2 answers
liv
Student
Keansburg, New Jersey
1
Question
Asked
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How do I apply to college to become an Ultrasound Technician?
I don't really know much about applying for college for this, I have so many questions when it comes to what major this falls under, what I need to do for preparation, etc.
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2 answers
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
362
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Liv,
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a career as an Ultrasound Technician. Physics, chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, geometry and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc. Other classes to take will be anatomy and physiology.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As an Ultrasound Technician, communication is essential and critical when dealing with patients, medical personnel and other hospital staff. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. While in high school, the debate team will provide the opportunity to sharpen communication skills which are backed with research and factual data and information.
Upon graduation with a high school diploma, the next step in preparing for your Ultrasound career is to attend an accredited college to earn your Associates Degree. An Associate of Science (AAS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography will take two years to complete. This program can be attended at colleges, community colleges or training hospitals. During this time, one will need to complete clinicals under supervision and mentorship. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) evaluates the numerous programs for health sciences education to make certain of standards of quality are met. Some colleges offer a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography which will take an additional two years to earn.
Once an AAS or BS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is earned, the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certifies Ultrasound Technicians. Certification will validate the knowledge base and experience of an Ultrasound Technician. This means that one has to pass the licensed examination as required per state. The certification process can take 10-18 months to complete.
The 10 Best Ultrasound Technician Programs Accredited by CAAHEP:
1) Oregon Institute of Technology - Klamath Falls, Oregon
2) Washburn University - Topeka, Kansas
3) State Fair Community College - Sedalia, Missouri
4) University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5) Ohio State University - Columbus, Ohio
6) Cincinnati State Technical and Community College - Cincinnati, Ohio
7) University of Missouri - Columbia, Missouri
8) University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Little Rock, Arkansas
9) Midland College - Midland, Texas
10) University of Iowa Health Care - Iowa City, Iowa
It will be to your advantage to research the Ultrasound Technician schools in your local area. In pursuing your degree, it is best to check the school for accreditation, strength of program, feedback from current students and alumni, financial assistance and career placement upon graduation. Remember, this is your investment for your career as an Ultrasound Technician.
Ultrasound Technicians can branch off into various specialty areas of practice such as:
- Pediatric Echocardiography
- Neurosonology (Deals with brain and nervous system functionalities)
- Gynecology and Obstetrics (Stages of Pregnancy and the fetus)
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography
- Abdominal Sonography
- Musculoskeletal Sonography (Deals with fractured or broken bones as well as muscle or tendon rips and tears)
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and future career as an Ultrasound Technician!
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a career as an Ultrasound Technician. Physics, chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, geometry and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc. Other classes to take will be anatomy and physiology.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As an Ultrasound Technician, communication is essential and critical when dealing with patients, medical personnel and other hospital staff. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. While in high school, the debate team will provide the opportunity to sharpen communication skills which are backed with research and factual data and information.
Upon graduation with a high school diploma, the next step in preparing for your Ultrasound career is to attend an accredited college to earn your Associates Degree. An Associate of Science (AAS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography will take two years to complete. This program can be attended at colleges, community colleges or training hospitals. During this time, one will need to complete clinicals under supervision and mentorship. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) evaluates the numerous programs for health sciences education to make certain of standards of quality are met. Some colleges offer a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography which will take an additional two years to earn.
Once an AAS or BS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is earned, the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certifies Ultrasound Technicians. Certification will validate the knowledge base and experience of an Ultrasound Technician. This means that one has to pass the licensed examination as required per state. The certification process can take 10-18 months to complete.
The 10 Best Ultrasound Technician Programs Accredited by CAAHEP:
1) Oregon Institute of Technology - Klamath Falls, Oregon
2) Washburn University - Topeka, Kansas
3) State Fair Community College - Sedalia, Missouri
4) University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5) Ohio State University - Columbus, Ohio
6) Cincinnati State Technical and Community College - Cincinnati, Ohio
7) University of Missouri - Columbia, Missouri
8) University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Little Rock, Arkansas
9) Midland College - Midland, Texas
10) University of Iowa Health Care - Iowa City, Iowa
It will be to your advantage to research the Ultrasound Technician schools in your local area. In pursuing your degree, it is best to check the school for accreditation, strength of program, feedback from current students and alumni, financial assistance and career placement upon graduation. Remember, this is your investment for your career as an Ultrasound Technician.
Ultrasound Technicians can branch off into various specialty areas of practice such as:
- Pediatric Echocardiography
- Neurosonology (Deals with brain and nervous system functionalities)
- Gynecology and Obstetrics (Stages of Pregnancy and the fetus)
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography
- Abdominal Sonography
- Musculoskeletal Sonography (Deals with fractured or broken bones as well as muscle or tendon rips and tears)
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and future career as an Ultrasound Technician!
Justin Shapiro
Accounting | Finance | Financial Systems | Non-Profit Volunteer
76
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Justin’s Answer
Hi Liv,
To become an Ultrasound Technician (also known as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer), you’ll generally need to follow these steps:
1. Research Accredited Programs
• Look for programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which ensures high educational standards.
• Programs are typically available at community colleges, technical schools, or universities.
2. Complete Prerequisites
• Most programs require a high school diploma or GED.
• Some programs may also require certain prerequisites, such as biology, physics, or anatomy courses.
3. Choose Your Program Type
• Certificate Program: Usually takes about 1 year. Good for those who already have experience in healthcare.
• Associate Degree: Common route, typically takes 2 years and includes clinical training.
• Bachelor’s Degree: Takes around 4 years, suitable for students interested in advanced career opportunities.
4. Apply to a College or Technical School
• Complete applications for each program, usually requiring transcripts, test scores, and possibly an interview or personal statement.
• Some competitive programs may also ask for letters of recommendation.
5. Complete Clinical Training
• Accredited programs often include clinical internships to gain hands-on experience with real patients in a healthcare setting.
6. Consider Certification
• While not always required, certification can improve job prospects. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) offers certifications in various sonography specialties.
7. Apply for Jobs
• With your degree and any certifications, you can apply for ultrasound technician positions in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
Starting with an Associate Degree is a practical route, and you may also find online or hybrid programs if you need flexibility.
To become an Ultrasound Technician (also known as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer), you’ll generally need to follow these steps:
1. Research Accredited Programs
• Look for programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which ensures high educational standards.
• Programs are typically available at community colleges, technical schools, or universities.
2. Complete Prerequisites
• Most programs require a high school diploma or GED.
• Some programs may also require certain prerequisites, such as biology, physics, or anatomy courses.
3. Choose Your Program Type
• Certificate Program: Usually takes about 1 year. Good for those who already have experience in healthcare.
• Associate Degree: Common route, typically takes 2 years and includes clinical training.
• Bachelor’s Degree: Takes around 4 years, suitable for students interested in advanced career opportunities.
4. Apply to a College or Technical School
• Complete applications for each program, usually requiring transcripts, test scores, and possibly an interview or personal statement.
• Some competitive programs may also ask for letters of recommendation.
5. Complete Clinical Training
• Accredited programs often include clinical internships to gain hands-on experience with real patients in a healthcare setting.
6. Consider Certification
• While not always required, certification can improve job prospects. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) offers certifications in various sonography specialties.
7. Apply for Jobs
• With your degree and any certifications, you can apply for ultrasound technician positions in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
Starting with an Associate Degree is a practical route, and you may also find online or hybrid programs if you need flexibility.