What is an ultrasound technician?
An ultrasound technician is a medical professional who uses ultrasound equipment to assist doctors in diagnosing and treating patients.
What are some of the specific job activities of an ultrasound technician?
An ultrasound technician may be required to perform such activities as examine the abdomen of a pregnant woman to examine or monitor the development of the fetus, scan a patient’s chest for cardio problems, or use ultrasound in an optometrist’s office to dissolve a patient’s cataract.
What specific medical fields use ultrasound/sonography?
Ultrasound is used in many different medical fields and areas including, but not limited to obstetrics/gynecology, cardiology and vascular medicine, ophthalmology, neurology/brain science, general practice, and even dentistry.
What is an ultrasound technician or sonographer’s average salary?
Ultrasound technicians make quite a respectable salary. A general ballpark figure is between 45k and 75k per year depending on a variety of factors.
What are some of the factors that affect this salary?
Numerous factors affect ultrasound salary. Educational level, whether or not an ultrasound technician is ARDMS or otherwise certified, geographical location, type of degree held, how many years of experience a technician has, and what type of facility – hospital, doctor practice, company, etc. – employs them are all important factors.
What are some of the physical principles of ultrasound/sonography?
Ultrasound refers to sound waves that are above the level of human hearing. Sound waves are actually pressure waves. These high frequency pressure waves are reflected when they strike physical matter, and these reflections (basically echoes) can be analyzed to yield information about this matter or to create graphical images. In addition, the waves themselves can be used therapeutically because of their ability to heat or break up matter – in this case tissue of the human body.
How does somebody get trained as an ultrasound technician?
The most common way to get trained as an ultrasound technician is to enroll in a 2 or 4 year course (i.e. Associates or Bachelor level) at a public or private institution of higher learning such as a college, community college, or university. However it is possible to take a course of one year or even less at various career schools. Often these courses are taken by people who already have allied health degrees and want to expand their expertise. They can also be taken by beginners, but this usually ends up being inadequate to qualify them for much work, so taking at least an Associates level course is recommended.
What are some of the areas covered in an ultrasound technician course?
Ultrasound technician courses cover topics such as anatomy, physiology, physics, technological/physical principles of ultrasound, use, care and safety of ultrasound equipment, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques with ultrasound, medical ethics and law, and patient care.
How much education is required to begin work as an ultrasound technician?
It is possible to be employed as an ultrasound technician with only a one year diploma, but the job prospects are much better with an Associates or Bachelor’s degree, and better still with an ARDMS registration and certification (see the article on certification on this site).
Can somebody get an ultrasound degree online?
Yes and no. The academic work can be done online, but arrangements must be made to do the clinical practicum (the hands on, apprenticeship type work) in such a way that it fulfills requirements. Most programs require a certain number of minimum hours in the field to complete their programs, and the practicum is definite requirement to sit for the ARDMS exam.
Is it better to get a 2 year or 4 year degree in ultrasound/sonography?
This depends. Often Bachelor (i.e. 4 year) programs include other areas than strictly sonography, so these programs are recommended if someone wants to branch out into related fields in addition to ultrasound. If somebody wants to focus more exclusively on sonography/ultrasound, 2 year Associate’s degrees are a good way to go. Students with Bachelor’s degrees do not necessarily earn higher salaries than Associate degree holders, in fact often they earn about the same or in some cases less.
What is the long term outlook concerning ultrasound technician jobs?
These jobs are in demand and expected to stay in demand for some time. This job, and many other jobs in the allied health industry, is on the rise, with no foreseeable decline in sight. Average age is increasing, ultrasound technology is advancing, and the medical field in general is not affected much by economic conditions in terms of overall demand. People always need health care, and ultrasound technology is an evolving field.