How To Become An Ultrasound Technician? – Steps To Follow

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14 November 2024

Job & Career

How To Become An Ultrasound Technician

How to become an ultrasound technician?

To become an ultrasound technician or medical sonographer, you must at least have an associate degree in sonography.

Moreover, you can also pursue a Diploma or Bachelor’s program. Even if you have a degree in any other healthcare field, you can pursue a degree in sonography. 

In this article, you will learn how to become an ultrasound technician or a medical sonographer. Moreover, this article will explain the role of this position. 

Apart from that, you will learn the roles, responsibilities, and specializations of an ultrasound technician. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article. 

What Is the Job of an Ultrasound Technician? 

What Is the Job of an Ultrasound Technician

An ultrasound technician (medical sonographer) helps doctors and other medical professionals diagnose conditions through medical imaging. Here, the medical sonographer ensures that the diagnosis is precise, non-invasive, and pain-free. 

For example, an ultrasound technician can help expectant parents see the first images of a child. Generally, these healthcare workers work in teams. Their job includes detecting health conditions like clogged arteries, enlarged spleens, etc., that are potentially life-threatening.  

Basically, the ultrasound tech performs sonography by examining different processes of the human body. Apart from that, they check organ functions with the help of the sonography device. 

Here, they place a camera-like probe on a patient’s skin. This probe then records images and videos. Then, the ultrasound technician passes the patient data to the physician who ordered the test initially. 

Currently, as of 2024, an ultrasound technician is one of the most in-demand jobs. 

What Is Sonography?

Sonography uses sound waves to record and create images of a patient’s internal organs. Basically, it is a surface-level recording method that does not use radiation to create images.

Apart from that, some ultrasound technicians perform prenatal ultrasounds. However, you can use and apply sonography in many more ways in healthcare

For instance, sonography offers you a view of the function of the heart and blood vessels. Also, you can find out whether a patient has potential dysfunctions of abdominal organs.  

Hence, if you want to be an ultrasound technician, you must specialize in any one of those areas. 

Roles and Responsibilities of an Ultrasound Technician

Roles and Responsibilities of an Ultrasound Technician

If you want to work as an ultrasound technician, your task is more than just operating high-tech equipment. Here, you even need to explain various procedures to patients and answer their questions.  

For instance, you must operate and maintain different imaging equipment. Additionally, you need to record the patient’s medical data. Moreover, the job also requires you to analyze results before the doctor starts diagnosis. 

However, you do not need a medical degree to become an ultrasound technician. Despite that, it is one of the least stressful roles in the medical field. Apart from that, you will also get good pay if you are good at your job. The best part is that the job is in high demand in the medical field.  

Generally, in the United States, you will need to work in hospitals as an ultrasound technician. Apart from that, depending on the needs of your employer, you might work in a physician’s office, medical labs, or outpatient care centers.  

Basically, in most cases, you will be a part of the team, which consists of doctors, registered nurses, and medical professionals. Furthermore, the ultrasound tech salary ranges from $60,000 to $90,000 annually (approx.) 

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks too. This is because, in most cases, you might have to work in an environment with low light. Apart from that, you need to continuously stand and operate the machine. Moreover, in case of high demand, you will need to work on weekends and evenings as well. 

How To Become An Ultrasound Technician? – Steps To Follow 

How To Become An Ultrasound Technician? – Steps To Follow 

You will need approximately two years to become an ultrasound technician. In some cases, you might require a year more.

The following are some steps you must follow to become an ultrasound technician: 

1. Get A Formal Education 

If you want to become an ultrasound technician, you must receive a degree in the healthcare field. Although it is compulsory to have a degree in medicine, doing so will give you an advantage. Apart from that, you can also consider getting a degree in biology, health sciences, anatomy, and chemistry. 

For instance, you can choose to pursue a diagnostic medical imaging course that focuses strongly on sonography. On the other hand, you can also consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree. 

2. Choose A Specialization 

The healthcare sector is vast, and there are various fields in the sector. Hence, you must choose your specialty beforehand.

