Ultrasound/sonography is one of a number of growing fields of expertise in what is known as the “allied health” industry. Ultrasound technicians use high frequency sound waves (which are basically pressure waves) to generate images of the body’s interior as well as to treat certain physical ailments directly. Like a number of similar fields in the medical industry, the demand for ultrasound technicians is high and is expected to grow in coming years. This is a good area to get into if you are interested in medicine but also have a technical bent.
This is not the type of field in which you can just take a few community college or online courses and enter the workforce. It requires a fair amount of both in-class and hands on study before you can be considered for a position.
There are a number of different ultrasound technician training program levels and lengths, depending on the student’s goals and aspirations in the field. Some may wish to start out with shorter programs so they get a feel for this career path while others will want to get into it in big bites.
Certification
It is important to realize that there are no set federal or state licensure requirements for being an ultrasound technician. The educational expectations vary somewhat from state to state and someone may be employed legally without passing any certification exams. There are a few large organizations however that offer certification exams and these are generally accepted in the industry as being proof of competency.
The organization mainly responsible for certification in the ultrasound and sonography is the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). This organization offers a certification exam in medical sonography (ultrasound) that is widely recognized. The catch in that you have to complete at least an Associate’s degree program before you can even qualify to take this test.
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) also offers certification exams and various educational options for continuing education.
Specialization
Being a type of technology with a wide range of applications, ultrasound offers a number of different specialization types as a career area. Often the educational programs cover the basics of using ultrasound equipment, and then allow the student to concentrate on a specific area of concentration. Some areas of focus include echocardiography – using ultrasound to monitor and image the heart, obstetric/gynecological sonography – imaging the fetus before birth, neurosonography – dealing with the brain and nervous system, or ocular sonography – assisting eye doctors using ultrasound techniques.
Programs of one year or less.
These programs are offered at career schools, community colleges, and online. Often these programs are geared toward health professionals that are already established in the field and want to expand their areas of expertise. A beginner may take such a program, but the likelihood is that their career prospects will be much better if they take at least a two year program. And, as noted above, at least a 2 year degree is actually required in order to take the ARDMS exam.
2 and 4 Year programs
These are a popular choice for those who wish to get working in the field. 2 Year programs are widely available at all sorts of schools both online and off, and they have enough scope and coverage that somebody doing well in them will be able to get their certification and put together a fairly good resume to show to employers.
If you have the time, getting a 4 year Bachelor’s degree in sonography and related medical fields is an even better bet. This will include a thorough education in the field of ultrasound as well as a number of other branches of the same general area and give you a real edge employment wise.
Often these programs include “externships” – work in the field actually assisting doctors using ultrasound equipment. This allows you to really get a sense of what working in the field is like and to see what areas interest you most.
Accreditation
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, also known as CAAHEP accredits various schools that teach ultrasound and a number of other allied health disciplines. Going to an accredited school is recommended – degrees from these institutions are more highly regarded than from non-accredited ones and they tend to be more thorough. You can visit the CAHEEP (listed below) web site to find lists of accredited schools in your area.
Do your research about any school you apply to and make sure you know what you’re getting into. This is a multifaceted field with a lot of career opportunity, so take your time and find the right school, program, and specialization.
Helpful links/professional organizations:
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAHEEP)
CAAHEP
American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
ARDMS
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
ARRT