Since they work in the healthcare industry, becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer is very important. They use imaging technology to help with the diagnosis and continued evaluation of diseases. If you are looking for a medical career with an emphasis on technology and patient care, becoming an ultrasound technician may be a great way to go. This guide fulfils the missing gap between the action How to Become an Ultrasound Technician.
What is an Ultrasound Technician?
Sonograms, also known as ultrasounds, are noninvasive imaging tests that an ultrasound technician performs to produce images of a patient’s organs and tissues. These pictures are viewed by physicians, surgeons, radiologists, and other medical professionals in order to evaluate and diagnose illnesses. Hospitals, doctor’s offices, medical labs, outpatient facilities (such as ambulatory surgical centers and women’s health practices), and university and college health centers are among the places where ultrasound technicians frequently work.
What Does an Ultrasound Technician Do?
- Getting patients ready for tests
- Educating patients on procedures
- Exam room setup and equipment upkeep in optimal operating condition
- Filling out billing forms, recording results, and keeping track of patient records
- Using diagnostic imaging equipment and doing image analysis for sonography tests
- Directly interacting with physicians and surgeons to take pictures of body tissues and organs
Ultrasound Technician Salary and Job Outlook
As of 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers is $84,470. The top 10% of sonographers make over $116,300 and typically work in outpatient care facilities, while the lowest 10% make less than $63,680.
The need for ultrasound technicians is expected to grow by 14% from the year 2022 and over a thousand positions are needed every year, only part of which will be satisfactory. That’s nearly five times the national average and due primarily to a large, aging population with heart disease — currently costing an estimated $207 billion –and related diseases such as blood clots.
Ultrasound Technician Career Advancement
- Experience: Most employers find seasoned sonographers the best fit for their most complex sonography jobs. With a couple of years in industry you can work on your strengths and know how to leverage technology with practice so that YOU become THE ‘GO TO’ GUY!
- Continuing education: Continuous education not only assists you in creating specialisation and increases your field knowledge, but it also imposes the point that how much interest you have in the respective industry. You can improve yourself with degree programs, boot camps and self-study. Next the higher advance degrees that you achieve then can render managerial and leadership related positions.
- Professional certifications: Your field expertise is promoted by certifications from Cardiovascular Credentialing International, the ARDMS, and other credentialing organisations. Professional certifications may be necessary for advancement or even preferred, depending on your employer and location.
How to Become an Ultrasound Technician?
Complete Your High School Diploma or GED: A high school degree is required to begin the professional training to become an ultrasound tech. There are multiple ways to obtain a GED, so don’t worry if you don’t already have one. You can take a high school equivalency test at a nearby testing facility or enroll in classes offered by the community college or school district. Or you can study online and get a 100% GED.
Earn a Degree from an Accredited Sonography Training Program: Students who earn a degree in diagnostic medical sonography are ready to sit for licensing exams and work as entry-level ultrasonography technicians. Among other topics, program curricula cover anatomy, medical terminology, patient care techniques, and echocardiography. Sonography education comes in a variety of forms. Although bachelor’s degrees are also an option, the majority of ultrasound technicians choose to enroll in an accredited program and complete a two-year associate’s degree in sonography. A one-year certificate program is available to those with training in various medical specialties. Not all ultrasound tech programs offer all specialisations, and admission requirements vary.
To guarantee high standards in health science programs, prospective students should seek out programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Nearly 700 sonography training programs in the US have received accreditation from CAAHEP. Students enrolled in associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs in sonography at accredited schools must take part in labs and lectures in didactic and clinical settings. Because it shows employers that you completed a top-notch program, accreditation is significant. Additionally, if you choose to change schools, CAAHEP accreditation guarantees that your credits will transfer.
Get Certified as an Ultrasound Tech: Now that ultrasound tech school is over, it’s time to earn your certification. Sonographers are usually required by their employers to be certified or obtain certification soon after being employed. Certifications in sonography are frequently focused on specific specialties, such as pediatric, vascular, cardiac, or breast sonography. One of the primary credentialing bodies for sonographers is the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS®). You must select one of four prerequisite pathways in order to become certified by ARDMS. Each pathway requires passing the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation exam as well as additional related specialty exams.
Ultrasound technicians are typically only required to hold a professional certification and an associate degree. Additionally, there are state licensing programs for sonographers in four states: New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon. Ultrasound technicians have different certifications and licenses. States manage licenses, while professional associations such as ARDMS award certification.
Gain Experience: Since sonography is a very technical, hands-on field, experience is essential. To provide students with practical experience, the majority of degree programs incorporate a clinical internship component. The ARDMS website includes up-to-date ultrasound technology information and a career centre to help find job openings.
Conclusion
How to Become an Ultrasound Technician: A rewarding career that combines modern technology and healthcare How do you Become an Ultrasound Technician? First, there is the high school degree leading to an accredited sonography program through certification from which point neophyte technicians can start up a career in a burgeoning field with excellent job prospects and effective diagnostic procedures helping patient care.