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Ultrasound Technician Career Opportunities
The increasing use of ultrasound technologies in hospitals, physician’s offices and other medical treatment facilities has created a great ultrasound technician job market for qualified diagnostic imaging professionals. Ultrasound tech jobs pay around $48,000 to $50,000 annually with experienced technicians earning in excess of $66,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The need for ultrasound techs is expected to continue to grow over the next decade with the aging of our population, an increased demand for diagnostic imaging, and the use of ultrasound technologies as an alternative to radiological treatments.
It is anticipated that hospitals will continue to be the primary employer of ultrasound technicians, although an increasing number of ultrasound techs are being employed in physician’s offices and diagnostic centers.
Ultrasound Technologist Job Description
Ultrasound or ultrasonography is the use of images for the assessment and diagnosis of medical conditions. Most of us are familiar with the ultrasound images taken of the fetus in the womb but there are many other uses of ultrasound technology.
High intensity ultrasound is used to treat tumors in a process called focused ultrasound surgery, to deliver chemotherapy drugs to brain cells for the treatment of cancer and in the treatment of cataracts as well as to detect abnormalities in tissues and organs.
An ultrasound tech’s job can include such varied responsibilities as taking an ultrasound patient’s medical history, explaining the ultrasound procedure to the patient, directing the patient how to position themselves to obtain the best ultrasound images, operating, maintaining and adjusting the ultrasound equipment, selecting the best images for the physician to review and keeping patient records.
Many ultrasound technicians specialize in obstetric, gynecologic, abdominal, neuro, or ophthalmic sonography for example.
Who Should Consider an Ultrasound Technician Career?
You are a good candidate for a career as an ultrasound technician if you enjoy and are good working with complex equipment and have the ability to pay close attention to detail. You must have good visual acuity and the physical strength to lift, turn and otherwise assist patients. Most importantly you must enjoy working with patients, be able to communicate clearly and to make your patients comfortable with the ultrasound procedure.
How to Train for an Ultrasound Technician Career
You can find good ultrasound tech training programs in hospitals, vocational schools and technical institutions, in the armed forces and through two or four year college and university programs. Before selecting a training program make sure the program is accredited. The Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs accredits most ultrasound technician training programs.
While there are no state licensure requirements for ultrasound technicians many ultrasound techs choose to become certified. Organizations like the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) certify ultrasound technicians. To become certified the ultrasound tech must pass a general examination and a specialty exam. To keep their registration active, ultrasound technicians must complete on-going continuing education courses designed to provide the technician with information about current advances in the field.
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