An ultrasound technician plays a vital role in management of any health condition. While a technician typically deals with the diagnostic portion of health manage, their role is a very big one. You can’t start any course of treatment without a definitive diagnosis. That said, being an ultrasound technician in the US requires a very specific skill set (which ultimately leads to great annual salary compared to other health care jobs). Learn more on how to become an ultrasound technician in 2017 through the link.
Learning about sonography
Diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) programs are offered all over the country but only selected programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or CAAHEP. There are currently 217 schools that offer CAAHEP-accredited DMS programs in the US. Remember, CAAHEP grants accreditation to programs, not schools. So if a school tells you that it is CAAHEP-accredited, better do your research first. The CAAHEP website has a search engine that lists programs with active CAAHEP-accreditation.
Learning about sonography
Diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) programs are offered all over the country but only selected programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or CAAHEP. There are currently 217 schools that offer CAAHEP-accredited DMS programs in the US. Remember, CAAHEP grants accreditation to programs, not schools. So if a school tells you that it is CAAHEP-accredited, better do your research first. The CAAHEP website has a search engine that lists programs with active CAAHEP-accreditation.
The sonographer job
The main job of an ultrasound technician is to work with the ultrasound or sonography machine. This machine is usually made up of two parts: (1) the transducer and (2) and the computer. The transducer is a small, handheld object that sends out high frequency sound waves. It is placed next to the body area being examined (e.g. the abdomen) and the sound waves travel through the body without damaging tissue. The waves bounce off of solid bone and tissue and return to the transducer and to the computer, the latter responsible for creating the ultrasound image.
Sonographer Pay the US
Annual income for sonographers is among the highest in the country, compared to the average annual income among all occupations. Sonographer annual income is $70,880 compared to the nation’s average of $48,320. There are specific cities in the US where sonographers earn even higher --- around $100,000 annually. The top paying states for sonographers are California, Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and Massachusetts.
Certification
In the United States, sonographers are not licensed professionals like doctors or nurses but they are encourage to complete certification instead. The ARDMS offers certificate exams for a variety of sonography specialties. While, sonographers are not required by law to get a certificate, most employers will ask for them when you apply to a job. Not only will having a certificate increase your chances of being hired, it can also mean an increase in starting salary – especially if you are certified in a variety of fields. To become certified, apply to a certification exam from the ARDMS or any similar sonography certification body.
If you do decide on a career in sonography, be prepared for long work hours, numerous patients, and little time for breaks. Despite that, salary is great and there a plenty of opportunities for personal and career growth in this occupation. You don’t always have to work in a hospital! You can apply for jobs in the academe or research.
The main job of an ultrasound technician is to work with the ultrasound or sonography machine. This machine is usually made up of two parts: (1) the transducer and (2) and the computer. The transducer is a small, handheld object that sends out high frequency sound waves. It is placed next to the body area being examined (e.g. the abdomen) and the sound waves travel through the body without damaging tissue. The waves bounce off of solid bone and tissue and return to the transducer and to the computer, the latter responsible for creating the ultrasound image.
Sonographer Pay the US
Annual income for sonographers is among the highest in the country, compared to the average annual income among all occupations. Sonographer annual income is $70,880 compared to the nation’s average of $48,320. There are specific cities in the US where sonographers earn even higher --- around $100,000 annually. The top paying states for sonographers are California, Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and Massachusetts.
Certification
In the United States, sonographers are not licensed professionals like doctors or nurses but they are encourage to complete certification instead. The ARDMS offers certificate exams for a variety of sonography specialties. While, sonographers are not required by law to get a certificate, most employers will ask for them when you apply to a job. Not only will having a certificate increase your chances of being hired, it can also mean an increase in starting salary – especially if you are certified in a variety of fields. To become certified, apply to a certification exam from the ARDMS or any similar sonography certification body.
If you do decide on a career in sonography, be prepared for long work hours, numerous patients, and little time for breaks. Despite that, salary is great and there a plenty of opportunities for personal and career growth in this occupation. You don’t always have to work in a hospital! You can apply for jobs in the academe or research.