Ultrasound Technician Colleges

Ultrasound technician, or diagnostic medical sonographer, majors learn how to operate ultrasound equipment to capture images of the body for diagnostic purposes ranging from the heart conditions to pregnancy. Because ultrasound technicians decide which pictures to take, logical and precise students excel. You’ll also spend a lot of time with patients, so compassion and communication are also important.

Ultrasound Technician majors can follow several educational paths, attending technical schools, career colleges, community colleges, colleges and universities. There are a small number of 1-year certificate programs and some students pursue a 4-year bachelors degree, but the most common choice is to earn a 2-year associates degree.

Programs include a mix of classroom instruction, laboratory instruction and clinical rotations. You’ll need to learn all of the internal organs and blood vessels as well as the medical conditions encountered on the job. Classes include physiology, anatomy, basic physics, patient care, instrumentation and medical ethics.

If patient care and diagnostic medicine interest you, consider these related majors: Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Athletic Training/Trainer, Cardiopulmonary Technology/Technologist, Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Electrocardiograph Technology/Technician, Electroneurodiagnostic/Electroencephalographic Technology/Technologist, Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic), Gene/Genetic Therapy, Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist, Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist, Perfusion Technology/Perfusionist, Physician Assistant, Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician, Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer, Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist and Surgical Technologist.

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Choosing an Ultrasound Technician School

When you select an Ultrasound Technician school from the many available options nationwide, first consider what type of degree you want to earn. For a 1-year certificate program you’ll want to attend a technical school or college. Most 2-year associates degree programs are found at colleges or community colleges and 4-year bachelors degrees are attained at a college or university. If you’re interested in a specialty, obstetric/gynecology or vascular for example, make sure your school of choice has that option. Another important factor is the balance of classroom instruction versus hands-on experience. Some programs put more emphasis on clinical rotations and patient care settings than others.

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Ultrasound Technician Degree Programs

To begin a career as an Ultrasound Technician, you’ll need a certificate from a 1-year program at a technical school or career college. However, if you don’t already have work experience in healthcare you can boost your earning potential and open more employment doors by pursing a higher-level degree.

Most Ultrasound Technician majors enroll in 2-year career training programs to earn an associates degree from a community college, college or university. Others choose to pursue a 4-year bachelors degree from a college or university. Coursework for each degree focuses on anatomy and patient care and generally includes clinical rotations to add hands-on patient care experience.

Choosing a specialty such as abdominal sonography or neurological sonography will qualify you for more specific jobs. Ultrasound technicians can also advance to careers in administration, research, sales, education and technical advising.

Ultrasound Technician Degree Programs:

High School Preparation

If you qualify for AP Biology in high school, you’ll have a leg up on the competition for Ultrasound Technician programs. Physics, algebra II, computer applications and English are also important. Any volunteer work or part time jobs in health care related fields such as nursing care facilities can also help.

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Popular Careers in the Field of Ultrasound Technician

Over half of all ultrasound technicians work in hospitals. Others are employed by mobile imaging services, diagnostic laboratories, medical laboratories and physician’s offices. The most commonly known career in sonography is in obstetrics and gynecology, focusing on pregnancy. Ultrasound technicians can also specialize in abdominal, neurological, vascular or breast sonography. Some sonographers pursue multiple specialties to increase their expertise and job prospects.

As the entire Health & Medical Services field is growing, ultrasound technician’s will also enjoy favorable job growth because sonograms are replacing more and more radiological procedures. In general, a career as an ultrasound technician results in an annual salary ranging from $49,000 to $67,500.

To open up more career doors, you can pass a career skills exam to join the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Advancement opportunities exist in education, research, training and sales.

You may also want to consider related careers including Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Dietitians and Nutritionists and Athletic Trainers.

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