Sonographers operate ultrasound and sonography equipment.
Using ultrasound and other sonography equipment, sonographers diagnose medical issues and symptoms. Medical professionals commonly use sonography in obstetrics, but also for other medical issues and conditions. Typically, a sonographer will work in a hospital setting, but sonographers can also be employed by other medical practices. Potential sonographers must fulfill certain educational requirements in order to practice sonography.
Associate's Degree
Sonographers can train in a variety of settings--including hospitals, trade schools, colleges, universities and the armed forces--but a majority of sonographers choose to pursue their training through a two-year associate's degree. Typically, an associate's degree in sonography includes classes in anatomy, physiology and patient care, and prepares the sonographer to operate sonography equipment and gather and read sonography data. Associate's degrees can be obtained at a community college, trade school and four-year college or university. To enter a sonographer training program, students typically need a high school diploma or GED.
Bachelor's Degree
While most employers will accept a two-year associate's degree, potential sonography students may still wish to expand their knowledge and skills with a four-year bachelor's degree. Students wishing to pursue one the specialties of sonography--such as echocardiography, neurosonology or obstetrics--often choose to pursue a bachelor's degree in sonography for the additional training and curriculum. Sonography students can obtain a bachelor's degree in sonography from a four-year college or university.
One-Year Programs
Several one-year training programs are also available for sonographers. Typically, only current medical professionals (such as x-ray technicians) take advantage of a one-year program to gain additional training and certification in order to advance their careers. One-year programs result in a sonography certificate rather than a sonography degree and can be found at medical colleges and trade schools. The one-year programs also typically concentrate on one of the specialties of sonography, rather than offer general sonography training.
Certification
Besides a degree in sonography, many employers also require a sonographer to be certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. To receive one of the three certifications offered by the ARDMS, sonographers must take and pass two exams. The first exam is a general examination covering sonography principles and instrumentation. For the second exam, the student chooses one of nine sonography specialties to be tested on. After registering online for the examination, applicants have up to 90 days to take the examination and will receive official certification six weeks after passing an examination.
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