Sonography is an important diagnostic procedure used in health care facilities all over the world. This procedure is able to create images of internal organs using non-invasive techniques – surgical or otherwise. With California as both the top paying state and the state with the highest employment level for sonographers in 2012, sonographers flocked to CA in 2013. As more and more people choose a career in sonography, the number of schools for ultrasound technician continues to grow in the state as well.
Sonography in California
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest report show that the state of California paid sonographers the highest in 2012, possibly contributing to the state employing the highest number sonographers compared to other states in the country. Out of the 57,700 sonographers employed in the US in 2012, 5,180 of them were working in California. Sonographer pay in CA were the highest compared to other states as well, with sonographers an hourly mean wage of $40.49, amounting to $84,220 annually.
Starting out a career sonography
How to become a sonographer is the most common question asked by prospective undergraduates hoping to study in the diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) program. There are three kinds of programs. (1) Certificate courses are 12 months long and can typically be found in technical-vocational schools and community colleges. (2) Associate and (3) Bachelor degree programs can be found in numerous colleges and universities in the country, taking 2 and 4 years respectively to complete.
Regardless of time it takes to complete, the DMS program always has two parts, lectures and laboratory exercises in the first half and hands-on clinical training in the second half. Basic GEDs or diplomas are the only requirements for certificate programs and bachelor degree programs. Those applying for associate degree programs are required to have completed all general education classes.
Regardless of time it takes to complete, the DMS program always has two parts, lectures and laboratory exercises in the first half and hands-on clinical training in the second half. Basic GEDs or diplomas are the only requirements for certificate programs and bachelor degree programs. Those applying for associate degree programs are required to have completed all general education classes.
Choosing a school in CA
The best schools that offer sonography training are schools that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CAAHEP currently has over 200 accredited schools that offer the DMS program to undergraduates and postgraduates (a complete list here and sorted by state here). Nine of these schools can be found in California, two in Southern California.
Here are the two CAAHEP-accredited schools found in Southern California:
1. University of California San Diego Medical Center
200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego
www.ucsd.edu
Contact details: Nannette Forsythe / (619) 543-6617 / [email protected]
Program: Certificate in General Sonography
2. Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
www.orangecoastcollege.edu
Contact details: Cynthia Lynn Reber-Bonhall / (714) 432-5531 / [email protected]
Program: Associate degree in General Sonography
Accredited schools prepare students to sit for the ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers) exam, a certification exam for sonographers. In the absence of a formal licensing body, employers typically request an ARDMS certificate from potential sonographer employees. While graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited school isn’t required to take the exam, students who do find completing the requirements and passing the exam easier.
This 2014, the trend for sonographer employment and salaries in California are expected to continue upward. Likewise, the number of schools for ultrasound technician will grow as well. This is in tune with the predicted 45.3% improvement in job outlook for sonographers in the country between 2010 and 2020.
Here are the two CAAHEP-accredited schools found in Southern California:
1. University of California San Diego Medical Center
200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego
www.ucsd.edu
Contact details: Nannette Forsythe / (619) 543-6617 / [email protected]
Program: Certificate in General Sonography
2. Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
www.orangecoastcollege.edu
Contact details: Cynthia Lynn Reber-Bonhall / (714) 432-5531 / [email protected]
Program: Associate degree in General Sonography
Accredited schools prepare students to sit for the ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers) exam, a certification exam for sonographers. In the absence of a formal licensing body, employers typically request an ARDMS certificate from potential sonographer employees. While graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited school isn’t required to take the exam, students who do find completing the requirements and passing the exam easier.
This 2014, the trend for sonographer employment and salaries in California are expected to continue upward. Likewise, the number of schools for ultrasound technician will grow as well. This is in tune with the predicted 45.3% improvement in job outlook for sonographers in the country between 2010 and 2020.