To become an ultrasound technician, you must first complete a program that includes medical courses and clinical practice.
Ultrasound technology uses reflected sound to project an image onto a screen, and an ultrasound technician is the professional who interprets these images. Ultrasound technicians use ultrasound technology to view unborn babies in the womb and to diagnose internal medical problems in patients. To become an ultrasound technician, you must obtain a degree or certificate from an accredited university or college and complete the required medical courses and sonography clinicals.
Patient Care Courses
Ultrasound technicians must not only be able to interpret the images they see on the ultrasound screen, but they must also be able to communicate these results to anxious and worried patients. Courses in patient care are some of the first classes that an ultrasound technician will take. In these classes, students learn communication skills and basic medical terminology in addition to discussing the ethical and legal concerns they may face as ultrasound technicians.
Medical Coursework
As medical professionals, ultrasound technicians are required to know the basics of human anatomy and physiology. In anatomy and physiology classes, students learn about the various parts of the body, how they all the parts work together and identify the parts by studying ultrasound images and X-rays. These classes are typically taken near the beginning of the student's degree program. Some programs include clinical periods during which students have the opportunity to explore the subject in a hands-on, clinical setting.
Ultrasound Physics
During ultrasound physics courses, students learn the science behind ultrasound technology including the basics of sound transmission, diagnostic imaging and acoustic physics. Students will also learn use ultrasound machines and will practice using them on their fellow classmates.
Clinical Practicum
One of the final stages in the ultrasound technician program is to complete a clinical practicum, which includes classes that usually take place in an actual hospital. During the clinical practicum, students can gain experience in their profession and explore different fields, like cardiology and general medicine, in order to learn how diagnostic imaging is used in those fields. Clinical courses give students hands-on experience interacting with doctors and patients in the field that they will be entering after graduation.
Specialization Courses
Ultrasound technicians have several options for specialties within their field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an ultrasound tech can specialize in abdominal sonography, neurosonography, breast sonography, echocardiography, vascular technology or obstetric and gynecologic sonography. To achieve a specialization, students must complete additional coursework and clinical training.
Registration Exam
Though ultrasound technicians are not required to be licensed by the state in which they practice, many employers prefer to hire technicians who are registered. To become a registered ultrasound technician, students must complete their training, then pass an exam that the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography administers. This exam tests the student's knowledge of instrumentation and general medical principles.
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