Interested in a career in sonography? This article can help answer many of the questions you may have.
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Sonography is a painless non-invasive procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body.
The Sonographer specialist uses a transducer that produces sound waves into the body in order to visualize anatomy, physiology and pathology. They create a video and a report for the physician. Diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in different parts of the body.
The main difference is semantic; both sonography and ultrasound technology diagnose ailments using ultrasound technology. In most instances “sonographer” and “ultrasound tech” are interchangeable terms, but sonographers are required to complete additional training and certifications. For this reason, many prefer to be called a sonographer over ultrasound technician.
Sonographers are in demand and are paid an excellent starting salary. The career is like many advanced care provide careers. Your work provides valuable information for patient care and is a skilled job with mental stimulation and variety.
Many education paths are available for prospective sonographers, but the most common is a 2-year degree through an accredited sonography training program. Bachelor’s degrees are also available, as are 1-year certificate programs in sonography for persons already trained in another healthcare field.
Accreditation – The accrediting body for medical sonography programs is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health/Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CAAHEP has accredited 150 programs, including those offered by colleges and universities, as well as some hospital training programs.
Admissions Requirements – Make sure to research the admissions requirements of programs that interest you. Vocational, associate and bachelor’s programs may specific courses in math, health, and/or sciences.
Career Goals/ Specialization – Because specialization is so common in sonography, be sure that your program of choice offers your desired specialty. Vascular and cardiac sonography are two particularly specialized programs that not all schools offer.
Curriculum – Look over the program curriculum and make sure that yours provides plenty of hands-on experience. Because sonography is a very hands-on, technical profession, this might be the most important part of your education.
You can become certified by completing a 2- or 4-year program. You can earn a credential by passing the ARDMS sonography assessments.
You can find hundreds of sonography-specific positions from around the country on UltrasoundJOBS by ARDMS, the largest ultrasound-related career site.
Abdominal Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce pictures of the structures within the upper abdomen. It is used to help diagnose pain or distention (enlargement) and evaluate the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen and abdominal aorta.
In order to successfully compete for a job as sonographer you will need to sit for the licensure test, you will also need academic credentials and work experience. A certification will give you a professional pride and higher standing in your chosen career field if you choose to work in industry, academia or clinical.
To earn a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential with an AB specialty, you must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the BR examination within five years. After passing the SPI examination, you can earn additional credentials without having to retake the SPI examination, provided you maintain active status.
You may look at many internet job sites including: Indeed.com, UltrasoundJOBS by ARDMS and Pronto.com.
Breast ultrasound imaging of the breast uses sound waves to produce pictures of the internal structures of the breast. It is primarily used to help diagnose breast lumps or other abnormalities that may have been found during a physical exam, mammogram or breast MRI.
In order to successfully compete for a job as sonographer you will need to sit for the licensure test, you will also need academic credentials and work experience. A certification will give you a professional pride and higher standing in your chosen career field if you choose to work in industry, academia or clinical.
To earn a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential with a BR specialty, you must pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the BR examination within five years. After passing the SPI examination, you can earn additional credentials without having to retake the SPI examination, provided you maintain active status.
The American Society of Breast Surgeons Society’s breast ultrasound certification program is to improve the quality of care for patients with breast disease by encouraging education and training to advance expertise and clinical competency for surgeons who use ultrasound and ultrasound-guided procedures in their practices.
You may look at many internet job sites including: Indeed.com, UltrasoundJOBS by ARDMS and Pronto.com.
A neurosonographer performs ultrasounds on the brain and nervous system of their patients of all ages. Also called neurosonology or neuroimaging, neurosonography utilizes specialized beam shapes and frequencies from a Transcranial Doppler (TCD) unlike traditional obstetric and abdominal sonography machines.
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Employers often require neurosonographers to obtain certification, which is available through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Individuals can obtain the ARDMS designation of Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) when the successfully complete the Neurosonology (NE) RDMS credentialing examination. However, as of , ARDMS discontinued the NE RDMS in favor of a Pediatric Sonography (PS) specialty. Those who have the NE RDMS can utilize their certification until or until their 10-year recertification cycle is complete.
You may look at many internet job sites including: Indeed.com, UltrasoundJOBS by ARDMS and Pronto.com.
Obstetrical and gynecological sonography, commonly referred to as OB/GYN ultrasound, is a diagnostic imaging modality specialty. Obstetrical (OB) sonography refers to the use of ultrasound to visualize and determine the condition of a pregnant woman and her fetus.
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To earn a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential with an OB/GYN specialty, you must pass the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination and the OB/GYN examination within five years. To sit for the OB/GYN examination and earn the RDMS credential, First-Time Applicants must select a prerequisite that best meets your education and clinical experience.
You may look at many internet job sites including: Indeed.com, UltrasoundJOBS by ARDMS and Pronto.com.
Echocardiography, is a painless test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. The pictures show the size and shape of your heart. A type of echo called Doppler ultrasound shows how well blood flows through your heart’s chambers and valves.
In order to successfully compete for a job as sonographer you will need to sit for the licensure test, you will also need academic credentials and work experience. A certification will give you a professional pride and higher standing in your chosen career field if you choose to work in industry, academia or clinical.
