Become An Ultrasound Technician

There are many applications for ultrasonography--a type of diagnostic imaging--beyond the usual association with obstetrics and prenatal viewing. Ultrasound technicians use the sonar technology to help physicians diagnose a variety of medical conditions.

Become an Ultrasound Technician

As an ultrasound technician, you might be expected to:

• Direct patient position and explain procedures
• Note medical histories
• Operate equipment
• Sort and select images
• Perform equipment maintenance

Ultrasound technician careers may lead to specialization in medical fields like obstetrics and gynecology, gastrointestinal medicine, or neurology. With different career tracks come different benefits and points of interest.

Most ultrasound technicians complete a two-year associate's degree in sonography. Bachelor's degrees are also available for those who want to advance in the field. Other ultrasound technicians may choose to pursue optional certifications in various areas of specialization in order to further their careers.

Ultrasound Technician Careers: Salary and Training

Yearly salary depends on where an ultrasound technician works, but the median annual income in 2009 was $63,010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Most ultrasound technicians are trained in hospitals, vocational schools, colleges with training programs, or the armed forces. In 2008 the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs accredited over 150 programs designed for ultrasound technicians.

Although most states do not require ultrasound technicians to be licensed, there are organizations that offer competency certificates, notably the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 51,000 diagnostic medical sonographers in the U.S. in 2009, and the number is expected to grow over the next ten years.