Ultrasound Technician – Career Overview and Education Guide

By Samantha Callis, Author, MHA, ACS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT – Contributor

If you enjoy helping people and working in a dynamic, challenging environment, then a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer may be for you.

Medical sonographers are highly specialized and trained allied health professionals. They work in close concert with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors and radiologists. Sonographers use imaging equipment that emits sound waves, and these waves produce images of the inside of the body. They also help prepare patients for procedures, maintain ultrasound equipment, record patient history and present findings to the medical team.

In our free, comprehensive online guide, our experts will help you learn what a medical sonographer does and how to go about becoming one. The programs are competitive, the coursework is rigorous, and the rewards are many.

Is Sonography the Right Career for You?

First, it’s important to consider if sonography is a good choice for you. It’s necessary to learn the requirements, benefits, and challenges of any potential career path, and sonography is no different.  You will want to research the field and carefully consider whether it is the right fit for you before committing to a program of study. You may also want to speak with current sonographers or attend informational sessions at schools offering programs in diagnostic medical sonography to get a better understanding of the career and what it entails. You may also wish to visit our Student Resource Center, where you’ll find articles and interviews from sonography students and professors from across the country.

Prerequisites for Applying to Ultrasound School

Each ultrasound program is different, but most will have prerequisites that include college-level courses such as:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Math
• General physics
• English composition
• Medical terminology

It is also common for programs to have minimum score requirements in the SAT or TEAS exam.  Some will want documented direct patient-care experience, and volunteer hours can help meet this requirement.

Sonography programs are limited in the number of students that can be admitted each year. Accreditation standards require that there be a certain student to faculty ratio, resulting in a competitive admittance process for applicants. Many programs require that you meet not only the course prerequisites listed above, but in some cases they want you to already have your AA degree. Letters of recommendation are also commonplace and something to think about as you complete your coursework.

Apply to an Accredited Ultrasound Program

Admittance to Ultrasound School is often a selective and competitive process. It’s important to choose the right program for you, make sure it’s accredited, and prepare ahead of time to meet the admittance requirements.

There are many accrediting bodies for schools offering degrees in medical imaging. If possible, select one that has program-level accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). That way, you will be eligible to sit for your credentialing exam offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).  This credential is typically required by employers.

Find an Accredited DMS Program Near You

Click on your state to find a current list of CAAHEP accredited programs in your area.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Ultrasound Technician?

An Associate of Science Degree (AAS) in diagnostic medical sonography is the minimum education required to become a practicing sonographer, which typically takes 2 years of full-time attendance.  Students with an existing degree in a patient-care related field may be able to apply to a shorter-term certificate program.  Prerequisites to enter most degree programs include college-level math, science, and English.

Hands on learning, both in the form of internships and clinical externships, are an important part of the sonography training process. When considering which program to attend, find out what types of experiential learning are offered to students.

Understand the Different Degree Options

Certificate Program

• Approximately 12-18 months
• Designed for current healthcare professionals or those who have already completed some type of higher education
• Prepares students for entry level sonography positions

Associate Degree

• At least 2 years of full-time attendance
• Results in an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree with a specialization in diagnostic medical sonography
• Prepares students to become a practicing sonographer
• Choosing a program that is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is important to be eligible to take examinations through the ARDMS or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) organizations

Bachelor’s Degree

• Approximately 4 years
• Typically results in a Bachelor of Science Degree with a specialization in diagnostic medical sonography
• Prepares students to become a practicing sonographer
• Choosing a program that is accredited through CAAHEP is important to be eligible to take examinations through the ARDMS or CCI organizations
• May provide students with more job opportunities due to the additional length of education and specialty training, allowing them to be eligible for various specialty registry examinations

Whether you choose a two-year or four-year program, it is crucial that you do your research before starting a program. CAAHEP accredited programs have distinguished their quality in educational resources through a rigorous external review process.  Learn more about your options by visiting our degree center.

Specialties in Sonography

Which Specialization is the Best Match for you?

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) offers five different credentials in sonography, which correspond to a main exam and different specialty exams.  There are also a variety of non-clinical career paths available to working sonographers.

Earn Your Credential in Ultrasound

Attendance at a college accredited by CAAHEP will prepare you to sit for national certification exams.  Certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is required by virtually all employers.

The ARDMS is a leading accrediting organization recognized across the United States and around the world. Many states require an aspiring sonographer to become certified in one of the 5 ultrasound specialties offered through the ARDMS by meeting educational and experiential pre-requisites and writing a certification exam.

Other licensing or certification organizations that offer credentials relevant to ultrasound technology include the ARRT (American Registry for Radiologic Technologists), CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) and JCAHPO (Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology).

In certain states, such as New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon, mandatory licensing laws for ultrasound technologists have either been passed or proposed. In these four states, it will be impossible to become a sonographer without receiving a license or certificate.

In states where ultrasound certification is not legally required, most employers still prefer or require an ultrasound technician to be licensed or credentialed. Generally speaking, those who are certified have a competitive advantage over those who are not when searching for employment.

Lynn Nguyen, sonographer and co-host of “Sonographers in the Cities” podcast

Q: What made you decide to pursue sonography as your second career?

A: “I had considered other careers such as PA, like my teenage self had wanted, and nursing. However, I am now older and knew what I definitely wanted in my future career. After some late-nights thinking and researching, I knew DMS would be the right career for me. I wanted a profession where I can excel at a role while simultaneously helping others.”

Learn more about why Lynn chose medical sonography in her recent article.

Samantha Callis

Samantha N. Callis, Author, MHA, ACS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT. Samantha Callis is a sonographer with experience in multi-specialty clinical practice, higher education, and the medical device industry.

She has taught didactic and laboratory coursework in cardiac and general sonography. Her clinical practice areas include obstetrics/gynecology, perinatology, abdominal/small parts, and cardiac sonography. She is passionate about working with and educating physicians, sonographers, advanced practice providers, and industry professionals in ultrasound applications to improve patient care through high quality diagnostic imaging, device development, and ultrasound guided procedural development.

Sam holds three degrees from the University of Southern Indiana: Health Services (’11), Radiologic and Imaging Sciences (’13), and a Master of Health Administration (‘14).

Her book “Diagnostic Medical Sonography – The Definitive Guide to Planning Your Career” was launched in 2023 and has helped students and seasoned professionals alike find success in this rewarding field.  It is available on Amazon.

Updated November 25, 2024