Where to Find Ultrasound Technician Schools in Ontario, Canada

Ultrasound is a highly successful field all over Canada and it will probably remain this way for a long, long time. However, ultrasound schools in Ontario are few and hard to find. Let me help you find Ultrasound Technician Training in Ontario, Canada and become a part of this successful field. But first, let me answer a few basic questions.

What is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves reflecting off of internal body parts to create images for medical examination.

It is mostly used to check the baby inside the mother before it is born. It is also used to identify pathologies such as gallstones, kidney stones, cancers, hematomas and tumors.

How much do Ultrasound Technicians near Toronto make?

Ultrasound technicians (aka Ultrasonologists) are the people responsible for operating ultrasound machines that create the digital images used to visualize the internal body parts.

Compared to other branches of medicine, this field is not very competitive in Ontario and an Ultrasonologist working in the Toronto Area now earns an average annual salary of $50,572. Half of those in this position would earn between $40,898 and $76,546 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.

So as you can see, it is well paying!

Where Do I Find Ultrasound Technician Schools in Ontario?

Well, you have a few options.

1) If you have the money and the required prerequisites, you can choose to go to an established Ultrasound Institute in Ontario, this can take anywhere from 2-3 years. The costs can be around $2000-4000 per year depending on which University to go to. Due to long waiting lists, you may not find entry easily. The only well-known university offering a Post Diploma Ultrasound program in Ontario is Michener Institute.

So what are your alternatives?

2) The other way, and the one that I suggest is learning Ultrasound from an instructor who has experience teaching Ultrasound but is not necessarily working as part of an Institute. Why do I suggest this? Don't you have to go to a certified institution? The answer, plain and simple is NO.

As long as you have the right skills, many ultrasound clinics will hire you as a "trainee-ultrasonogist" without requiring any special certification. After working with such clinics for about a year, you will be eligible for writing your ARDMS examination and becoming a licensed ultrasonogist. This process can take as little as 1 year and 4 months of study and as little as $1500 in investment.

Where do I find such an Instructor?

The one that I personally recommend if you are looking for Ultrasound Technician Schools near Toronto is the Mainz Ultrasound Training (located in Mississauga).

UPDATE: Mainz Ultrasound has recently changed their prerequisites to only accept students who already have some ultrasound background.

Why should you choose Mainz Ultrasound? Here's a few reasons:

1. There are no difficult prerequisites -> Easy admission

2. It is very inexpensive compared to other options

3. The courses are short -> Only 14 weeks to start working in the field

4. It is taught only on weekends -> You can work or study during the week

5. It is taught by an ARDMS certified instructor with 20 years of experience, and almost 1700 successful students.

6. They offer personalized, hands-on, one-on-one training with equipment

7. The classes are small and personalized.

What if I live outside of the Greater Toronto Area?

If you live outside of the GTA, you might want to check out Mohawk College. They have campuses in Hamilton and Brantford, Ontario. Starting fall 2008 and Winter 2009 they have a Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (also known as Echocardiography) program which will last approximately 54 weeks. You can check out details here [http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/calendar/healthSciences/medTech/DCS.html]. However just like Michener Institute they have long waiting lists for admission.

You can also look for ads for ultrasound technician schools or tuition in your local newspaper in the classifieds section. If you can't find a place, I suggest going to an ultrasound clinic and talking to the staff members there and asking where they studied ultrasound. Chances are, they can guide you to the right place.

Click here [http://www.ultrasoundtraining.ca/] to go to the Mainz Ultrasound Training website

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Ultrasound Technologist Schools - What Are the Best Ultrasound Schools in Ontario, Canada?

Why become an ultrasound technologist?

Ultrasound is a highly respected field which involves the use of ultrasonic waves for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, specifically to image an internal body structure, monitor a developing fetus, or generate localized deep heat to the tissues.

Regardless of how respected a field is though, at the end of the day you want a career that pays well. Ultrasound technologists in the Toronto area make between $40,898 and $76,546 So it is also a well paying field!

What do I need to do to become an ultrasound technologist?

You need to become certified. The most widely recognized certification for ultrasound technologists in Canada is certification from the The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Once you have this certification you can start working as an ultrasound technologist all over Canada and the United States.

How do I get certified as an ultrasound technologist?

To get certified, you need to pass the ARDMS exam. However, to be eligible for writing the ARDMS exam you need to fulfill a few prerequisites. These can be found at the prerequisites page on the ARDMS website. To meet these prerequisites you can choose to go to an ultrasound school if your grades are really high and you have the money. You can expect to pay around $5000/year and get certified in 2-3 years.

What are the best ultrasound schools in Ontario?

Even though ultrasound is a growing field in Ontario as well as all of Canada, there are only a couple of ultrasound schools in Ontario. The ones that are most popular are Michener Institute and Mohawk College.

Both these places have ultrasound programs but the major problem is that it is extremely difficult to get admission into these schools. They have long waiting lists of people from years ago who have applied for admission. They also have strict prerequisites. For example, Michener Institute only accepts students who have a BSc or BA in kinesiology or a degree or diploma in a health profession.

So although these ultrasound schools are highly respected and produce great ultrasound technologists, what good is a school if you cannot get admission into it? There is also another way to get certified with as little as $3000 in total investment and in less than 2 years time... read on for details.

What other options do I have to get certified?

If you look closely at the The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) prerequisites for getting certified as an ultrasound technologist, you will notice that nowhere does it state that you need to go to a certified ultrasound technologist program like the ones offered by Michener and Mohawk. Here is a link to the prerequisites page just to confirm this.

If you take a close look at prerequisite 3A, you'll notice that the requirements for becoming certified as an ultrasound technologist include a bachelor's degree in any major, 12 months of clinical ultrasound/vascular experience along with some documentation.

All these requirements can be completed without the need to go to one of these ultrasound schools!

How? Just learn from an ultrasound instructor who is ARDMS certified and has experience teaching ultrasound. The one that I personally recommend is Dr. Khadija Siddiqui at Mainz Ultrasound in Mississauga. She has taught over 1700 students who are practicing ultrasound worldwide and is an awesome instructor. If you go to her website you can see in detail how she can help you fulfill each prerequisite.

UPDATE: Mainz Ultrasound has recently changed their prerequisites to only accept students who already have some ultrasound background.

Moreover she has small personalized classes and provides you with hands-on training during your course of study. The courses are offered both on weekdays and weekends depending on your schedule and there are no difficult prerequisites for admission.

She prepares you for the ARDMS license exam, as well as teaches you the skills you need to start working and complete your 12 months of clinical/vascular experience at a clinic or hospital. Clinics and hospitals are eagerly looking for these "trainee ultrasound technologists" because they usually bring with them fresh skills and get paid only about half as much as certified ultrasound technologists during their training period.

After completing your study with her, you can write the ARDMS exam and get certified as an ultrasound technologist within 1-2 years.

I hope this information has been helpful. Best of luck in your career.

Areeb Bajwa is a life sciences student at the University of Toronto in his final year of study.

Click here [http://www.ultrasoundtraining.ca] to go to the Mainz Ultrasound Training website.

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