For instance, you can choose parental health or other specializations like cardiovascular field, abdominal, breast, neuro, gynecologic, and more. You will get an overview of major specializations in the next section of the article. 

Basically, you can specialize in more than one area. After you determine which specialty you prefer more, you can focus on earning proper certifications. 

3. Earn A Certificate 

To become an ultrasound technician, you have to earn technical certification after you complete your specialization. Generally, there are three recommended ways to complete your certification: 

  • American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS
  • Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI
  • American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT

Here, you must choose one of these three since each of them has its own program and course. Any one of these programs will prepare you for a career in sonography.

Moreover, each program has its own requirements and timeline. Also, you need at least a year to complete your certification. 

4. Choose Your Work Environment 

Once you start working as an ultrasound technician, you will have enough opportunity to choose your work environment. For instance, you can work in a hospital setting, continue your private practice, or work in a medical laboratory.  

Therefore, when you are looking for career opportunities, you can search based on the environment where you prefer to work. 

5. Create A Resume 

After you choose your work environment, you must research your potential employers. Then, you need to choose your work settings and job openings. Once you do that, you must begin working on your resume. Here, you must consider getting some resume tips from a professional. 

Here are the factors you must consider when you are building your resume: 

📝Formal Education 

Here, you must include the name of your school, the degree, and the dates. However, do not include dates if you have graduated more than three years ago. Moreover, you can include details about your experiences with professional organizations and other leadership opportunities. 

📝Professional Experience 

In this section, you must describe your previous roles and responsibilities. However, if you have just finished school, include positions irrelevant to the healthcare field. Also, consider listing any relevant internship experience or coursework in a similar field. 

📝Skills 

In the skills section of your resume, highlight your personal and technical abilities. Moreover, to work as an ultrasound technician, here are some professional skills you must mention: 

  • Communication skills 
  • Organizational skills 
  • Attention to detail. 

Apart from these skills, list down your skills in sonography and your knowledge of dealing with machines. 

📝Certifications 

Include relevant certifications and their dates. This will show that you have field knowledge and the professional drive that potential employers are looking for. Moreover, some positions might also require you to have certain certifications. 

6. Apply For Jobs 

Once you complete your resume, you can apply for jobs in sectors that appeal to you. However, when you are applying for a certain position, make sure to align your resume and cover letter based on the position you are applying for. 

Apart from that, you can also consider building a network in the healthcare field. Thereby, you can get insights into hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare organizations. As a result, you will have more information about openings. 

How to Become an Ultrasound Technician? – Major Specializations 

How to Become an Ultrasound Technician? - Major Specializations 

An ultrasound technician has exposure to four different sonography specializations. Also, each specialization has multiple sub-specializations.

The following are the major specializations you can choose from: 

A. General Sonography 

Here, you must know how to image internal organs, like liver, brain, kidneys, etc. The following are the subspecializations in this field: 

  • Neurosonology 
  • Obstetric and gynecology sonography 
  • Abdominal sonography 
  • Breast sonography 

B. Cardiac Sonography 

In cardiac sonography, you must specialize in taking images of the heart using echocardiography. The following are some of the major sub-specializations: 

  • Pediatric echocardiography 
  • Adult echocardiography 
  • Fetal echocardiography 

C. Vascular Sonography 

Here, you must become a specialist in taking images of veins and arteries. Basically, the goal is to look at the flow of blood and the status of blood vessels. 

  • Peripheral vascular sonography 
  • Carotid sonography 
  • Abdominal vascular sonography 

D. Musculoskeletal Sonography 

In this case, you need to be a specialist in getting images of muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments.

Here are some sub-specializations you must consider: 

  • Soft tissue sonography 
  • Tendon and ligament sonography 
  • Joint sonography 

Pursue A Career In Sonography Now

Hence, you know how to become an ultrasound technician. First, you need to get a formal education in the healthcare field and then work on your specialization. After you specialize, you must get a professional certification. Consequently, you can apply for jobs as an ultrasound technician or a medical sonographer

Do you have more suggestions on how to become an ultrasound technician? Please share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below. 

