The internship residency is a structured, supervised clinical training program offered at advanced Diagnostology Levels (3–6). It works much like a medical residency or fellowship, providing graduates with real-world experience under the supervision of licensed and approved healthcare professionals.

Residency training includes:

• Observation cases: Watching licensed professionals perform diagnostic procedures.

• Supervised cases: Conducting evaluations under direct oversight.

• Independent cases with check-off: Performing evaluations independently, with final competency verification.

• Mastery cases: Presenting complex cases for faculty evaluation, similar to oral board exams.

This internship residency is required for graduates pursuing the Doctor of Diagnostology (DDg) designation.

It applies to both:

• Primary pathway graduates (12-month program completers advancing into post-graduate Diagnostology levels).

• Secondary pathway graduates (credentialed sonographers completing the 3–7 month advanced Diagnostology education). For them, the residency provides an option to add structured clinical scenarios to their program, especially in the full 7-month track.

In both cases, the residency bridges classroom and lab education with advanced clinical practice, ensuring graduates demonstrate diagnostic accuracy, professional judgment, and precision before advancing to doctoral-level recognition.

Diagnostology is the science and practice of using non-radiative, non-toxic diagnostic methods, led by ultrasound and emerging imaging techniques, to achieve accurate, same-day diagnoses and guide treatment. It moves beyond the traditional notion of “practicing medicine,” replacing it with a model built on precision, immediacy, and safety.

If you don’t pass, you may retake the exam after additional study or residency review. ADOM provides guidance and resources to help you prepare, ensuring you are ready for your next attempt.

ADOM offers two pathways. The Student Pathway is designed for those new to healthcare or making a career change. The Credentialed Pathway is for licensed professionals.

The primary program at ADOM Academy is 12 months in length. For those entering through the secondary (Credentialed) pathway, the program may take approximately 3 to 7 months, depending on prior training and clinical experience.

Upon completing the full Diagnostology program (whether via the Student Pathway or Credentialed Pathway), students earn the “Diagnostic Medical Sonography & Vascular Technology with Diagnostology Certificate.”

Graduates are also eligible to take the ABCDE, the ADOM Board Certification of Diagnostology Exam. Passing that grants you the title Doctor of Diagnostology (DDg).

Recognition of the DDg depends on the employer. The credential is not the same as a physician license (MD or DO), so it does not replace medical licensure or grant independent authority to diagnose or prescribe. However, it represents advanced training in non-radiative diagnostic methods, ultrasound evaluation, lab value correlation, and structured reporting.

Hospitals, clinics, and physician offices may recognize the DDg at their discretion, particularly when it is paired with established credentials such as ARDMS or CCI. Employers often view the advanced education and case-based residency requirements of the DDg as a demonstration of higher diagnostic expertise and clinical collaboration skills.

Because state laws differ, the scope of what DDg holders can do independently also varies. In all cases, the credential positions graduates as specialists in radiation-free diagnostic evaluation and supports them in taking on advanced roles within healthcare teams.

The Doctor of Diagnostology (DDg) is not the same as a medical license (MD or DO) and is not recognized by state medical boards as a physician-level qualification. It does not authorize graduates to diagnose disease, prescribe treatment, or practice medicine independently.

However, the DDg is recognized within ADOM’s multi-level certification pathway as a doctoral-level designation in Diagnostology. It represents advanced training in ultrasound, lab value correlation, and non-radiative diagnostic evaluation. Employers, hospitals, and clinics may recognize these skills at their discretion, especially when supported by ARDMS or CCI credentials, but formal recognition varies by state and institution.

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n Connecticut, graduates may also perform Independent Diagnostic Evaluations (IDE) under state law. These are non-diagnostic wellness ultrasound screenings that provide valuable health insights and radiation-free safety evaluations in certain community and institutional settings. If concerning findings arise, graduates must refer to a licensed physician.

While the DDg is an emerging credential, its value lies in positioning graduates as pioneers of non-radiative precision diagnostics. As awareness grows and laws evolve, recognition of this role is expected to expand, especially in wellness, preventive, and supportive care environments.

The 12-month core program is structured in a hybrid format. Students complete remote lectures, remote labs, on-site labs, and clinical rotations.

• Lectures are delivered online, covering foundational knowledge in sonography, vascular technology, and Diagnostology.

• Labs are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays, either on-site at ADOM or with an approved lab affiliate. Because lab affiliates may be located anywhere, students can technically participate from locations around the world.

• Clinical rotations take place at ADOM-approved healthcare facilities, providing direct patient experience under supervision.

This format balances flexibility with the rigor of hands-on training, ensuring students gain both the theoretical and clinical skills necessary for success in diagnostic medical sonography and Diagnostology.

Preparation time depends on the pathway:

• Primary Pathway: Students first complete ADOM’s 12-month Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Vascular Technology with Diagnostology program (2,000 hours of lecture, lab, and clinical training). Graduates may then pursue continuing education courses, advanced credentials (such as ARDMS or CCI), case requirements, and clinical residency experiences before attempting the ADOM Mastery Exam.

• Secondary Pathway: Credentialed sonographers may complete an accelerated 3–7 month program. The minimum is 3 months for a single specialty, 6 months for multiple specialties, and 7 months when a one-month clinical component is included. Afterward, they must also complete advanced case studies, residency scenarios, and the Mastery Exam before becoming eligible for the DDg.

In both pathways, preparation is progressive. Earning the DDg requires not just classroom education, but also extensive casework, supervised residency, continuing education, and successful completion of the Mastery Exam. This ensures graduates demonstrate precision, speed, and clinical judgment at a doctoral level before the title is awarded.

You can contact the ADOM Academy team directly via email at info@adomacademy.com or call 1 (855) ONE-ADOM (663-2366_. Our staff is available to answer questions, provide guidance, and help you through the application process.