Career

We talked about how to become an Ultrasound Technician previously, let us look at certification and licensing requirements in particular in this article. While it is not a state regulatory requirement it is commonplace for employers to require any newly hired ultrasound technician to be certified as an ultrasound technician by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).  This certification is only given to those ultrasound technicians that have successfully completed an associates degree or better level educational program from an accredited institution, passed an exam given by ARDMS, and commit to adhering to the professional standards and continuing education set forth by ARDMS.  The educational program accreditation must be given by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP).

In addition to their standard certification as an ultrasound technician, the ARDMS also has a series of additional credentials and certifications an ultrasound technician can acquire through one of their specialty credential and certification programs.  In order to achieve a specialty credential or certification as an ultrasound technician you first need to pass their initial exam which is called the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination.  After you have passed that exam then you need to pass their specialty exam.  For example, they have specialty exams in general sonography areas such as the abdomen, fetal echocardiography, neurosonolgy, and obstetrics or they have other certifications in areas such as pediatric echocardiology and even vascular technology.  There are several different credentials and certifications offered through ARDMS and all represent different career paths that an ultrasound technician can strive for as they proceed through their career.

The reason their is such a focus on certification is not only for the benefit of the standard ultrasound technician but also for all of the benefit of the specialties.  Employers are increasingly aware of the fact that they need to have personnel that has been properly trained on all of the latest technological advancements.  Whereas in the past when ultrasound equipment was not changing each year, a technician could be trained and have the same skill set for the rest of their career.  But these days the ultrasound technician needs to be repeatedly certified every few years and needs to be a part of continuing education in order to be fully trained and up to date on the latest in technological developments.  It is the certifying agencies that ensure the technician has mastered this training or they will withdraw certification from that particular ultrasound technician.

This process also ensures to the patient that they are getting the most advanced care available and are being handled by professionals that are fully trained in the latest medical developments.  The hiring of certified ultrasound technicians also insulates the referring medical professionals from lawsuits.  They would have a difficult time explaining to a medical board why they referred a patient to a non certified non credentialed ultrasound technician when there were others that were certified that were available.  The mere existence of a certification program makes the use of those certified by that program almost mandatory from the perspective of any doctor trying to mitigate their exposure to liability.  As a result anyone that is planning to enter this career in the future should plan to follow all of the necessary steps in order to become have ultrasound technician certification.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements to become an ultrasound technician are different today than just a few years ago.  Even though there is no formal requirements given by the medical board or state regulatory agencies, the employers themselves are beginning to set a standard expectation by not hiring any new technicians that have not been formally trained within an education program designed for ultrasound technicians and certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Allie Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP).  These programs are primarily two year programs that are provided by colleges or vocational schools.  If the current trend continues, then it will likely be that in the future there will be a four year college requirement to become an ultrasound technician.

Certification and Licensing Requirements

While there are not any official government sanctioned licenses for ultrasound technicians there is an increasing demand by employers that the technician also be certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).  This organization issues certifications to ultrasound technicians that have graduated from a CAAHEP accredited educational program, have passed a competency exam given by ARDMS, and adhere to the ARDMS code of professional standards and ethics.

The ultrasound technician requirements within the accredited educational programs varies within each program, but certainly includes all of the related skills and information necessary to perform adequately as an ultrasound technician.  This would include mastery of all current ultrasound technology, the ability to interpret, read, and understand ultrasound images, the ability to communicate this analysis in writing and verbally, and the ability to understand all relevant medical terminology to the position.  The educational programs will also include aspects to ensure the future technician is experienced and able to follow written procedures, able to adhere to a time line and deadlines, as well as remain organized and able to complete work on an independent basis.  Of course all of this knowledge would be included and taught within any accredited educational program.

