Ultrasound Technician Certification In The USA
Ultrasound technician certification in the USA is optional. However, it is recommended by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that an ultrasound technician must be able to avail license from professional organizations such as the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) or the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). Here are the different ultrasound technician requirements before one gets certified by the ARDMS to become an licensed diagnostic medical sonographer.
1. Educational Requirement
Every ultrasound tech is required to finish at least one of the ultrasound technician programs whether he avails certification or not. The most popular degree program taken by the most high school graduates is the associate’s degree program that culminates in two years. The bachelor’s degree program is completed in four years, which offer students more benefits than the two-year associate degree such as high ultrasound technician salary. The one-year certificate programs are intended for the medical professionals employed in the allied health services industry.
2. Clinical training
The completion of an associate’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography taken in ultrasound technician schools that are not accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) will require the graduates to undergo another year of clinical training. This ultrasound technician training will be supervised by the Society of diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS). However, taking the degree program in any of the CAAHEP accredited ultrasound technician schools means that the graduates will no longer take one-year clinical training program supervised by SDMS. The accredited ultrasound technician schools incorporate the clinical training in the curriculum of the students to ensure that these students will qualify in the credentialing examination when they finish the associate’s degree programs.
3. Documents to prove education
An ultrasound sonographer who is interested to acquire certification from ARDMS needs to submit documents such as diploma and official transcript of records in order to prove educational attainment.
4. Clinical Experience Letter for the Medical Professionals
Since one-year certificate programs are intended for allied health services employees, interested graduates of the certificate programs must submit clinical experience letter. This letter should be signed by the supervising physician stating the completion of clinical experience in twelve months. Accredited programs graduates are required to pass a letter stating the completion of program coming from the program director. Together with the clinical experience letter, it is also required to submit clinical verification form of the desired specialty field of the ultrasound technician.
Completion of the ultrasound tech requirements for certification will qualify the graduates to take the registry examination given by ARDMS. Ultrasound sonographers who pass the registry examination will be issued the ultrasound technician license and be called registered medical sonographers. Others may claim that license in the ultrasound sonography field is not important and not required but there are benefits that the licensed sonographers enjoy. Licensed sonographers have the opportunity to be hired in states which license is a requirement. High ultrasound tech salary is offered by medical employers who need licensed ultrasound technicians.