Ultrasound Technician Schools – Ultrasound Technicians
An ultrasound technician uses equipment that sends sound waves through a specific area of an individual’s body to form an image. Echoes from the interior of the person’s body are reflected and form a picture used to help diagnose conditions. Ultrasound technicians do more than help new mothers see their unborn babies. They may specialize in other areas of the body as well, such as the cardiovascular system, neurosonography, abdominal sonography or breast sonography.
Duties
An ultrasound technician explains the ultrasound procedure to patients and help them prepare for it. They take measurements and select good photographs to show physicians. Ultrasound technicians may also maintain and keep patient records.
Education
An ultrasound technician school may offer programs that take between a year to four years to complete. These programs are often offered at technical and vocational colleges or in community colleges. The Armed Forces and some hospitals also offer training programs. Sonography students should look for an accredited ultrasound technician school that offers significant amounts of clinical practice. Some programs prefer students who have a healthcare background. One-year programs are usually reserved for those who have a healthcare background and who want a vocational certification to perform sonography. Other programs take two or four years to finish. Classes include anatomy, physiology, medical ethics, patient care and how to use sonography equipment.
Registration
After completing a sonography course, students can choose to become registered by a professional association. This helps them gain recognition as knowledgeable professionals. They typically must pass an exam, have a certain amount of work experience and have completed a sonography course from an accredited school. One certifying organization is the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Other organizations offer body system-specific sonography certification.
Job Prospects
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of sonographers to increase by 18 percent through 2018, which is faster than average for all occupations the BLS tracks in the United States. As sonography procedures expand and sonography is used as a cheaper alternative to other procedures, employment is expected to grow. Additionally, while hospitals will continue to be the largest employer of sonographers, outpatient facilities and physicians’ offices will hire them at a higher rate.
Salary
The average annual salary of a sonographer was $64,900, as of May 2010, according to the BLS. The average hourly wage was $31.20. The 25th percentile earned up to $53,810 per year, or $25.87 per hour, and the 75th percentile earned up to $75,290 per year, or $36.20 per hour. The median yearly salary was $64,380, or $30.95 per hour. The BLS reported that the highest-paying state was Massachusetts with an annual average salary of $80,000, or $38.46 per hour, as of May 2010. The highest-paying metropolitan area in the United States was San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California with an average annual salary for sonographers of $100,240 per year, or $48.19 per hour.
You can find training programs in most mid-size or large cities. Look for ones that are accredited regionally. You might also contact the organization with which you plan to become registered after graduation to see which programs it states are reputable. Ultrasound technicians can find work in many healthcare facilities, and the need for them is growing. The salary is good, the potential to serve others is great, and the training period is relatively short, depending on what kind of certificate or degree you seek.
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