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A passionate writer and an avid reader, Soumava is academically inclined and loves writing on topics requiring deep research. Having 3+ years of experience, Soumava also loves writing blogs in other domains, including digital marketing, business, technology, travel, and sports.

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Are you interested in becoming a physician assistant? Do you know how to become a pa? Are you wondering how long does it take to become a pa? Did you just google "What bachelor degree do I need for physician assistant?" This article will explain everything to you in detail. Who Is A Physician Assistant? Physician assistants, or PAs for short, are certified medical professionals who assist doctors in delivering care. They provide care as well as keep an eye on the health of patients alongside doctors. While some states permit physician assistants to operate autonomously, the majority mandate that they remain under the direct supervision of physicians. PAs perform physical examinations, write prescriptions for medication, and administer tests. Additional duties for PAs are as follows: Obtaining the medical histories of patients Placing as well as evaluating diagnostic test orders Assisting with medical operations Directing patients to appropriate experts Creating therapy programs Offering patients preventive care advice Track the advancement of your patients. Carrying out clinical research Physician assistants are employed in a variety of locations, including surgery rooms, outpatient clinics, hospitals, and doctor's offices. In addition to working in medical settings, PAs are employed by military institutions, sports teams, and educational institutions. The majority of PAs have full-time jobs with flexible schedules that sometimes include weekends and holidays. Similar to physicians, they might have to work long shifts on short notice and be on call. PAs should be physically fit and have strong interpersonal skills because spending hours interacting with patients and coworkers can get tiresome. How To Become A Physician Assistant? Here are the steps to take before you can become a physician assistant.  Get Your Bachelor's Degree  Getting a bachelor's degree from a recognized university is the prerequisite for working as a physician assistant. Applications from a variety of backgrounds are usually accepted into PA programs, but a science-focused major is advised as it will enable you to apply undergraduate credits toward your PA requirements. Acquire Patient Care Or Healthcare Experience (PCE) (HCE) Prior to applying to graduate school, prospective physician associates (PAs) are advised by the American Academy of Physician Associates to obtain experience in healthcare or patient care. HCE describes employment, whether paid or unpaid, in which you may still interact with patients but are not directly in charge of their care. PCE, on the other hand, necessitates direct patient treatment. At least 1,000 HCE or PCE hours are needed for most PA programs, and these hours are normally obtained after working in the health industry for about a year. A medical technician, paramedic, surgical assistant, dental assistant, hospice worker, physical therapy assistant, and phlebotomist are among the positions that satisfy the need for clinical experience. Enroll In A PA Program With Accreditation You can acquire the advanced knowledge required to pass the national certification exam and start working as a physician assistant by enrolling in a PA graduate program. Clinical anatomy, clinical therapeutics, histology, as well as medical principles are among the subjects covered in a PA program. Additionally, you might participate in clinical rotations or clerkships, which entail observing certified PAs. For those who cannot attend in person, several colleges offer online PA programs. Concentrations are a common feature of these PA programs, enabling students to customize their degrees to meet their professional objectives. Moreover, geriatrics, family medicine, women's health, pediatrics, psychiatry, and general internal medicine are among the common specialties of PAs. Through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), students can submit their admissions applications. PA applicants must submit HCE and PCE records, college transcripts, recommendation letters, resumes, and personal statements to CASPA. Before applying, make sure the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has approved the program of your choice. Obtain Certification Graduates from ARC-PA-accredited programs are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is responsible for administering the exam. The PANCE is a five-hour multiple-choice test designed to evaluate candidates' knowledge of medicine and surgery. To obtain a PA license in any state in the United States, one must pass the PANCE. States may have different requirements for other particular licenses. How Long Does It Take To Become A Physician Assistant? Usually, it takes at least seven years to finish all of the steps above. You will need four years to complete your undergraduate studies, followed by a year to obtain experience in healthcare and two years to finish a PA program. If you need more time to study for and pass the PANCE, or if you want to gain experience when moving from undergrad and grad school, then the path to becoming a PA may take longer. Salary Of A Physician Assistant As of May 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual salary for physician assistants was $126,010. The industry, degree of experience, and