Diagnostic medical
sonographers are trained to use sophisticated equipment.
Diagnostic medical sonographers are health care workers who use sophisticated medical equipment that produces sound waves that generate images of internal body parts and systems. These images are interpreted by physicians and surgeons to diagnose medical conditions, injuries and illnesses. Diagnostic medical sonographers may specialize in a body system such as cardiovascular sonography, or in an area of practice such as obstetrics. Many employers prefer to hire sonographers who have received formal training, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Training Options
There is no national training or educational requirement for candidates who wish to work as diagnostic medical sonographers. No state requires diagnostic medical sonographers to obtain a license. Most employers prefer candidates who have a combination of formal education and hands-on training in the field, according to the BLS. There are numerous educational and training pathways available to candidates, including military training, one-year certificate programs, two-year associate's degree programs and traditional four-year bachelor's degree programs.
Prerequisites
Candidates in one-year certificate programs are typically already employed in another facet of the health care industry and have a firm grasp of related subject matter, according to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Candidates for a two-year associate's degree program or a traditional four-year bachelor's degree program must hold a high school diploma or educational equivalent, such as a General Educational Development certificate. The candidate's high school educational background should include courses in the sciences such as chemistry, biology and natural science, in addition to mathematics, physics, English, communications and the humanities.
Training and Education
The candidate's education and training at the post-secondary level should include college-level coursework in physics, biology, algebra and communications, according to the CAAHEP. Diagnostic medical sonographers must demonstrate the ability to interact successfully with patients and to communicate with a variety of medical personnel, so coursework in subjects that elevate social perceptiveness, critical thinking skills, active listening skills, teaching, reading comprehension, and oral and written communication are important. Career-specific training should including classroom as well as clinical experience in patient care, clinical medicine, ultrasound instrumentation, ultrasound image evaluation, ultrasound procedures and ultrasound applications.
Considerations
The BLS anticipates good growth in job opportunities for diagnostic medical sonographers through 2018. Candidates who have the ability to relocate to should have greater job opportunities than those with less mobility. Employers tend to favor candidates who are certified by a recognized credentialing organization such as the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Wages for diagnostic medical sonographers ranged from less than $43,990 to more than $85,950 as of May 2009, according to the BLS. The median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers was $63,010.
Tags: medical sonographers, Diagnostic medical, diagnostic medical, associate degree, bachelor degree, certificate programs