Physical Requirements

There are several physical requirements for an ultrasound technician to adequately perform their job.  The technician first and foremost needs to be able to see well.  They need to be able clearly see detail on paper, in person, and on a video screen.  The ultrasound technician position revolves around the creation of visual images and as such the technician needs to have good vision.  In addition to good vision the technician needs to be able to effective use their motor functions in order to handle the equipment and they need to be able to lift and maneuver patients in order to perform ultrasound tests.  The technician also needs to be able to transport the equipment to the patient, if the patient is not able to come to the technician.  Therefore the technician needs to be physically mobile.  The technician also needs good hearing and speech capabilities in order to effectively communicate with the patients.

Overall the ultrasound technician requirements are increasing as medical technology and diagnostic equipment advances.  The ultrasound technician needs to understand that they are entering a career path that will change over time, require constant learning, and will evolve with advancements in medical technology.

We already talked a bit about the job description and what exactly an Ultrasound Tech does in our previous articles. Let us today take a closer look at some of the job duties of an Ultrasound Technician. The Ultrasound technician has complete responsibility for all aspects of the ultrasound laboratory in which they work.  The laboratory can be simply an office or room within a hospital or a stand alone office or facility.  The ultrasound technician has a job where they interact with patients and their referring doctors on a daily basis but all reports, paperwork, and analysis is the sole responsibility of the technician.  This combination of fully independent work and regular communication with others is one thing that makes the ultrasound technician job attractive.  Some careers are overloaded with interpersonal time and others are filled with independent work without interaction from others.  But the ultrasound technician has a balance of both.

To understand the job duties of an ultrasound technician it would be helpful if we simply discuss a typical day for an ultrasound technician.  This interaction will show the various things the technician is responsible for handling.

When the ultrasound technician comes in for the day they first need to check the schedule of patients that they are going to test for that day.  The technician is solely responsible for keeping and making this schedule. They then need to review the charts and medical documentation for each patient and ensure that the proper medical supplies that will be needed for the day are stocked within the ultrasound lab.  They may also need to contact the doctor’s that have referred the days patients to seek any clarification on the tests that need to be performed.  Now that the supplies are accounted for, and the daily schedule has been checked, and the technician has a clear understanding of the patients needs for that day, the technician is ready to check the equipment.

The technician needs to check all of the equipment daily to ensure that it is properly functioning.  If there are any malfunctions, they need to fix them or get substitute equipment in immediately  in order to handle the days case load.  Once the equipment is checked, prepared, and calibrated for the day they are ready tot meet with patients.

When a patient arrives the technician needs to take great care to ensure that the patient they are seeing and testing matches the medical file they were sent.  An error in tracking or performing the wrong tests can cause a problem, and so the technician makes certain everything matches the file by causally talking with the patient.  The casual conversation will reflect things in the file in order to ensure everything matches.  They then describe the procedures that need to be done with the patient and explain to them what to expect.  Because some procedures are in sensitive areas, the technician needs to be a master at building strong rapport in order to gain cooperation and the trust of the patient.

During the procedure and test, the technician needs to take great care to still communicate to the patient but not to communicate any results of the test. This is because it is up to the technician to perform the test and communicate the results to the doctor only.  The technician is not allowed to interpret the tests because the interpretation is considered a diagnosis and that is something only the doctor can perform.

The technician is however responsible for gaining the best and most precise imaging of the areas they have been requested to test.  The technician is also expected to be cognizant of anything during the test that would require further imaging.  If there is something in the images that the doctor will want to see, even if not ordered, the technician is responsible for providing this extra information to the doctor.  It is not that the technician is performing a diagnosis, but they are responsible for making note of any thing that is abnormal during the tests.

After the patient leaves, the technician is responsible for preparing a full report on the test and the findings.  They then ship that report with the imaging video back to the referring doctor.  The referring doctor will oftentimes contact the technician for clarification on their report and/or images.

The above is a basic detail of an ultrasound technician’s job duties.  While it is far from all inclusive and many ultrasound technicians do not work in this specific type of environment, it shows how the technician is responsible for many different tasks.  They are responsible for their equipment, scheduling, reporting, analysis of patients and test results, reporting back to the doctor, and communicating with referring doctor’s as well as patients.  It also shows how the technician is responsible for one-on-one communication and physical contact with the patient.

