Ultrasound technician jobs are becoming available at a faster rate than most professions. This is partially due to the fact that a growing number of medical professionals are moving away from radiological procedures and are choosing to use ultrasound technology instead. The job growth in this field is expected to continue for the next several years (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition).
Ultrasound technicians are also known as ultrasonographers, or sonographers. Ultrasound technician jobs involve using x-rays and Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines (MRI) to look for abnormalities inside patients' bodies. The imaging machines reflect sound waves to make images that offer an internal view of what is going on inside of a patient. Physicians use ultrasounds to analyze fetal development, or to look for tumors and other problems.
Find an Accredited Ultrasound Technician School
It is important for students to attend an ultrasound technician school that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CAAHEP ensures the quality of ultrasound education programs and services, making sure the programs meet the standards to give students the training they will need to be successful in the profession.
Students will need at least a high school diploma in order to get accepted into an ultrasound technician school. Most programs prefer students who have a background in science and math, or some type of experience working in the healthcare field. Students can get training through a two year program, which will earn them an associate's degree, or they can enroll in a four year program and get a bachelor's.
According to the CAAHEP, there are approximately 2000 accredited programs throughout the United States that provide courses in ultrasound technician education and related fields. The curriculum includes physiology, patient care, basic physics, instrumentation, and medical ethics. Specialty areas include breast sonography, neurosonography, abdominal sonography, obstetrics/gynecology sonography, echocardiography, and vascular technology.
Scholarships
Students can search for opportunities for scholarships through the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Educational Foundation. This foundation awards scholarships to students who are aspiring to become ultrasound technicians. Students wanting to be considered must enroll in a school that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or from the Canadian Medical Association. In some cases, students can receive scholarships directly from the ultrasound technician school they are attending.
Students looking for ultrasound technician jobs can find work at private and public hospitals, diagnostic and medical laboratories, physicians' offices, as well as mobile imaging services. Graduates can refresh their skills and learn about technological advances and changes in the healthcare field, by becoming certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. This is not required, but it can increase their chances of getting hired.
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