place of residence all affect an individual's compensation. Certain regions of the United States, such as Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Nebraska, and Montana, have the highest concentrations of physician assistant jobs, putting them in great demand. According to BLS projections, employment for these professionals will grow by 28% between 2021 and 2031, which is nearly six times the projected growth rate for all U.S. jobs and three times the projected job growth rate for other health practitioners nationwide. Specializations Similar to nurses and clinicians, physician assistants can choose to specialize in different areas of healthcare based on their areas of interest as well as strengths. Moreover, the types of patients PAs work with, as well as the range of salaries they can earn, depend largely on their specializations. The majority of PA programs provide elective courses and some mandate that students finish supervised clinical practice across several specializations. Before starting graduate school, we advise you to select your PA specialization so that you can enroll in a program that offers comprehensive instruction in your field of interest. Here are some typical specializations for PA professionals and students. Emergency Practice In this specialization, PA aspirants learn how to assess, stabilize, and treat patients with life-threatening conditions. Students specializing in emergency medicine also gain skills for collaborating with urgent care teams and for presenting cases to physicians. Pregnancy And Gynecology PA students who choose this concentration will graduate with a thorough understanding of childbirth, midwifery, and the female reproductive system as a whole. They get training in giving women prenatal and postpartum care as well as family planning counseling. Pediatrics By providing ambulatory care for infants and children, pediatric PAs assist pediatricians. Students specializing in the pediatrician field gain the ability to assess typical pediatric issues, provide prophylactic care, and explain treatment regimens to patients' guardians. Surgery PA students can assess and oversee surgical patients through the surgery specialization. They gain knowledge on how to care for surgical patients both before and after surgery. Mental Wellness The treatment and support of patients dealing with mental health issues is the main focus of this specialization. Students in this specialty gain knowledge on how to perform mental assessments, track patients' progress, as well as recommend individuals to behavioral health professionals. Certifications Furthering your experience, profile, as well as career certifications helps you gain credibility. Here are a few you can check out. PA-C The primary certification for PAs is the Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) credential, for which you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. Three hundred multiple-choice questions, given in five blocks of sixty questions each, make up the five-hour PANCE exam. Between sessions, candidates can take 45-minute breaks. Those who wish to take the PANCE must complete a program approved by the ARC-PA before taking it. Potential PAs have 180 days from the date of graduation to apply for the exam; however, they can only take the test beginning seven days later. After submitting an application and paying a $550 fee, NCCPA will email you an acknowledgment along with more details.   Additional Qualifications NCCPA provides optional credentials for ten PA specialties in addition to the PA-C: Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery Dermatology Emergency medicine Hospital medicine Nephrology Orthopedic surgery Pediatrics Palliative medicine and hospice care Psychiatry Obstetrics and Gynecology These qualifications are known as certificates of additional qualifications, or CAQs. They give PAs credit for their specialized knowledge. Professional Organizations While it's not necessary, becoming a member of a professional organization can help PAs become more credible and open up more career development opportunities. The two professional associations that were established to aid physician assistants are highlighted below. The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) is the preeminent national organization for PA professionals. It was established in 1968. It encompasses more than 168,000 PAs in each of the 50 US states. The AAPA gives its members the tools they need to grow professionally and enhance patient care. Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) is the national organization for PA education. It helps academic programs attract and hold onto talented faculty members and PA students. Additionally, it offers a range of study resources for PA certifications. Wrapping Up Additional motivations to become a physician assistant include demand, high pay, work-life balance, autonomy, and job security. If you have the desire and passion to become a PA, then the amount of time it takes is unimportant. Your clinical experience and self-assurance will enable you to lead health care forward and improve patient health and well-being with the Physician Assistant Studies Program. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask how long does it take to become a physician assistant, then please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you! Learn More About: The Future Of Healthcare: Adapting To An Aging Society Healthcare Jobs That Will Be Most In Demand 2020–2025 Is Medical Specialities A Good Career Path? – 12 Best Jobs

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