There are a few ways for aspiring medical sonographers to enter this field (often called ultrasound technicians). You have a choice between professional diagnostic medical sonography degree programs and programs leading to ultrasound technician certification. Whichever route you take, both are excellent options for pursuing a rewarding career in the allied health sector.
What is sonography?
The field of ultrasound technology known as sonography, or diagnostic medical sonography, focuses on using ultrasounds to detect, diagnose, and treat disease in the body’s soft tissues and organs. While medical sonographers work with patients who have particular medical conditions, they also perform many of the same tasks as ultrasound technicians. As an illustration, sonographers who collaborate with oncologists might frequently use ultrasound equipment to assess and identify irregularities in organs and tissue. As a medical sonographer, you might work with a variety of patients to find and diagnose bodily abnormalities, chronic illnesses, and other health problems.
What is an ultrasound tech?
To keep track of bodily conditions, an ultrasound technician or tech uses ultrasound technology. These specialists use ultrasound technology to produce an image of a patient’s body part to identify the origins of illness and injury, keep track of the health of the fetus during pregnancy, and offer additional information about patient health so doctors and other medical professionals can assess, diagnose, and treat patients under their care.
To document treatment recommendations, patients’ medical information, and arrange medical records, ultrasound technicians frequently collaborate with a group of doctors, nurses, and medical assistants. They also deal directly with patients, so they need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to deliver top-notch care.
Ultrasound tech vs. sonography
While there are some areas where the duties of an ultrasound technician and a sonographer are similar, there are also some areas where they can be different.
Career specialization
Although sonographers and ultrasound technicians typically carry out similar tasks, the biggest distinction between the two professions is the area of focus or specialization. Since all of the body’s systems can be examined using sonography, most ultrasound technicians and sonographers decide to specialize in one area of the medical field. Examples include obstetrics, oncology, abdominal, and cardiovascular sonography. Due to the variety of specialties you can choose from, you might also need to satisfy various educational and licensing requirements.
Educational requirements
Depending on the specialty you want to pursue, there may be different educational requirements for you to start your career. For instance, ultrasound technicians who want to become certified in cardiovascular sonography frequently go through coursework and educational programs with a focus on the cardiovascular system, heart disease diagnosis, and other research on heart health and disease prevention.
A different level of education, such as a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree, may be necessary depending on your career field. For instance, some employers may require medical sonographers to have at least an associate’s degree, and some may require ultrasound technicians to have a bachelor’s degree. Regardless of the career path you choose, the majority of educational programs include coursework in biology, patient care methods, ultrasound technology, anatomy and physiology, and equipment.
Certifications
Depending on their area of expertise, ultrasound technologists and sonographers can obtain a variety of certifications. Medical sonographers and ultrasound technicians may hold different certifications, for instance:
Average salary
FAQs about ultrasound technology and diagnostic medical sonography
Refer to the following FAQs for more information about the careers in ultrasound technology and diagnostic medical sonography:
Where do ultrasound techs and sonographers work?
Doctors use sonographic images to diagnose patients and create treatment plans, so ultrasound technicians and sonographers frequently work in hospitals, healthcare facilities, and other clinical settings. Hospital ultrasound technicians and sonographers may deal with a variety of patients with a range of conditions, including illness, disease, injury, and abnormal bodily conditions. Sonographers may concentrate on providing care for pregnant patients in more specialized settings, such as an obstetrician’s office.
Whats the job outlook for ultrasound technology and sonography?
How can ultrasound techs and sonographers advance their careers?
Both ultrasound technicians and diagnostic medical sonographers can advance their careers by continuing their education, earning certifications, and taking on more responsibility in other medical fields. For instance, medical sonographers who have an associate’s degree could continue their studies to get a bachelor’s degree. In other cases, ultrasound technicians may pursue radiology degrees to increase their earning potential and broaden their knowledge of medical and diagnostic imaging. Sonography is a fantastic career path that can lead to advanced medical training and professions in the future because it can be a way to enter the healthcare industry.
What is Diagnostic Medical Sonography? | Sonographer vs Ultrasound Tech | SITC Episode 1
FAQ
What is the highest paid ultrasound Tech?
The distinction between a sonogram and an ultrasound Sonogram and ultrasound are frequently used synonymously. There is a distinction between the two, though: An ultrasound is a device used to take a picture. A sonogram is the picture that the ultrasound generates.
What is higher than an ultrasound tech?
- Neuro (brain) sonography: $112,000.
- Pediatric cardiac sonography: $80,000.
- Cardiac sonography: $79,000.
- Vascular sonography: $68,000.
- Ob/gyn sonography: $68,000.
