subject: Ultrasound Technician School Guide: Ultrasound Tech Career Options [print this page] Ultrasound Technician School Guide: Ultrasound Tech Career Options
The future is bright for ultrasound technicians (also known as ultrasonography technicians). This article offers a general description, educational requirements, and job outlook for prospective ultrasound technician students, as provided by an Ultrasound Technician School.
Ultrasound technicians, also referred to as "ultrasonographers" or simply "sonographers", work to discover what's wrong with patients without surgery, similar to an x-ray machine or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine. Ultrasound technician machines use sound waves to reflect and create an image of the inside of patients. Ultrasound technician schools provide the training technicians need to operate the machine and look for specific indicators or abnormal problem areas in patients. Machines are able to take still pictures for later viewing by physicians. Ultrasound technician schools train students to take measurements, perform calculations and evaluate results, as well as operate machinery skillfully because patient diagnoses are based upon their readings.
As an ultrasound tech, according to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), you can decide to focus your studies in any of the following specialties:
Neurosonography: Neurosonographers use ultrasound technology to focus on the brain and nervous system.Neurosonographers also diagnose and study the nervous system and disorders in premature infants (neonatal care). They also check for stroke, sickle cell anemia, and other abnormalities in the blood vessels.
Abdominal Sonography: Abdominal sonographers diagnose conditions that primarily affect the gallbladder, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, and bile ductsany organ in the abdominal cavity.
OB/GYN Sonography: Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in the female reproductive system, including examining unborn infants and monitoring health and growth.
Breast Sonography: Breast sonographers diagnose abnormalities in breasts that are not seen in mammograms.
Echocardiography: Echocardiographers take sonograms of the heart (which medicine usually refers to as an electrocardiogram) or cardiac ultrasound. Cardio sonographers produce accurate assessments of blood and cardiac tissue, valve areas, and function, and reveal abnormal occurrences between the right and left side of the heart. This can include leaking blood and cardiac output, and septal thicknesses.
An ultrasound technician school will prepare you for an ultrasound technician job in a hospital, physician office, or medical laboratory as well. According to the BLS (Bls.gov), ultrasound tech job prospects are projected to grow faster than other occupations. Learn more about educational requirements and how an ultrasound technician school can help you prepare for your career. Speak with an ultrasound technician school contact to discuss career goals.
Learn more about how you can obtain your certification through an accredited ultrasound technician school and what is required for certification.
