Dakota
What are the requirements to being a diagnostic medical sonographer?
I am a senior in high school looking into this field of study and wondering about the education requirements. I am also wondering about how life in the military with this career would be. #medicine #medicine-field #hospitals #medicine-sonography
1 answer
Michele Pack FASE RDCS RVT
Michele’s Answer
The best thing to do is go to an accredited school so you can become registered in the specific ultrasound specialty you choose. Go to http://www.ardms.org for registry information and to check out the different specialties. They range from cardiac to baby's and abdomen etc..
Some schools offer a two year program with some prerequisites and some offer a Bachelors. The registry is primarily important for starters and will 100% assuredly get you a job but if you have the ability, time, and funds to do a Bachelors that will help you further your career to advance either to advanced practice or into management or education positions.
Some people do the two year program and get registered to start working then go back and get their bachelors. There are a few colleges that will give you college credit towards your bachelors for your registry
I personally am registered in two specialties, cardiac and vascular, and have done a fair amount of education and research and really love it, it is a great field!
If you choose a specialty there are also specific websites for each specialty. American Society of Echo, Society of Vascular Sonography, etc..
Also, the Navy has an incredible sonography educational program that is well respected and will teach you so much! You would be able to be in the military but work in their hospitals and have thebenfits of both, I have worked with many Naval cardiac monographers, even pediatric, I would highly recommend it!
Michele Pack FASE RDCS RVT
Thank you so much for all of the advice.
Dakota