Sonography technician Degree - Online and Campus Programs

If you are interested in a career in the medical field, consider the job of sonography technician. Sonography, also called ultrasonography, is a diagnostic medical procedure that produces visual images of organs, tissues, and blood flow inside the body using high frequency sound waves. A sonography technician is a non-physician medical professional who works one-on-one with patients and operates the ultrasound equipment that produces these images.

How to Prepare for a Sonography Technician Career

There are a number of ways to become a sonography technician. You can:

• Obtain an associate or bachelor's sonography technician degree from a college or university
• Complete a sonography technician program at a vocational or technical institute
• Receive training in sonography in a hospital or in the armed forces

There are currently over 150 sonography technician training programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Sonography technician classes include:

• Sonographic Physics
• Instrumentation
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Patient Interaction
• Preparation of Patient Histories and Ultrasound Reports
• Medical Ethics

A sonography technician or sonography assistant is an integral part of a medical diagnostic team. Although state certification is not required, most employers prefer that sonography technicians be certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Career Outlook for Sonography Technicians

The Bureau of Labor statistics (BLS) projects a growth in employment for sonography technicians of 18 percent by 2018. Although most are employed by hospitals, there is increasing demand in diagnostic and imaging centers and physicians' offices. As of May 2008, the median annual income of a sonography technician was $61,980.