The ultrasound career has grown in popularity across the globe and is a well-paying profession, especially in the US. With an average annual ultrasonographer salary of $87,623, any ultrasound technician in the US can expect to take home between $71,817 and $103,839 each year. And that figure can increase depending on the State and the annual labor market changes.（1）
But before you can enjoy the rewarding ultrasound technician salaries, you have to train to become one, which takes time, money, and other resources.
So, if you are wondering, how do I become an ultrasound technician, this article is for you. I’ll tell you what ultrasound technicians do, how to become an ultrasound technician, and the best colleges for sonography
What Does an Ultrasound Technician Do?
So, what is an ultrasound technician, and what do they do?
An ultrasound technician is a medical support professional who takes images of body organs using high-frequency ultrasound equipment to help medics make well-informed diagnoses.
As a difference with radiology technicians, ultrasound technicians use non-invasive procedures to detect abnormal tissues or tissue growth and other medical conditions.
Because of the current demand for diagnostic imaging as a key diagnostic tool and the preference for non-invasive ultrasound imaging, ultrasound technicians are in high demand. This demand creates an equally high availability of ultrasound technician jobs.（2）
In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment possibilities for sonographers and ultrasound technicians will grow steadily by 10% in the decade between 2022 and 2032, with projections for approximately 9,600 job openings each year.（3）
However, if becoming an ultrasound technician sounds like the career of your dreams, you’ll need to follow the due procedure of becoming one in the best US colleges for ultrasound techs.
How to Become an Ultrasound Technician
Taking high-quality ultrasound images and correctly interpreting and reporting them is crucial. That’s because doctors use this information to diagnose and make treatment decisions for their patients.
To be good at their job, ultrasound technicians must undergo the required initial training and education before accumulating experience and becoming experts.
So, here are the steps to becoming an ultrasound Technician.
Step 1.Meet the Prerequisites for Training as an Ultrasound Technician
Anyone aspiring to become an ultrasound technician must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, which could be the General Education Development (GED) certificate if you did not complete high school. Even with these certificates, you may also need to pass entry exams such as the SAT or ACT, depending on the admitting college.
Step 2.Decide the Kind of Ultrasound Training and Education to Pursue
There are different training and education paths towards becoming an ultrasound technician. These vary depending on your existing level of education and your career aspirations
These options include:
- A direct entry to the ultrasound job market: This is available only for electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) technicians with a high school diploma and looking for entry-level jobs.
- A certificate in sonography: This is the quickest option to becoming an ultrasound technician after the reserved direct entry option. It can take as short as 12 months and applies to those with a high school diploma or its equivalent. It is also for medical graduates who want to pursue a specialty in sonography.
- The certificate takes one year of coursework and practicum. However, you might need to take certification exams, especially in states where a certificate is required to work as an ultrasound sonographer.
- An Associate degree in sonography: This option has the same high school requirements as the certificate in sonography. However, it is a 2-year coursework and practicum course and is considered the standard entry preparation course for ultrasound technicians in the US.
Your choice college for ultrasonography training should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or another relevant body. - A Bachelor’s degree in sonography: Those who go for a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in ultrasound sonography opt for a more demanding preparation that includes thousands of hours of practicum in clinical settings and ultrasound imaging procedures. As such, they have better chances for employment and high salaries and can apply for leadership and management jobs in sonography departments.
Step 3.Get Accredited and Keep Training
After completing your course as an ultrasound technician, it is important to be accredited by the relevant bodies because most employers prefer people with certification and accreditation.
You can seek accreditation with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
In both cases, getting certified entails taking and passing the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) exam and another exam in your preferred specialty, such as abdomen, OB/GYN, or musculoskeletal sonography.
And don’t stop at the certification stage. Instead, keeping up with the latest advancements in the ultrasound field is crucial for a successful career. So, taking professional certificate courses towards this end is important.
Consider some of the Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses to keep building your expertise and increasing your chances for promotion and better pay.（5）
Step 4.Gain Experience and Become an Expert
There’s nothing that works best at becoming an expert in your job like experience does. The same is true for ultrasound technicians.
Gaining experience is not just about the passing of years. It’s also about putting your best foot into your career and proofing your efficiency. It also entails joining professional bodies where you can share knowledge and skills with others in the same field and taking the Continuing Medical Education courses mentioned above.
On that note, we can now review briefly some of the best colleges for ultrasound technicians in the US.