Florida is the second state with the highest employment rate for diagnostic medical sonographers in the US, next only to California. With over 4,720 sonographers working in FL by May 2012, there are only a few hundred sonographers less than CA who had 5,180 sonographers employed during the same time. Due to the high volume of nurses employed in the state, the number of ultrasound technician training programs has also been on the rise in 2014.
Getting started on your training to become a sonographer
- Choose a program. Choose the kind of program you want to take. Do you want a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor degree? Do you want to take general sonography, cardiac sonography, or another specialty? These choices will affect what college you’re going to and where you will work at as a sonographer.
- Find a college that has the program you want and has the kind of learning environment that’s best for you. Choosing a school does not have to focus only on the program, it also has to focus on your needs as a student.
- Get the dates for enrolment and a list of requirements. This will help to complete everything you need earlier, rather than rushing to complete all of the program requirements.
CAAHEP-accredited schools
There are currently 21 schools in Florida that offer diagnostic medical sonography education programs. Out of these 21, only 5 schools have cardiac sonography training programs. Because these schools are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs, they are best schools that you can train at to become a sonographer.
Miami Dade College
950 NW 20th street, Miami
Miami Dade College has one available cardiac sonography training program, an associate degree. Associate degrees take two years or a total of 24 months to complete. The DMS program at MDC is completed in six semesters, with the program averaging a total of 40 hours in a week. Approximately 2,000 hours are spent in clinical rotations over 2 years.
Contact information:
Dahlia Sanchez-Suarez
Program Director
(305) 237-4245
[email protected]
Cambridge Institute of Allied Health
Suite 340, Delray Beach
The Cambridge Institute of Allied Health as DMS programs available in two campuses but only the campus on Delray Beach offers training in cardiac sonography, the other campus offers a certification program. The associate degree offered is completed in 28 months, just a few months over 2 years. The program is focused on giving students hands-on training in a variety of specializations, especially cardiovascular sonography.
Contact information:
Cynthia Abromitis
Program Director
(561) 381-4990
[email protected]
Broward College
1000 Coconut Creek Boulevard
North Campus, Building 41, Coconut Creek
Also offering an associate degree concentrating on cardiac sonography, Broward College’s DMS program runs for exactly 24 months. There are 72 semester hours total for the entire program, wherein a C-average or better is needed to graduate.
Contact information:
Karen Hoban
Program Director
(954) 201-2089
[email protected]
For more information about accredited cardiac sonography programs in Florida and other states, visit the website managed by Lisa.
Miami Dade College
950 NW 20th street, Miami
Miami Dade College has one available cardiac sonography training program, an associate degree. Associate degrees take two years or a total of 24 months to complete. The DMS program at MDC is completed in six semesters, with the program averaging a total of 40 hours in a week. Approximately 2,000 hours are spent in clinical rotations over 2 years.
Contact information:
Dahlia Sanchez-Suarez
Program Director
(305) 237-4245
[email protected]
Cambridge Institute of Allied Health
Suite 340, Delray Beach
The Cambridge Institute of Allied Health as DMS programs available in two campuses but only the campus on Delray Beach offers training in cardiac sonography, the other campus offers a certification program. The associate degree offered is completed in 28 months, just a few months over 2 years. The program is focused on giving students hands-on training in a variety of specializations, especially cardiovascular sonography.
Contact information:
Cynthia Abromitis
Program Director
(561) 381-4990
[email protected]
Broward College
1000 Coconut Creek Boulevard
North Campus, Building 41, Coconut Creek
Also offering an associate degree concentrating on cardiac sonography, Broward College’s DMS program runs for exactly 24 months. There are 72 semester hours total for the entire program, wherein a C-average or better is needed to graduate.
Contact information:
Karen Hoban
Program Director
(954) 201-2089
[email protected]
For more information about accredited cardiac sonography programs in Florida and other states, visit the website managed by Lisa.
Sonography in Florida
By mid-2012, there were almost 5,000 sonographers working in Florida. They earned $58,760 annual income during that time, from an hourly rate of $28.25. While this quite low when compared to the nationwide average annual income of $66,360, it still higher than the average income for the entire state of Florida, which was at $40,930 annual from the $19.68 hourly rate. The time for ultrasound technician training has never been better.