This is a high skill and technical profession that utilizes specific testing equipment to assist physicians in making diagnosis for their patients.  The tests that the technician performs uses sonography to make an image of the the internal organs, tissues, and elements within the body of the patient.  This image allows the doctor to understand the internal systems of the patient without having to use an x-ray.  It is increasingly the trend for doctors to avoid x-ray’s and use ultrasound when possible in order to limit the total amount of radiation exposure for the patient.

The ultrasound technician spends a significant amount of their day in one-on-one direct contact with patients.  This is not only conversational but physical contact.  As such anyone that wishes to be a successful ultrasound technician must be comfortable with working physically close to all types of people, even those that have abrasive and difficult personalities as well as those that are physically and even mentally ill.

The technician is also responsible for significant record keeping for patients as well as administrative tracking.  They need to maintain the laboratory schedule as well as ensure that the proper tests are performed on the proper patient and that the patient they are seeing is properly identified and associated with the test ordered.  This may sound routine and as an average expectation, but patient tracking is a critical function for any medical professional because any slight mistake can have dire consequences for the patient.

The ultrasound technician must also have technical skills in analyzing the test results to ensure that the images produced reflect exactly what they referring physician needs to see.  The technician must also use independent judgment to notice when there are additional things in the images that the doctor needs to see more clearly and to ensure the doctor is aware of these additional concerns.  The technician is not a doctor, but is in a position to assist the doctor should they see anything out of the ordinary.  The technician must also make patient reports and observational communication reports to the referring physician on a daily basis.

The ultrasound technician job description is a mix of many high level skills.  They must be excellent communicators in order to make the patient feel comfortable and so the patient will allow what is oftentimes a very intrusive and uncomfortable procedure.  They must make certain the test is accurately delivering what they physician has requested as well as observe the results and the test to document and highlight any additional abnormalities.  They must have the ability to prepare thorough daily reports that communicate all findings to the referring physicians and they must be masters at keeping accurate and very detailed records of every test, procedure, and patient.

In addition to the above the physical demand of the position requires that the technician be able to have physical dexterity in bending, pushing, pulling, and leaning over patients.  They must have the ability to lift over forty pounds and be able to fully use their arms, legs, hands, and wrists.  They must also have good hearing in order to utilize the equipment properly as well as good vision in order to view and understand the images made by the diagnostic equipment.  The technician is also expected to stand for the majority of their day and they must be able to properly distinguish colors that appear on the testing equipment.

Historically there are a variety of ways in which you could have become an ultrasound technician.  But with advancements in technology and laws, most employers are tightening up their requirements for those that want to apply as an ultrasound technician.  For the most part, unless you have some equivalent experience or background, you need to attend an accredited ultrasound technician college or vocational program.  There are some hospitals that have accredited training programs, but most technicians attend some sort of formal educational program as their path of entry into this career.

If you are planning to direct yourself toward this career and you are still in high school then you should take courses that are focused in health, science, biology, and math.  You should also take any interpersonal communication courses that you find offered or available.  These will all be in preparation for your entry into one of the college level ultrasound technician educational programs.

The majority of ultrasound technician educational programs are two year programs for full time students.  There are part time programs available but they will take longer than two years to complete.  There are some universities that offer four year full time programs, these programs are fantastic if you plan on taking your career as an ultrasound technician to the highest levels possible.  It is not to say that you cannot reach the highest levels with a two year program, but you will need to take additional continuing education while working in order to reach the highest levels of this career.

Currently there are not any states nor medical boards that require specific licensing for ultrasound technicians.  But as stated before, the industry is mostly self regulating itself by requiring applicants to have completed accredited ultrasound technician training programs.  In addition to the college level training there are also certifying organizations that will allow the ultrasound technician to become a certified ultrasound technician.  These certification programs are also called registries.  The dominant registry within the United States is the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS),  This organization will only certify you if you have passed their tests, met their requirements, and if you have successfully completed an accredited ultrasound technician educational program.

