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Ultrasound Technician Career: Making Things Happen

By Russel Saysongkham


An ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer is a member of the healthcare team responsible for taking images of the human body through the use of high-frequency sound waves. This career is becoming sought after by many individuals because of the job security and financial rewards that it brings onto the table.

While an ultrasound technician may be commonly seen in an obstetrics-gynecology clinic for checking the reproductive health of a woman or determining the gender of an unborn child, he can also work for different areas of medicine. The images produced by using an ultrasound machine usually serves as basis for doctors in coming up with accurate diagnosis of a patient's condition.

Diagnostic medical sonographers are highly-trained specialists that operate advanced ultrasound equipment to make possible taking images of the human body's internal structure. They help patients prepare for the procedure, guide them through it, and ensure their safety at all times. A good ultrasound technician must possess good judgement and be able to pay close attention to details.

The training that an individual has to go through in order to be a successful ultrasound technician is a formal training program offered in many colleges and universities. The most common options for training is either a 2-year Associate's Degree program or a 4-year Bachelor's Degree program. Generally speaking, the higher level of training you receive, the broader your employment opportunities become.

Ideally, you would want to get into a training program that has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This is because CAAHEP-accredited training programs are standardized and are sure to be high quality. After graduating from your training program, you can also apply for certification with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Choosing a career as an ultrasound technician is an excellent move since employment is forecasted to undergo a growth rate of 18 percent through the year 2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). An increase in the demand for sonographers is to be expected as the population increases and ages, as well as the prevalence in use of diagnostic imaging procedures.




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