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Ultrasound Technician Careers
Like many occupations in the healthcare field, ultrasound technician careers are taking off, offering motivated individuals real opportunity for employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for ultrasound technicians is expected to increase for the next ten years.
Become an Ultrasound Technician
If you choose to become an Ultrasound Technician, you will operate sonography (ultrasonography) equipment, which uses high frequency sound waves through a transducer to generate an image for assessing and diagnosing a variety of medical conditions.
One of the most common uses is during pregnancy when sonographers usually spread a special gel onto the skin to aid the transmission of sound waves in a conical or rectangular beam.
Ultrasound technicians include diagnostic medical sonographers for:
- Obstetric and gynecologic sonography
- Abdominal sonography
- Neurosonographers focusing on the nervous and circulatory systems
- Breast sonographers
- Keeping patient records and adjusting equipment
Ultrasound Technician Jobs (OR) Ultrasound Technician Employment Outlook
There are great opportunities for anyone desiring to become an Ultrasound Technician. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to grow much faster than average (27% or more) for the decade ending 2014, driven by no-radiation sonography becoming an increasingly popular alternate to other procedures and a greater number of healthcare facilities in need of Ultrasound Technicians.
Ultrasound technicians, also known as diagnostic medical sonographers, use sound as a diagnostic tool to examine soft tissues inside the human body. Ultra sound is used in many areas of healthcare, but particularly pregnancy, allowing doctors to observe and monitor the progress of the fetus in a non-invasive fashion.
Career Prerequisites - Ultrasound Technician
Most ultrasound tech careers require an associate's or bachelor's degree. Areas of study include anatomy and physiology, medical terminology and instrumentation, as well as physics, mathematics, and medical ethics. Additionally, new techs must complete trainee programs under the supervision of a qualified technician, teaching them how to work with patients and other medical staff.
There is no state or federal licensing requirement for ultrasound technicians. However, many register with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers to establish their professional competency. Increasingly, this registration is becoming a condition of employment for ultrasound technicians.
Salary Forecast - Ultrasound Technician
Ultrasound technician salaries averaged around $48,500 in 2002, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, salaries are likely to increase as demand for ultrasound technicians continues to rise.
Promotion prospects are also good in this career area. In fact, many professionals from other medical fields are retraining themselves to pursue ultrasound tech careers.