Ultrasound Technician: Job Description, Education & Career Prospects

The field of diagnostic imaging offers a number of career opportunities. If you have an interest in diagnosing medical conditions, becoming an ultrasound technician may just be the right career option for you. To kick start a career in this field, it is essential to equip yourself with all the information about job responsibilities, technical job skills, educational qualification and training, employment opportunities and job outlook. Below, you can read about it all and make a well informed decision about the degree programs and courses you should enroll in.

Job Responsibilities
During an ultrasonography of an individual, sound waves are used to generate images for diagnosing a variety of medical conditions. The technology is also sometimes used to view the fetus in the womb. However, this is just one application of ultrasonography. Technicians use this technology to diagnose multiple medical conditions in patients. These technicians are also referred to as sonographers or ultrasonographers. These professionals use multiple sonographic equipment for directing high-frequency sound waves into specific body parts of an individual.

Images produced during the imaging procedure are either videotaped or photographed. They are later reviewed by the physician to make appropriate diagnosis of patients' medical conditions. Many ultrasound technicians also choose to specialize in abdominal sonography, gynecologic sonography, obstetric sonography, ophthalmic sonography, neurosonography etc.

Typical job duties of an ultrasound technician are as follows -

Explaining the diagnostic imaging procedure to the patient
Maintaining the record of any relevant medical history
Operating/ maintenance of the equipment
Informing the patient about appropriate movements to obtain best images
Selecting diagnostic images which are best for physician review

In addition to performing the typical duties mentioned above, ultrasound technicians may also have the responsibility of looking after equipment purchase, managing the diagnostic center and preparing working schedules among others.

Educational Qualification & Training
To become an ultrasound technician, candidates need to be well trained. There are several technical schools and colleges that offer training in diagnostic medical sonography. If you get enrolled in a degree program, you may choose to complete a 2 year or a 4 year degree program. Candidates can also receive adequate training in hospitals. While getting enrolled, students need to ensure that the training programs have been accredited by accreditation boards. The Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs have given their accreditation to a number of formal training programs.

Ultrasound technicians do not need to fulfill any licensure requirements. However, they can get certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers to gain a competitive edge over others. There are some other organizations as well to certify technicians.

Other Job skills
Apart from being formally trained, candidates should also possess some other essential skills to make the most of their careers. These skills include communication skills, patient interaction skills, attention to detail, physical stamina to help patients turn and lift, record patient information with accuracy, visual acuity to select best images for physician review and diagnosis etc.

Career Outlook
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an employment growth rate faster than the average of all other occupations. Majority of ultrasound technicians are employed in hospitals while others remain employed at diagnostic centers and physician offices. Though hospitals are still the biggest employers, the demand for ultrasound technicians will also increase in physician office and diagnostic imaging centers over the next decade.

Annual Salary
Salaries of ultrasound technicians will vary depending on the industry segment and the years of experience they possess. They earn an annual salary ranging between $48,660 and $ 66,680. Those who work in physician offices earn an average salary of around $50,390 annually. Those who are employed in hospitals draw and average annual salary of $47,530.