If you are searching for a rewarding healthcare career, you may be interested in learning more about ultrasound technicians training.
Ultrasound technicians are medical specialists who are trained in the healthcare field of diagnostic medical sonography (sometimes also called ultrasonography)
Sonography is a diagnostic medical technique which uses high frequency ultrasound sound waves to create images of internal body structures such as organs, muscles, tendons, joints, blood vessels and tissues. To do this, an ultrasound technician uses special ultrasound equipment to carry out the diagnostic imaging. A sonographer becomes proficient in how to use this equipment by completing an ultrasound technicians training course.
One of the reasons why sonography is a popular tool for medical diagnosis is that it is non-invasive. The sound waves used are completely harmless to patients, unlike other investigative tools like x-rays. This means an ultrasound technician can safely use ultrasound technology to check development during pregnancy with no side effects.
Choices For Ultrasound Technicians Training
In order to become an ultrasound technician, you’ll need to complete an accredited ultrasound technicians training program to learn about ultrasound technology, and also become familiar with using ultrasound equipment on patients.
There are several ways you can develop your ultrasound training and education. The first of these is classroom based training, where you attend traditional ultrasound technician schools which are usually at a local college or university.
The second type of sonography training is distance learning based, and you can achieve your professional qualification from a selection of ultrasound schools online.
Online ultrasound courses are now the most popular choice for students to complete their ultrasound technicians training. There are two main reasons for this.
The main benefit of training using ultrasound schools online is that the course fees are far cheaper than the rates charged by conventional ultrasound training schools. For example, if you complete an ultrasound certification course online the training fees are generally around $4,000 or £2,500. In contrast, classroom based degree programs from ultrasound technician schools can typically cost $30,000 or £19,000.
The second major benefit of using online sonography schools is that you aren’t stuck to a rigid classroom schedule. You can complete your ultrasound technicians training whenever you like, for example during evenings or at the weekend. This means you can fit your learning in around your family or current career.
Types Of Ultrasound Technicians Training Programs
There are three types of ultrasound courses which lead to an accredited qualification in diagnostic medical sonography. You can choose a certification program, an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree (each of these three types of ultrasound technicians training courses can be taken at either a classroom based ultrasound technician school / college, or via online ultrasound courses from an accredited provider)
Certification Courses. If you already have an allied healthcare degree, you can opt for a 12 month certification or diploma course in ultrasound technology. This foundation level ultrasound technicians training qualification allows you to add sonography to your range of skills, and is generally taken by physicians and nurses.
Associate’s Degree. This is the most popular type of ultrasound technicians training qualification taken by many diagnostic medical sonographers. An associate’s degree in sonography takes two years to complete, and is far more in-depth than the certification route. Many high school students decide on this qualification, as it allows them to start work relatively quickly.
Bachelor’s Degree. A bachelor’s degree is the most comprehensive form of ultrasound technicians training, and takes four years to achieve full qualification. Although it is a longer course, the benefits of bachelor’s degree programs are that you will almost certainly earn a far higher sonography salary and also be qualified for a lot more ultrasound jobs.
When it comes to choosing the most suitable form of ultrasound technicians training, most people are influenced by two main factors – money and time.
You’ll first need to give serious thought to how long you want to spend studying for your ultrasound training. As a rule, the longer your qualification takes to achieve, the greater your salary will ultimately be. However, if you take a shorter ultrasound technicians training course, you’ll be able to start work (and earning!) a lot sooner.
Affordability also needs to be considered. The longer an ultrasound training course is, then the more it will cost you – both in terms of course fees and also living expenses. As mentioned earlier, this is one of the reasons why online ultrasound courses have become so popular – as they offer a far cheaper form of education.
If you are unsure of exactly which type of ultrasound technicians training is most suitable for you, it’s wise to contact some of the online ultrasound schools first. Not only will you be able to get details of their full range of sonography courses, but you can also get current course fees and ask any questions you may have about their ultrasound technicians training programs.
Whichever type of ultrasound technicians training you ultimately choose, there is one thing that is certain – you’ll never be short of work. Ultrasound technicians are in high demand, and around 10,000 new positions are expected to be created over the next five years alone. So, your ultrasound technicians training could be the best investment you ever make.