To pursue a career as an ultrasound technician, one need not have a specific path of entry. Ultrasound technician education, certification and training can be acquired from hospitals, vocational and technical schools, colleges, university, and even in the Armed Forces. Although there is a preference for technicians who had education from accredited ultrasound technician schools, a formal education, actual training program, or a combination of both can land an individual a job as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
Educational institutions offer Associate and Bachelors degree for the field that covers subjects in anatomy, basic physics, instrumentation, physiology, patient care, and medical ethics. Individuals who take formal education have preference for the two year course.
Most employers prefer sonographers who are certified because it provides a valid scholastic standing for the profession however there are no state requirement for licensure is needed to pursue a career as a medical diagnostic sonographer.
Job Prospects
In 2008, the demand for ultrasound technician jobs reached 50, 300 having about 59% of them employed in hospitals. The rest were employed by private clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and outpatient care centers.
It is expected to have an 18% increase in job demands by 2018 with hospitals being the primary employer. However, it is projected that there will also be a steady increase in the demand coming from health care facilities primarily driven by a shift towards outpatient care. This will also be driven by the availability of ultrasound machines that are less expensive resulting to more procedures being done outside the hospitals.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers who can provide multiple specialties and credentials will have higher opportunities for employment.
The truth is that as the population ages, there will also be an increase in the demand for digital imagery. This demand will spawn the growth of job opportunities of an ultrasound technician among healthcare providers who prefer to use ultrasound imagery as a safe and cost efficient option against that of radiological procedures. This growth will be further enhanced with technological advancements that will give birth for new sonography procedures that will allow diagnostic medical sonographers to scan and create image from areas that initially is not available for present day users of the ultrasound.
You wrote an informative article to get us an overview of ultrasound education and jobs. What I want to add is that it is very important to take an accredited sonography program to get the best training. You can visit ultrasound technician training to get a full list of accredited sonography schools by state.
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