Ultrasound technicians must pass a skills exam demonstrating proficiency on ultrasound scanners.
Medical offices, clinics and hospitals hire ultra sound technicians (sonographers) to operate ultrasound machines and scan patients' bodies with sound waves. The scans produce images that doctors can use to detect medical conditions, diagnoses illnesses, and monitor fetal health (Reference 1). To work as an ultrasound technician, an individual must receive an associate's degree in ultrasound technology, pass a career skills exam and register with American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).
Instructions
1. Complete a high school degree or high school equivalence (GED) degree. While it is not a pre-requisite, many schools admissions committees are looking to admit students that have shown an interest in the sciences, and have successfully completed high school coursework in natural sciences, math and physics.
2. Apply to any accredited college or university that offers a 1- or 2-year degree in Ultrasound Technology. There are 176 training programs across the United States that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
3. Complete all of the required coursework successfully. Typically you will have to take classes in patient care, anatomy, physiology, medical ethics and physics.
4. Pass the career skills exam that will be offered upon your completion of all of the coursework. Depending on your success and program requirements, you will finish your coursework within 1 or 2 years of starting the program.
5. Register with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) after you pass your career skills exam (Reference 2). If you live in New Mexico and Oregon, you will also need to apply for a license to practice as a sonographer.
Tags: skills exam, career skills, career skills exam, high school, American Registry, American Registry Diagnostic, Diagnostic Medical
