Being an ultrasound tech entails a career that will provide sable and high paying job. An ultrasound technician is responsible in providing the initial diagnosis of the patient’s disease. This is done by subjecting the patient into the sound waves emitted by the ultrasound machine. It is also the technician’s responsibility to make sure the patient is in the best position to capture clear images of the patient’s organs and veins. Obstetrics and gynecological sonography is the most well-known specialty in ultrasound technology where the technician generates clear pictures of the fetus inside the womb of the pregnant mother.
Many people are aspiring to become ultrasound technicians because the career is financially rewarding and offers several perks. Here are some of the explanations why many view the career of ultrasound tech as an attractive profession.
The work destination of the ultrasound sonographer after completing his degree is in hospitals, doctor’s offices, laboratories, and medical offices. Ultrasound sonographers are expected to have a working environment that doesn’t denote exposure to radiation when compared to the working environment of the x-ray technician. There are usually no unpleasant factors in the working area of the medical sonographers. Most of the time, the only hard part of the work is standing all throughout the work period to examine and get images from the patient’s inside organs and veins. Just like other medical professionals, the sonographers are required to work 40 hours a week but can change shifts throughout the week. There are times when the technician is requested to be on-call in hospitals during non-working days. These types of less attractive shifts are normally done by the newest technicians in the team or those who have the least seniority.
In the United States, several ways are possible to become a certified ultrasound tech. Some learn the skill while doing service in the US military. Some medical professionals get the training offered by their medical employers. However, most of the technicians acquired education and expertise from sonography schools. These are vocational, training institutes, schools, community colleges and 4-year bachelor degrees universities. When opting to study ultrasound technology, just make sure that the programs offered by any school are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
License as ultrasound sonography is optional however there are states in the USA where a license is a must. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there is a brighter future for those who are licensed as ultrasound sonographers. The credentialing examinations are done by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Ultrasound technician salary is very good. Those who acquired the associate degrees and the bachelor degrees earn more than those who just acquired one-year certification. Usually, the sonographers earn between $55,000 and $75,000 annually. The average income for them is $65,000 annually. However, these figures are only rough estimates and there are several factors that affect the salary range for medical sonographers. These factors are the years of experience, city of employment and state of employment. Generally, those who are employed for 15 years earn more than those who are working for a year. Technicians working in key cities compared to sub-urban communities have a higher salary range.
Many people are working hard to become licensed sonographers in the future because of the many rewards the profession can offer. With the unending opportunity to have a good job and high paying employment as ultrasound tech, deciding to pursue a career in this medical sub-field is indeed rewarding.
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