Abstract
A profession is a lifelong learning commitment that has the potential to provide many opportunities for career advancement and personal growth satisfaction. The Kaiser Permanente Sonographer's Career Ladder Committee of Northern California was developed to find a means whereby an employee can be promoted without having to change his or her current employer. It is the belief of this committee that the more educated a sonographer becomes, the more competent and the higher level of accountability for quality and effectiveness to which the employee will hold himself or herself responsible. The criteria that have been established by sonographers and management are consistent and include incentives for educational achievements or certifications, leadership roles, and longevity with the employer.