If you are interested in a career in sonography and live in the California area, there are a number of accredited ultrasound tech schools in California which are worthy of consideration if you wish to train in a campus based environment.
At the moment, there is no legal requirement to hold certification in ultrasound technology in order to practice in California. Having said that, you will probably find it difficult to get sonography jobs if you don’t hold a qualification from one of the accredited ultrasound tech schools in California. So, to have your pick of ultrasound technicians jobs and enjoy a high sonography salary, gaining a good qualification is an absolute must.
There are three types of sonography courses offered by ultrasound tech schools in California. If you already possess an allied healthcare degree, you can take a one year certificate program. In most cases, certificate courses are the preferred route for nurses and physicians looking to improve their professional skills. All of the accredited ultrasound tech schools in California provide sonography education at certificate level.
If you haven’t yet completed a degree program and want to work in diagnostic medical sonography, you should consider an associate’s degree. An associate’s degree provides in-depth ultrasound technician training, and takes two years to complete. Most ultrasound tech schools in California offer associate’s programs.
Finally, the most comprehensive type of ultrasound training course is a bachelor’s degree program which takes four years to complete. One of the key benefits of having a bachelor’s degree in sonography is that it’s the most sought after qualification by employers. This means that you’ll be able to apply for more senior positions and invariable earn a higher sonographer salary as a result. However, this needs to be weighed up against the fact that a bachelor’s degree program from one of the ultrasound tech schools in California takes twice as long to achieve as an associate’s degree (and costs more in terms of course fees!)
How To Choose Ultrasound Tech Schools In California
If you want to train as an ultrasound technician, there are a number of important factors you should always consider when comparing ultrasound tech schools in California.
- Make Sure Your College Is Accredited. While there are lots of colleges offering sonography education, not all of them are accredited. In the US, ultrasound technician schools are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (or CAAHEP) You should only choose ultrasound tech schools in California which are accredited, otherwise your qualification may not be accepted by future employers.
- What Courses Are Offered? Although there are three ultrasound technician qualifications to choose from (certification, associates’s and bachelor’s degrees) not all ultrasound tech schools in California will offer all these courses. So it’s worth making sure the sonography schools you are interested in offer the course that you want to take.
- Does The College Offer Any Specializations? While all ultrasound tech schools in California teach the fundamentals of ultrasound technology, some sonography schools also offer more specialized training in areas such as obstetric, cardiac and pediatric sonography.
- How Much Are The Course Fees? The fees for ultrasound technician courses can vary enormously between different ultrasound tech schools in California. It’s important that the college you select is affordable, so be sure to get details of fee rates as you search.
- How Long Have The Ultrasound Courses Been Running? Some ultrasound tech schools in California have been around for longer than others, and have better reputations. It’s a good idea to ask how long the college has been offering ultrasound training, and also find out the percentage of students who ultimately pass the ultrasound training course.
Which Ultrasound Tech Schools In California Are CAAHEP Accredited?
There are currently 9 ultrasound tech schools in California who have been accredited by CAAHEP. These sonography schools are:
- Charles R Drew University of Medicine & Science – Los Angeles, California. 1731 E 120th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059.
- Cypress College – Cypress, California. 9200 Valley View Street, Cypress, CA 90630.
- Foothill College – Los Altos Hills, California. 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022.
- Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences – Richmond, California. 938 Marina Way South, Richmond, CA 94804.
- Loma Linda University – Loma Linda, California. School of Allied Health Professions, 11234 Anderson Street, Nichol Hall A829, Loma Linda, CA 92354.
- Merced College – Merced, California. 3600 M. Street, Merced, CA 95348.
- Orange Coast College – Costa Mesa, California. 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
- Santa Barbara City College – Santa Barbara, California. 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109-2394.
- University of California San Diego Medical Center – San Diego, California. 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103.
Although these nine ultrasound tech schools in California are the only ones which carry full CAAHEP accreditation, there are also a number of online ultrasound tech schools which are CAAHEP accredited. Some people prefer to train as ultrasound technicians using online ultrasound courses, as online training is more flexible and the course fees are usually lower.
Whichever route you choose, it’s worth contacting a few ultrasound tech schools in California to see what sonography courses they offer.
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