It is important to note that more employers each year are not simply seeking formally trained technicians but also technicians that are certified and registered by ARMDS.  It would be a safe bet that if you plan to become an ultrasound technician you should direct your efforts toward an accredited program and then certification by the ARDMS.

For advancement within this career you can expect to take continuing education courses that will allow you to specialize in certain areas of ultrasound testing and analysis.  The more specialized your skill set, the more likely you will be able to find advancement throughout your career.  Continuing education will be a matter of life for all ultrasound technicians from now and into the foreseeable future because there will always be a need for the technician to be trained and understand new equipment and technological advancements.

10 Reasons to become an Ultrasound Technician

The ultrasound technician is one of the highest paid positions one can achieve with an associates degree.  In addition to that ,the position has solid growth potential far beyond the associates degree entry level positions.  Over 42 industrial classifications employ ultrasound technicians, according the the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the job itself is highly rewarding.

The following are ten reasons why someone should want to become an ultrasound technician.

1.  Job Outlook.  The outlook for this position is strong into the foreseeable future.  Not only is the population increasing, it is also aging.  With this comes an increased demand for medical procedures.  The ultrasound technician is particularly in demand as doctor’s begin to substitute ultrasound tests in lieu of x-rays whenever possible in order to decrease patient exposure to radiation.

2.  Income.  The ultrasound technician starts at a solid entry level pay and oftentimes can earn upwards of $90,000 annually.  According to CNN the ultrasound technician position is one of the highest paid jobs one can get with an associates degree.  Of course there is always advancement and continuing education available to move far beyond where you start and the overall compensation is great.

3.  Independent.  The postilion itself requires personal and physical interaction, but it also involves a lot of work that is independent of others.  Maintaining records, writing reports, and testing equipment.  All of these are in the job description and can be attractive to people that like to have personal responsibility for their work.

4.  Helping Others.  The job itself is a critical piece in diagnosis for patients.  A good ultrasound technician can make a significant difference in the life of a patient by performing great imaging that will help the doctor diagnose and cure the patient.

5.  Balance.  Just as the position offers a lot of personal responsibility it is also balanced with a lot of communication with patients and doctors.  This balance allows you to never get tired of too much of one or the other.

6.  Work Environment.  Hospitals, medical offices, even testing facilities tend to be great work environments that are pleasant and comfortable.

7.  Benefits.  The majority of ultrasound technicians have strong benefit and pension packages available to them.  Most work within hospitals and have access to excellent medical care.

8.  Satisfaction.  Knowing that you work is appreciated, critical in nature, and completely “up to you” is satisfying in its own right.  When you know that you were the one that was able to make a difference is rewarding, satisfying, and gives you a sense of accomplishment and purpose at the end of each day.

9.  Advancement.  The job itself has a tremendous path for advancement.  From continuing education to becoming a teacher yourself.  The ultrasound technician is never stopped at working in the same positron where they started at the beginning of their career.  There are various opportunities and a variety of career paths.

10.  Self Actualization.  The combination of knowing you made a difference, of seeing patients and doing your part to help them, and being able to be rewarded mentally and monetarily.  This type of position is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a career that is rewarding in more ways than one.

Duties and Responsibilities of an Ultrasound Technician

The ultrasound technician uses specialized equipment that sends sound waves into the body and then a  computer interface interprets the movements of those sound waves in order to create images.  These images show the internal systems, organs, and everything else that is found inside of the patients body.  These images are used by doctors in order to help them formulate a diagnosis for the patient.  This is a professional and technical position and one that is a critical part of medical diagnosis.

The technician first is responsible for the upkeep of the ultrasound laboratory.  They are responsible for the maintenance of the ultrasound equipment and the calibration of the equipment to ensure its accuracy.  They are also responsible for all administrative duties within that laboratory including patient scheduling, writing reports, tracking patients, and even all office related duties such as handling office supplies, medical supplies, and inventory.

