Hundreds of schools in the United States have sonography training courses, but only a few are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Getting into accredited diagnostic medical sonography schools will give you the best possible training because their curricula meet the highest standards set all over the country. If you want to become a sonographer, then training in a CAAHEP-accredited is your best choice.
CAAHEP-accreditation
The CAAHEP is an organization that accredits schools in the US that offer allied health education programs, not just sonography. The school undergoes an accrediting period where the curriculum and actual lessons given by instructors are observed if they meet the CAAHEP standards. Because of this rigorous process, students receive high quality training when they enroll in a CAAHEP program. On-campus and online programs are likewise accredited the same way by CAAHEP. By the start of 2014, the CAAHEP has accredited 211 schools all over the country.
Sonography program categories
Depending on your resources and the length of time you want to study, there is a variety of sonography programs you can choose from. Programs that last 12 months are certificate courses. Students are awarded a sonography training certificate when they complete the course. Degrees can be accomplished into two kinds of programs: associate degree and bachelor degree programs. An associate degree is accomplished in more or less 2 years while bachelor degrees are accomplished in exactly 4 years.
The CAAHEP-website allows visitors to filter CAAHEP-accredited schools according to 4 different program categories: cardiac, vascular, general, and pediatric cardiac. These are the four main programs students can enroll in if they want to train in sonography.
The CAAHEP-website allows visitors to filter CAAHEP-accredited schools according to 4 different program categories: cardiac, vascular, general, and pediatric cardiac. These are the four main programs students can enroll in if they want to train in sonography.
Preparation for ARDMS certification
Before you can practice as a sonographer, you need to be certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Colleges and universities that are accredited by CAAHEP are the best schools that will prepare you to sit for a certification examination. Requirements are much easier to complete if you graduate from a CAAHEP school as well.
The ARDMS requires sonographers to pass a basic SPI (Sonography Principles and Instrumentation) exam and a specialty exam before they can practice. Licensure exams are available in a few select states but not nationwide. Certificates are still the most widely-accepted form of sonographer credentials. If you want to become a certified sonographer, apply to accredited diagnostic medical sonography schools that have the training programs that you want and you’ll be on your way.
The ARDMS requires sonographers to pass a basic SPI (Sonography Principles and Instrumentation) exam and a specialty exam before they can practice. Licensure exams are available in a few select states but not nationwide. Certificates are still the most widely-accepted form of sonographer credentials. If you want to become a certified sonographer, apply to accredited diagnostic medical sonography schools that have the training programs that you want and you’ll be on your way.