In the United States, sonographers are one of the best paid healthcare professions today. Compared to the average annual salary of Americans (which is exactly $48,320 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), sonography technician salary is $70,880 each year. Consistently high employment levels in 2017 also contribute to the popularity of this occupation and its training programs. You can find various ultrasound technician schools near you that offer CAAHEP-accredited training.
Applying to a sonography program
Different programs ask for different ultrasound technician school requirements, usually depending on the program length chosen by the applying student. The three main programs based on length as certificate programs, associate degree programs, and bachelor degree programs. Accredited ultrasound schools will typically have one or two of these programs. Find the best ultrasound technician schools near you in 2017 by clicking the link.
Certificate programs are the shortest kind of sonography training you can get. They last 12 to 18 months but are only open to students who have already completed an allied health education program or are currently working as a healthcare professional. This kind of program is targeted towards working students or professionals who which to become specialized in more than one are of healthcare education.
Associate degree programs are the most popular ones offered by community colleges and universities in the US. This program takes two years to complete and requires applicants to complete a certain number of general education units. This is targeted towards students who are in college but have not yet declared a major.
Bachelor degree programs are the easiest program to apply to and take four years to finish. These programs are open to new high school graduates or GED holders. Online training programs are also available, currently offered by two schools --- Washburn University and Jackson College.
Thinking about the cost
Studying college is expensive --- there is no way to sugarcoat it. You will have to plan for one to four years of paying for tuition, books, and living expenses. Luckily, there are plenty of scholarships available in the US. Most colleges and universities will have their own scholarship programs or cash grants available to students, but there are also various organizations like the SDMS who offer yearly scholarships to people studying sonography.
Specialized sonography in the US
Sonographers can also choose their preferred program based on specialization. If you visit the CAAHEP website search engine, you will see that there are four major specialties under sonography: general, cardiac, vascular, and pediatric cardiac. Other specialties like breast and abdominal sonography fall under the general specialty. The CAAHEP website search engine is also an excellent way to see the currently accredited programs in the US and filter them according to your search parameters. That makes it very easy to filter which schools offer your desired from those that do not!
Applying to a sonography program
Different programs ask for different ultrasound technician school requirements, usually depending on the program length chosen by the applying student. The three main programs based on length as certificate programs, associate degree programs, and bachelor degree programs. Accredited ultrasound schools will typically have one or two of these programs. Find the best ultrasound technician schools near you in 2017 by clicking the link.
Certificate programs are the shortest kind of sonography training you can get. They last 12 to 18 months but are only open to students who have already completed an allied health education program or are currently working as a healthcare professional. This kind of program is targeted towards working students or professionals who which to become specialized in more than one are of healthcare education.
Associate degree programs are the most popular ones offered by community colleges and universities in the US. This program takes two years to complete and requires applicants to complete a certain number of general education units. This is targeted towards students who are in college but have not yet declared a major.
Bachelor degree programs are the easiest program to apply to and take four years to finish. These programs are open to new high school graduates or GED holders. Online training programs are also available, currently offered by two schools --- Washburn University and Jackson College.
Thinking about the cost
Studying college is expensive --- there is no way to sugarcoat it. You will have to plan for one to four years of paying for tuition, books, and living expenses. Luckily, there are plenty of scholarships available in the US. Most colleges and universities will have their own scholarship programs or cash grants available to students, but there are also various organizations like the SDMS who offer yearly scholarships to people studying sonography.
Specialized sonography in the US
Sonographers can also choose their preferred program based on specialization. If you visit the CAAHEP website search engine, you will see that there are four major specialties under sonography: general, cardiac, vascular, and pediatric cardiac. Other specialties like breast and abdominal sonography fall under the general specialty. The CAAHEP website search engine is also an excellent way to see the currently accredited programs in the US and filter them according to your search parameters. That makes it very easy to filter which schools offer your desired from those that do not!