When an ultrasound technician is requested to perform a test they must first schedule the appointment and then prepare for the patient prior to arrival.  This preparation includes reviewing the patients chart, the physicians request for tests, and oftentimes communication with the physicians office prior to the test.

When the patient arrives the technician is responsible or making them feel comfortable and welcome.  The technician has to help the patient understand the test, the purpose of the test, and that the test is oftentimes invasive and uncomfortable.  The technician has to be a highly skilled communicator and be comfortable in dealing with people in close proximity and with physical contact.

The technician then prepares the patient by maneuvering them in such a way so as to make the test most effective.  The positioning of the patient is dependent on the test being performed and the area of the body in which the technician needs access.  These tests are sometimes difficult because if the test must be performed on a private area or a part of the body that the patient does not want exposed, then the technician must be able to communicate with the patient and make them feel comfortable.

During the test the technician must observe the results, monitor the equipment, and look for any abnormalities in the results that need to be imaged further or reported to the referring physician.  When the test is complete the patient is able to ask questions and talk to the technician, but the technician is not allowed to discuss findings because the technician is not a medical doctor and not allowed to make a diagnosis.

When the patient leaves, the technician then writes a thorough examination report and analysis of the imaging and tests. The technician will then send the images along with the report to the patient’s doctor.  The doctor will oftentimes call the ultrasound technician for review or clarification of the reports or images.

This is a brief and simple view and answer to the question and trying to understand what an ultrasound technician does on a daily basis. That said, there are many other aspects to their day including billing, continuing education, business development, and consultations.  The position is challenging, highly technical, and relies on strong communication skills.

Ultrasound Technician Overview

An ultrasound technician is the person that performs ultrasound tests on patients.  These tests are ordered by the patient’s primary care physician and the tests are ordered for any number of various reasons.  The technician is responsible for scheduling the test, meeting with the patient, performing the test, and communicating the test results to the physician.  The ultrasound technician is also responsible for maintaining the ultrasound equipment and ensuring the quality and accuracy of the test results.

The ultrasound test itself sends sound waves into the body of the patient and these sonographic waves echo within the body in order to reveal an image of the internal organs and systems of the body on a video screen.  These images can help a physician understand what is making a patient ill and show the physician what is going on inside of the patient without subjecting them to the radiation of an x-ray.  While the test itself appears simple to the observer, it is actually a highly technical operation and requires a highly skilled ultrasound technician.  This is because there are numerous settings for the various ultrasound machines as well as various obstacles and densities of obstruction within the bodies of different patients that make getting a good image from the sound waves difficult.  This is a challenging career that takes a high level of competency and skill to adequately perform the desired tests.

The ultrasound test itself is rarely the same experience between patients and yet the technician is responsible for getting the desired results to the physician.  This means that the technician needs to ensure the test shows what the doctor needs to see.  This becomes difficult when internal organs are difficult to find or parts within the body are disguising what the physician has requested to view.  This is also difficult because oftentimes people are not in perfect physical health and the tests can be very intrusive or awkward on some patients.  As a result the ultrasound technician needs to be an excellent communicator and needs to have excellent interpersonal skills.

Much of the ultrasound technician’s daily duties are interacting with patients.  It is not just the challenge of performing the test in the precise manner necessary for the doctor, it is also in dealing with patients who more often than not are not in the best of physical or mental condition.  This makes the technician’s task more challenging and difficult than it necessary.  This can lead to frustration for both the patient as well as the technician.  As a result the technician needs to have a personality that demonstrates that they care and that they are empathetic and want to help.  The technician needs to be highly professional, ethical, friendly, and patient.

Combine all of these factors and you can understand how an ultrasound technician needs to be highly skilled while working in what is oftentimes a difficult situation.  Their skills needs to reach beyond technical proficiency into technical creativity in order to perform the tests so they can reveal to the referring physician the information they need to make a proper diagnosis.  All of this highly skilled testing needs to be accomplished while working directly with an difficult patient and while making conversation and keeping the patient cooperative.