Ultrasound technicians, commonly referred to as diagnostic medical sonographers, use equipment that produces internal images of the human body. They work in many health care settings, including hospitals, physicians' offices and diagnostic imaging centers. Before an individual can seek employment as an ultrasound tech, he must first train to work in this field.
Types of Training
It is most common for ultrasound techs to receive their training at two-year community colleges or vocational and technical schools. Upon completion, they generally receive a certificate or an associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Four-year colleges and universities also offer diagnostic medical sonography programs that result in a bachelor's degree. More rarely, ultrasound technicians may complete a training program offered by a hospital. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Armed Forces also offer training in sonography.
Specialty Areas
Ultrasound technicians generally choose to specialize in a particular area. Some of the possible specialty areas include abdomen, breast, obstetrics/gynecology, echocardiography, vascular technology, neurosonology and ophthalmology. Diagnostic medical sonography students may have the opportunity to complete elective courses in their area of specialty. Others may try to complete an internship or entry-level job positions in the area in which they wish to specialize. According to the BLS, ultrasound techs with more than one specialty will find the best job opportunities.
Coursework
The coursework an ultrasound tech will need to complete varies according to the specific program. Most sonographers need to take courses in anatomy and physiology, biology and physics as prerequisites to sonography courses. They may also take general education courses such as English, speech communications and psychology. Courses specific to diagnostic medical sonography generally focus on instrumentation, medical ethics and the specialty areas within this field.
Clinical Hours
In addition to completing diagnostic medical sonography coursework, students must also complete clinical hours under the supervision of an experienced sonographer. This helps students get the on-the-job, hands-on training essential for working in this field. Many programs also require ultrasound tech students to complete an internship in health care facilities that perform diagnostic medical sonography procedures. This can lead to future job opportunities for some students.
Considerations
Diagnostic medical sonography programs are fairly competitive. Students who take all of their science and mathematics prerequisites prior to applying to the program are generally considered first. Once in the program, diagnostic medical sonography students usually must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. This means that students will need to earn at least B's in most of their required courses to remain in an ultrasound tech educational training program.
Tags: medical sonography, diagnostic medical, ultrasound tech, diagnostic medical sonography, this field
