" (CAAHEP Accreditation Process).
• Concentrations. JRC-DMS's directory lists each program by "the concentration in which the program is accredited (i.e. abdominal-extended, OB/GYN, adult cardiac, breast, musculoskeletal, pediatric cardiac, and/or vascular sonography)" (JRC-DMS accreditation).
• A standards change. Cardiovascular technology standards took effect August 1, 2025, and revised advanced cardiovascular sonography standards take effect January 1, 2027 (CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines).

ARRT relies on accrediting agencies, and lists CAAHEP among them. ARRT notes that CAAHEP receives recommendations from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (ARRT recognized accreditation agencies).

How IHS helps

IHS works per profession and per concentration, from your copy of the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines that apply. The process:

1. Gap assessment. IHS compares your program documents and records against the standards for your profession and lists what is missing.
2. Questionnaires and evidence index. Short questionnaires on clinical placements, competency records and outcomes feed a standards-to-evidence index that maps each standard to the record that shows it is met.
3. Drafted documents. IHS drafts clinical placement agreement templates, competency record forms, program policies and the self-study workplan for your program director and faculty to review and approve.
4. Mock review. Before submission, IHS reads the self-study and evidence file against the standards and lists what is thin or missing.
5. Readiness support. After the site visit, IHS drafts responses to JRC-DMS or JRC-CVT findings for your program to approve and submit.

What you supply: the standards, your curriculum, clinical placement and outcome data, and a qualified program director.

The limit: imaging competency judgments are clinical and technical. IHS supplies structure and evidence, not sonography expertise. Your program handles all contact with JRC-DMS, JRC-CVT and CAAHEP; IHS drafts. More on IHS's approach is on the accreditation consulting page.

What to have ready

• Your copy of the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for your profession, at the version listed on CAAHEP's standards page (CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines).
• For advanced cardiovascular sonography, both the 2020 standards, "Effective through December 31, 2026," and the revised standards, "Effective January 1, 2027," if your timeline crosses that date (CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines).
• For cardiovascular technology, the standards "Effective: August 1, 2025" (CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines).
• A list of the sonography concentrations you will seek, from those JRC-DMS lists (JRC-DMS accreditation).
• A self-study outline that "documents how the program meets each of the Standards" (CAAHEP Accreditation Process).
• Curriculum, personnel and procedures records, the areas JRC-DMS names in its self-study review (JRC-DMS accreditation).
• A plan to file the RAS form within 30 days of the self-study submission (CAAHEP Accreditation Process).
• Staff and clinical site availability for the site visit, which checks "how accurately the self study reflects the status of the program" (JRC-DMS process).
• A calendar that allows 12 to 24 months after the self-study is submitted (CAAHEP Program Director FAQs).
• A budget line for the CAAHEP Accredited Program Fee and the committee's fees (CAAHEP Governing Documents; JRC-DMS fees).

To go through the list with IHS, book the introductory call below.

How it compares

The routes below are described as the sources describe them.

What it costs

CAAHEP and JRC-DMS publish fees (read October 2, 2026):

• CAAHEP Accredited Program Fee: "1 program at a location: $660 per program (2026-2028), $726 per program (2029-2031)," down to "5 or more programs at a location: $220 per program (2026-2028)." "Fees are invoiced annually in May with an August 1st due date" (CAAHEP Governing Documents).
• JRC-DMS, on a fee page marked "Effective January 1, 2020": self-study fee "$1,400 (Initial or continuing, regardless of the number of concentrations)"; "$500 (Recognition of each satellite/multi-campus location, if applicable)"; annual fee "$1,500 (1 or 2 concentrations)" or "$2,000 (3 or more concentrations)"; virtual site visit $1,500 (JRC-DMS fees).

CAAHEP notes that "Each CoA sets its fees, which generally include application, annual, site visit, and other maintenance fees" (CAAHEP Program Director FAQs). Verify current fees with CAAHEP, JRC-DMS and JRC-CVT. IHS scopes each engagement after a free introductory call.

What this is not

• IHS is not CAAHEP, JRC-DMS or JRC-CVT and does not grant, predict or influence an accreditation decision. The CAAHEP Board of Directors decides.
• IHS does not contact, submit to or speak for your program to CAAHEP, either committee, ARRT or any credentialing body. IHS drafts; your program submits.
• IHS does not teach sonography, design clinical curriculum or judge scanning competency, and this page is not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Who accredits diagnostic medical sonography programs: CAAHEP or JRC-DMS?

Both take part, in different roles. JRC-DMS is the CAAHEP Committee on Accreditation for sonography: it runs the self-study review and site visit and sends a recommendation. JRC-DMS states that only CAAHEP grants accreditation, and the CAAHEP Board of Directors acts on recommendations at its meetings in January, March, May, July, September and November.

Who accredits cardiovascular technology programs?

The same structure applies. CAAHEP's standards page names JRC-CVT as the Committee on Accreditation for cardiovascular technology, and CAAHEP grants the accreditation. The cardiovascular technology standards in effect from August 1, 2025 are the governing text.

How do we start a new sonography program and when can we file the self-study?

The program writes a self-study report showing how it meets each standard in the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for its profession. It then submits the Request for Accreditation Services (RAS) form through the CAAHEP website within 30 days of sending the self-study to the Committee on Accreditation. Ask JRC-DMS or JRC-CVT, through your program director, about the timing rules that apply to a new program.

Which sonography concentrations can a program be accredited in?

JRC-DMS lists programs by the concentration in which they are accredited: abdominal-extended, OB/GYN, adult cardiac, breast, musculoskeletal, pediatric cardiac and vascular sonography. A program may hold more than one. IHS scopes the gap assessment by concentration.

What changes with the cardiovascular technology and advanced cardiovascular sonography standards?

CAAHEP lists cardiovascular technology standards effective August 1, 2025. For advanced cardiovascular sonography, the 2020 standards are effective through December 31, 2026 and revised standards approved July 15, 2026 take effect January 1, 2027. This page does not summarize the changes; a gap assessment compares your program against the version that applies on your timeline.

How long does CAAHEP initial accreditation take?

CAAHEP's FAQ says its data indicate the process takes 12 to 24 months to complete once a program has submitted a self-study. The time before the self-study, spent building the program and its evidence, is in addition to that.

How much do JRC-DMS and CAAHEP accreditation cost per year?

CAAHEP's Accredited Program Fee is $660 per program for one program at a location for 2026 to 2028, invoiced in May and due August 1. JRC-DMS's fee page, effective January 1, 2020, lists a $1,400 self-study fee and an annual fee of $1,500 for one or two concentrations or $2,000 for three or more. Verify current fees with CAAHEP and JRC-DMS or JRC-CVT.

What happens at the site visit?

JRC-DMS describes the on-site evaluation as a team of site visitors traveling to the institution to determine how accurately the self-study reflects the status of the program. CAAHEP's Board of Directors acts on committee recommendations at its six meetings a year.

Does ARRT recognize CAAHEP accreditation?

ARRT lists CAAHEP among its recognized accreditation mechanisms and notes that CAAHEP receives recommendations from the Joint Review Committees for sonography and cardiovascular technology. Check ARRT's current requirements for the specific credential your graduates seek.