Becoming An Ultrasound Technician

If you are currently working as an ultrasound technician you probably already know that your role is in serious demand. There simply isn’t enough qualified staff to meet the demand and this isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

Improvements in medical science have opened up a wide and exciting range of career options. Technology is advancing at a rapid pace and the need for qualified people who can work with and interpret the results from these new technologies is growing.

Ultrasound Technician

In the old days, surgeons had no option but to operate in order to see what was happening inside the body. X rays are only useful in a relatively small number of cases i.e. those involving bones. Ultrasounds on the other hand are non invasive and diagnostic, and can be used on most soft tissue areas but cannot pass through gas or bone so are not used with the lungs or for bone problems.

They are not painful although some patients find them a little frightening. The technology uses sound waves to help the trained ultrasound technician to identify and diagnose problems in soft tissue. In addition to abnormalities in babies, they can also be used to identify the presence of growths and tumors. It can also be used in conjunction with invasive procedures such as needle biopsies as the ultrasound produces real time images.

The older technology was invented originally in the First World War when it was used to track submarines. It didn’t become commonly used in the medical field until the 1950s and 60s but has become widely popular due to the low cost and lack of side effects. There are no radiation issues. Advances in technology means that you can now see moving pictures as opposed to still images.

The popularity of the sonographer role may in part be due to the relatively high ultrasound technician salary you can earn after a short period of study.

So how do you become an ultrasound technician?

Ultrasound technicians or diagnostic medical sonographers as they are also called are usually certified but this is not yet mandatory. If you want to benefit from higher salaries and better job prospects you will become certified and register with The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). You must pass an examination and you can do have the option to specialize in Obstetric and Neurosonography, Gynecologic Sonography and Abdominal Sonography. Once you have been registered you can use the initials RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers).

It takes between one and four years to qualify depending on your previous education, the program you are taking and whether you are looking for a certificate or degree.

What can you expect to study at ultrasound technician school?

In order to become a registered diagnostic medical sonographer or ultrasound technician as it is more commonly known, everyone must pass the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation Examination in addition to at least one of the speciality exams. It is up to you which type of ultrasound technician school you choose. Some students like the flexibility of studying online but for others the local college will be the preferred option.

Either way, make sure it has been accredited as otherwise the credits you build up will not count towards the mandatory education requirement set by the ARDMS. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography doesn’t endorse any school or education program so be very wary of any company claiming that it does.

The SPI exam i.e. the one that everyone must pass will examine you on the following topics:

• Patient care
• Physics principles i.e. ultrasound waves and the interaction with tissue etc.
• Ultrasound traducers
• Pulse echo instrumentation
• Quality Assurance

You must any additional speciality examinations you wish to take within five years of passing your SPI examination or you will have to re-sit it.

In addition, as you need clinical experience in order to sit the speciality exams, you should opt for an ultrasound technician school that offers a paid clinical internship or externship.

According to the ARDMS, you can obtain your clinical ultrasound experience in one of two ways: (1) being employed as an ultrasound/vascular sonographer in a clinical setting for a minimum of 12 months, or (2) successfully completing a formal, full-time ultrasound program that is a minimum of 12 months in length and includes appropriate clinical and didactic hours. You should be involved with at least 800 diagnostic cases in the speciality area for which you are applying.

Don’t think you can get around this requirement by doing volunteer work at your local hospital. They do not accept experience gained as a veteran or instructor either. If in doubt it is best to check your personal situation with them.

What other ultrasound technician requirements should I be aware of?

In addition to educational qualifications it is worth bearing in mind that you will be working mainly with sick people either those suffering from long term illnesses, having exploratory procedures or recent accident victims. Dealing with the general public can be difficult at the best of times but when people are worried or ill they can become even more challenging.

Medical personnel need to have certain characteristics including patience, empathy, social perceptiveness, critical thinking skills as well as the ability to communicate effectively. If you specialize in obstetrics you may have to tell a pregnant lady there is something wrong with her baby. It takes a special person to deliver sensitive information in a caring fashion. Although it is not critical to your career as an ultrasound technician you should ideally have an interest in people.