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ARDMS (American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers) administers examinations and awards credentials including the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography and vascular technology. RDMS®¹ Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer®, RDCS® Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer®, and RPVI® Registered Physicians Vascular Interpretation®.
You may look at many internet job sites including: Indeed.com, UltrasoundJOBS by ARDMS and Pronto.com.
Vascular ultrasound is the general term for a non-invasive painless test that uses high-frequency sound waves to image blood vessels including arteries and veins. The veins in the legs are compressed and the blood flow is assessed to make sure the vein is not clogged.
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ARDMS RVT Prerequisites
To obtain the RVT credential, you must meet the examination prerequisites and pass the physics and the VT specialty examination within five years:
Physics Examination:
• Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI)
Specialty examination:
• Vascular Technology (VT) – Available on demand
You may look at many internet job sites including: Indeed.com, UltrasoundJOBS by ARDMS and Pronto.com.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints throughout the body. It is used to help diagnose sprains, strains, tears, and other soft tissue conditions. Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, and does not use ionizing radiation.
In order to successfully compete for a job as sonographer you will need to sit for the licensure test, you will also need academic credentials and work experience. A certification will give you a professional pride and higher standing in your chosen career field if you choose to work in industry, academia or clinical.
The Musculoskeletal sonographer (MSKS) examination is a windowed examination that is administered during select times of the year at Pearson VUE test centers. Scores for each windowed examination period are available approximately 60 days after the testing period ends.
Physicians and advanced care providers are eligible to earn the RMSK certification. The MSK examination requires applicants to be licensed, practicing physicians or advanced care professionals who have clinical musculoskeletal ultrasound experience. Please consult the full list of prerequisites to see if you qualify to apply for the musculoskeletal ultrasound certification.
The MSK examination takes four hours to complete and contains 200 questions. You’ll be assessed on your knowledge and abilities in the areas of muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons and soft tissues of the body. In order to earn your MSK ultrasound certification, you need to demonstrate that you have basic competency of the subject. Scores for each examination period are available approximately 60 days after the testing period ends.
Expand and validate your diagnostic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) expertise for hospital credentialing and privileging committees while receiving a standardized approach to diagnostic POCUS training.
The only Diagnostic POCUS Certificate Program created by anesthesiologists for anesthesiologists has been enhanced for . This five-part program is designed to help you develop and demonstrate mastery of diagnostic ultrasound of the heart, lungs, and abdomen (stomach and peritoneal cavity), pelvis, and bladder. – the POCUS organ systems identified by both the ABA and ACGME as core competencies for practicing anesthesiologists. However, image acquisition training (part 4) offers two purchase options.
Earn digital badges to recognize and validate your qualifications in each content area and share them on your LinkedIn or other platforms.
Part 1: Performance Improvement (PI) Action Plan (Optional)
Part 2: Evidence of Prior Diagnostic POCUS Training: CME/ACGME Certificates
Part 3: Image Interpretation Training: Online Case-Based Diagnostic POCUS Module
Part 4: Image Acquisition Training: Portfolio of Diagnostic POCUS Studies Performed
Part 5: Take the final exam and earn your certificate of completion
Claim credits incrementally after Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 of the course and culminate in a certificate of completion to help you demonstrate competence in diagnostic POCUS to hospital credentialing and privileging committees.
Military members and nonmembers receive discounted pricing on this program. Please note the discount will automatically be applied upon the final steps of check-out. View pricing information.
Group discounts are available for 10+ users. If interested in a group purchase, please submit an interest form or contact Group Education Sales to learn more.
Close —The American Society of Anesthesiologists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists designates this enduring material for a maximum of 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology™ program and MOCA® are registered trademarks of The American Board of Anesthesiology®. MOCA 2.0® is a trademark of the American Board of Anesthesiology®.
This activity contributes to the CME component of the American Board of Anesthesiology’s redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology™ (MOCA®) program, known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.
This activity contributes to the Part 4: Improvement in Medical Practice requirement of the American Board of Anesthesiology’s (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0™. Earn up to 10 points for completion of the activity. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists remains strongly committed to providing the best available evidence-based clinical information to participants of this educational activity and requires an open disclosure of any potential conflict of interest identified by our faculty members. It is not the intent of the American Society of Anesthesiologists to eliminate all situations of potential conflict of interest, but rather to enable those who are working with the American Society of Anesthesiologists to recognize situations that may be subject to question by others. All disclosed conflicts of interest are reviewed by the educational activity course director/chair to ensure that such situations are properly evaluated and, if necessary, resolved. The American Society of Anesthesiologists educational standards pertaining to conflict of interest are intended to maintain the professional autonomy of the clinical experts inherent in promoting a balanced presentation of science. Through our review process, all American Society of Anesthesiologists activities are ensured of independent, objective, scientifically balanced presentations of information. Disclosure of any or no relationships will be made available for all educational activities.
Disclosures:
Anahi Perlas, MD, FRCPC has disclosed consulting fees with FUJI FILM Sonosite. Linda Shore-Lesserson, MD has disclosed consulting fees with CSL Behring. All relevant financial relationships for the planners of this activity have been mitigated.
All other planners, faculty, and staff have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.
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