Anyone a Medical Sonographer (ultrasound tech) ? (bachelors, non-degree, schools, accredited)

[KH02]

I would live to go to college to be an medical sonographer, more specifically in the OBGYN area.
I live in CT and am having a hard time finding programs at colleges. Some locla hospitals have training programs but i believe you need a degree first, but in what?
I'm just sort of confused as to how to start a profession such as this?
Thanks!

[ben52284]

This isn't exactly what you were asking for, but I know a few people who got their undergrad degree in physics or biomedical engineering, master's in medical physics, and ended up in medical imaging with starting salaries in 6 figures. If you are interested in a stronger understanding of the fundamentals, this is a great way to get into such a field.

[tchristo]

I have 3 years experience in the field with my A.S. in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and am registered in ABDOMEN and OB/GYN. I went to a Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences in Orlando, FL. It was a GREAT program. There are non-degree programs like Cypress Community College has in Cypress, California. It's an 18 month certificate program (accredited). I live in southern Cali now, and my hospital works with Cypress students for clinical hours. They are just as good when they graduate as people I went to school with in the 2 year program. The most important thing is to find out if the program you are looking at is ACCREDITED for your specialty of interest. This way you can sit for your registry exams after graduation. If your program is NOT accredited, you've wasted your time and money and will find it difficult to find a job.Be patient and prepared to wait on a waiting list. Ultrasound program are usually small and have LONG waiting lists (I waited 1 year, but it was worth it). Get prerequisite classes out of the way (will vary depending on program). Typical prerequisites are English, College Algebra, Intro to Physics, Intro to Computers, etc. Get GOOD grades. These programs are competitive.I didn't go into ultrasound to do OBs but quickly fell in love with doing OB scans. Be prepared to work hard and put in your time before you find the exact position you want. I've been working FT for three years in the hospital setting, 40 hrs/week plus on-call nights and weekends doing every kind of exam except echocardiograms. I just got hired TODAY as a FT tech at an outpatient women's center doing mostly OBs. These positions are not easy to come by. Good luck!

[lisdol]

check the ARRT website for a list of accredited programs in your area.

[purplecrystal]

Checking ARRT website will not help you...it's for radiologic technologists.

Go to sdms.org...Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Click on "career", it will lead you to detaild information on the sonography field.

[lisdol]

Try this

https://www.arrt.org/index.html?cont...ols&iframe=yes

and

http://www.caahep.org/Find-An-Accredited-Program/

caahep list is more comprehensive. I am not sure what the difference is between the two lists. *shrug*

[JPatil]

Thanks Tchristo.
I would like to know how hard is college level algebra because I have foreign bachelors degree in Biology.
I obtained my degree 18 years ago. So I am worried is it worth it to take education and start new career in 40's ? Do they give internships in certificate course?