Living in Houston and thinking about studying to become an ultrasound technician or perhaps a sonographer? You really should check out the a wide range of ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX which can give you the tuition you need to become qualified.
It’s the perfect time to join the ultrasonography profession, because ultrasound technicians are generally in short supply in Texas and throughout the US. Looking at the job front, ultrasound technician jobs have been forecast to increase by a staggering 18% per year during the next 10 years. The average salary for a sonographer in Houston is in the region of $67,000.
Education From Ultrasound Technician Schools In Houston TX
To become competent and certified, you’ll need one of three different ultrasound technician training courses. These sonography courses fall under two categories: diagnostic medical sonography certificates and applied science degree courses (associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs). Accredited sonography certificates and associate’s degree programs are available from campus based ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX.
Certificates From Houston Ultrasound Technician Schools
Certificates in diagnostic medical sonography from ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX are generally completed in 1 to 2 years. The exact duration depends on the specific course and your prior health-related education. Certificate programs from ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX include a selection of different modules such as: sonography physics, human physiology, pathology, use of ultrasonography equipment, echocardiography and diagnostic imaging. There’s also a practical element to your training, conducted in a educational healthcare facility, physician’s clinic or hospital.
Ultrasound technician certification courses are generally popular with physicians, healthcare assistants and other allied healthcare clinicians. Previously obtained healthcare qualifications are often assessed as part of your application, and can be used to obtain exemptions from modules within the diagnostic medical sonography certification program. This means that suitably qualified healthcare professionals have the potential to finish a certificate program from one of the ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX within a year.
For new entrants without a healthcare qualification, there are some ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX that offer certificate courses aimed at those fresh to the medical profession. The only material difference is that in this instance, the certificate qualification will be spread over a 21 month period. There are three CAAHEP accredited ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX which can provide diagnostic medical sonography certificate programs.
Degree Programs From Houston Ultrasound Tech Schools
There are two kinds of sonography degree programs – associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. Whilst there are associate’s sonography degrees available in Houston, there are no accredited ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX currently offering bachelor’s degree programs.
An associate’s degree is a very popular option for many high school students and requires 24 months to attain. Nearly all associate’s degrees from ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX have the same instructional classes to those given at certificate level, as well as a number of extra modules to fulfill the associate’s degree requirements. On the practical side, the structure of an associate’s degree course means that you’ll spend more clinical time developing your skills with patients. One of the ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX offers accredited associates degrees.
CAAHEP Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools In Houston TX
There are a total of three ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX which have been reviewed and accredited by CAAHEP to provide sonography courses and programs. These sonography schools in Texas are:
Harris County Hospital District (HCHD) – Houston, Texas. 9250 Kirby Suite 1800, Houston, TX 77054.
Located in Houston, Harris County Hospital’s School of Diagnostic Medical Imaging is unique in that it offers the only hospital based diagnostic medical sonography certificate in the state of Texas. This gives it a major advantage over other ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX.
Harris County Hospital’s CAAHEP accredited certificate program takes 20 months to complete. It includes theory classes in: physiology, anatomy, physics, pathology and diagnostic imaging. Specializations are available in OB-GYN, vascular and abdominal sonography.
Within the certificate program, students receive practical ultrasound technician training at three hospitals – Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, Ben Taub General Hospital and Casa de Amigos Health Center. Ben Taub General Hospital has the added benefit of being a Level I trauma center, so you’ll gain practical experience not typically found with ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX.
Houston Community College (HCC) – Houston, Texas. 1900 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030.
With over 74,000 registered students, Houston Community College is one of the largest higher education institutions in the United States. Houston Community College offers a certificate program in diagnostic medical sonography. HCC is well respected amongst ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX.
Sanford-Brown College – Houston, Texas. 10500 Forum Place Drive, #200 Houston, TX 77036.
Sanford-Brown College was formed over 140 years ago, and offers training in over 20 different healthcare fields. Sanford-Brown College has a certificate program in diagnostic medical sonography plus an associate’s degree (Associate of Applied Science)
These three sonographer colleges are the only CAAHEP accredited ultrasound technician schools in Houston TX.