If you’re looking for an in-demand healthcare career that will keep you invested for years to come, medical sonography is one of the best routes to take. You’ll enjoy the 10% job growth rate until 2032 and have endless opportunities to advance your career.
However, it can still be a challenging process if you don’t know where to start. Learning about the medical sonography certificate program will decrease your fears and point you in the right direction. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a long-term sonography career.
Keep reading this guide to learn everything you need to know about medical sonography programs and find one that works for you.
Overview of Medical Sonography
A diagnostic medical sonographer, also known as an ultrasound technician, uses special instruments to create images of organs and other structures inside the body.
Sonography involves using a transducer to send out high-frequency sound waves that produce images. Sonographers receive training to analyze and interpret the images and send a report to the physician.
Job Duties
As a medical sonographer, you’ll have other duties that involve preparing the exam room and maintaining equipment.
You’ll also have to prepare each patient for the ultrasound by informing them about the process and answering questions. You’ll also be responsible for tasks like:
- Taking medical history
- Managing medical records
- Performing physical exams
- Typing reports
- Interpreting results
- Managing medical records
- Working on clerical duties
- Coordinating care with other hospital departments
You’ll need to be comfortable working with patients of all ages and in various clinical areas like hospitals, doctor’s offices, and community clinics. You may also be expected to work evenings, holidays, and weekends if you’re working in a hospital setting.
Types of Medical Sonography
One of the best things about medical sonography is that you can specialize in different areas of interest. The most common types of medical sonographers include:
Abdominal Sonography
If you focus on abdominal sonography, you’ll be mostly evaluating organs in the abdominal cavity like the liver, pancreas, spleen, and gallbladder.
You may also need to assist with biopsies and other procedures that require ultrasound guidance. You’ll be able to help people with many different health conditions from gallbladder disease and pancreatitis to cancer.
Breast Sonography
Breast sonography focuses on breast health and early detection of cysts and tumors. You’ll use images of breast tissue to check problem areas identified in breast MRIs and mammograms.
In addition, you’ll assist with tracking the growth of breast tumors and help diagnose other non-cancerous breast conditions like oil cysts and simple cysts.
Neuro Sonography
Becoming a neuro ultrasound tech is a great option if you have an interest in the brain and nervous system.
Neurosonographers perform ultrasounds on the brain, spinal cord, and vertebral column. You’ll use a specialized medical instrument known as a Transcranial Doppler to measure and monitor blood flow in the brain.
You’ll be able to work with people who have health conditions like spinal stenosis and multiple sclerosis or specialize in one specific area.
Enrolling in a Medical Sonography Training Program
Now that you understand more about what a medical sonographer does, it’s time to dive into the educational requirements. You’ll need to take certain steps to further your education, which include:
High School Diploma
First things first, you’ll need to have a high school diploma or the equivalency to begin. If you don’t have a diploma, earning an equivalency is easier than you think.
All you have to do is enroll in a high school equivalency program and pass an exam that measures these skills. When you pass this test, you’ll receive a high school equivalency diploma and can move on to the next phase of your education.
Sonography School Programs
Next, you’ll need to enroll in a sonography training program for your certified sonographer education, like this one at Healthcare Career College. The best part about this program is that you have different options, depending on how much time you have to devote to school.
First, you can enroll in the 19-month diploma program. This is a shorter, less in-depth program that’s designed to allow you to start your career quickly. This type of program can be a mix of online and in-person classes. Once you complete the course, you’ll earn a diploma and can get to work. It’s also easier to continue taking classes to earn an associate’s degree.
The associate’s degree program is 24 months long and offers an in-depth program that fully prepares you for a career as a sonographer. It also positions you to continue schooling by earning a bachelor’s degree, etc.
You’ll have to take medical sonography courses like:
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Abdominal sonography
- Musculoskeletal sonography
- Emergency sonography
- Instrumentation
- Obstetrics and gynecology
You’ll also learn how to evaluate other areas like the prostate, thyroid, and scrotum. Both courses also offer hands-on training so you can get some experience before graduating.
Get Your Certification
Whether you earn online sonography certificates or obtain an associate’s degree, you’ll be eligible to take the diagnostic medical sonography certificate exam. While you don’t need this certification to work in a hospital in California, it puts you ahead of other candidates since the certificate shows you’ve met the necessary professional standards.
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) offers this exam to anybody meeting the eligibility requirements, which includes completing an ARRT-approved educational program, like the one at Healthcare Career College.
Enroll in a Medical Sonography Certificate Program Today
Now that you know what to expect from a medical sonography certificate program, you’ll be ready to move forward with your new healthcare career.
For quality education, you can turn to Healthcare Career College for all of your needs. We opened our doors in 1990, serving people in the Paramount, CA area. From there, we’ve made it our mission to help every student achieve a successful healthcare career.
We have supportive instructors who want you to reach your goals and offer various healthcare programs, like diagnostic medical sonography, massage therapy, phlebotomy, and more.
Make sure to contact us today for enrollment questions, class schedules, financial aid options, and other course information!