Ultrasound Technician Requirements

Fulfilling ultrasound technician requirements can open many doors to a highly rewarding career in the rapidly growing and advancing field of ultrasonography.

Ultrasound technicians use specialized equipment that emits and interprets reflected sound waves into an image useful in examining internal structures for review and making diagnoses by a physician. They use these scans to examine various organs to check for diseases or abnormalities, as well as monitoring conditions such as pregnancy.

Ultrasound Technician Requirements

Education and Training

It is necessary that students complete certain ultrasound technician requirements before looking to start their career in this field. It is not too difficult to realise the goal of becoming an ultrasound technician, and individuals can choose from a few different paths to become a technician. More often than not, individuals will seek to fulfil their educational requirements through a technical college, community college, or other similar community-based institutions, such as vocational schools.

Many hospitals offer training programs, with the focus being on ensuring students will obtain future employment with ease. These hospitals may offer a two-year associate's degree specifically in sonography and ultrasound technologies. However, a few hospitals may offer a one-year certification course as opposed to an actual degree, which is often enough to gain employment, but will limit earning potential. It is also possible to find four-year degree programs, which will greatly increase earning potential as well as open doors for ultrasound technicians wishing to advance their careers.

Some schools, though not many, may require a person to have a previous medical background before admission into their programs. It is therefore necessary for an individual who is new to the medical field to research any program they wish to attend before applying.

Prerequisites

Ultrasound technician requirements necessitate that individuals study and become familiar with a few subjects that are directly linked to their chosen career path. Most programs will include studies in human anatomy and physiology, ultrasound equipment, patient care, ethics, physics, ultrasound physics, obstetrics, and pathophysiology. Some programs may require prerequisites such as English, physics, or biology to be completed before admission.

There are also some intangible skills which, although not required, will greatly enhance an individual's ability to successfully complete a training program and practice their profession in the most effective manner possible. It is highly recommended, for example, that aspiring ultrasound technicians have excellent interpersonal skills, as they will be dealing with patients on a daily basis. Many of their patients will be nervous about their conditions and need a reassuring presence during the procedure, and this is especially true of expectant mothers.

Certification

The last of the ultrasound technician requirements is not compulsory but is certainly recommended - certification.

Once schooling has been completed, it is possible to become certified by passing the exam set by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, or ARDMS. While it is not usually required, many employers will look favorably upon this certification, as it demonstrates a proficiency in the skills required to perform the job effectively. It is also important to note that the ARDMS can certify individuals in various specializations such as mammography, abdominal, echocardiography, neurosonology and vascular sonography. These certifications can lead to more job opportunities and a higher level of pay.

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