![]() ![]() It’s important to find a school that offers instruction in a high-tech facility. High-tech FacilitiesĪs a sonographer, you’ll work with technology and state-of-the-art equipment every day. If your school and program are not accredited, you won’t be able to apply for federal financial aid or earn professional certification, which many employers require. Look for a sonography program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS), or regional accrediting agencies. Sonography programs are located throughout the country, but how do you know if the one you choose will give you the education you need? Consider some of the following criteria when comparing colleges: Accreditation Associate degree in an allied health program, such as occupational therapy assistant or registered nurse.Programs do not typically offer much flexibility to choose electives, so if there’s a specialty you’d like to pursue, you can request that your clinical work includes training in the area.ĭiagnostic sonography programs may offer courses in: In a sonography program, you will take classes with your cohort. Because these students already have a healthcare background, a certificate program focuses specifically on sonography. In the case of professionals who already have an associate or bachelor’s degree in a healthcare field, a sonography certificate program is an option. Volunteer and work experience in healthcare can help you stand out among applicants. Some programs prefer applicants with a background in science or experience in another healthcare profession, but many also will consider high school graduates with courses in mathematics and science, as well as applicants with liberal arts backgrounds. ![]() You’ll need to pass courses in the core sciences-biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, physics-as a prerequisite for many sonographer programs. Sonographers work primarily in hospitals, physician’s offices, and laboratories. Analyzing diagnostic information and providing it to the physician is another regular task. You’ll also need a keen eye because sonographers must be able to recognize normal and abnormal images. You’ll interact with patients by preparing them for the procedure. A vascular sonographer focuses primarily on blood vessels and blood flow.īut a sonographer’s job requires more than just producing an image. For example, cardiac sonographers produce images of a patient’s heart, heart chambers, valves and vessels. Like other allied health careers, you can specialize as a sonographer. Most people are familiar with the role of a sonographer as it relates to pregnancy, but sonograms are also used to examine breast tissue, the brain and spinal cord, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints, and organs in the abdominal cavity. These images are then used by physicians to make a diagnosis. Sonographers are responsible for operating equipment that produces and records images or conducts tests. Gaining certification in several sonography specialties can make you more versatile and widen your job prospects. In fact, the more credentials you earn, the more you can stand out in a field of candidates. Most employers, especially those in competitive markets such as large cities and high-paying areas, require certification. If you’re thinking about becoming a sonographer, here’s a guide to pursuing a career in the field. It’s fascinating.”ĭiagnostic medical sonography is a growing field and there are opportunities to specialize as you advance in your career. “And I get to see inside the body, how it works. There are many reasons you might want to become a sonographer. 4 Steps to Become a Sonographer/Ultrasound Tech Ultrasounds are also commonly used during pregnancy to monitor the growth of the fetus and the patient’s reproductive system, as well as determine if the fetus is male or female. Abnormal growths, such as on the thyroid. ![]() Ultrasound can be used to detect many medical problems, including: The radiologist or physician who ordered the images delivers the findings to the patient. Sonographers provide images, along with their insights and a summary, to a radiologist, who interprets the images. The technology, which doesn’t produce radiation and is considered safe and low risk, can create images of the vascular system, organs, tissues, joints, muscles, and fetuses. “As sonographers, we use sound waves to make diagnostic images of the internal body without having to do anything invasive,” explains Kate Scrivens, a sonographer in Central Oregon. ![]()
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