Diagnostic Medical Sonography Careers and Jobs

Medical imaging is important in diagnosing many health problems. While x-ray and magnetic resonance machines were once the most popular forms of medical imaging, today sonography is growing in popularity. Sonography has traditionally been used to check the developing fetus during pregnancy, but it can also be used to produce images of organs, muscles, and other parts of the body. As this becomes more widely used in the medical world, the demand for diagnostic medical sonography professionals will only continue to rise. Could this be the right job for you?

Diagnostic medical sonographers typically choose one of several specialties to help focus their talents. The most common sonographer careers include:

Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers
Abdominal sonographers
Neurosonographers
Breast sonographers

Obstetric and gynecologic (OB-GYN) sonographers are among the most popular in this career field, as they use sonography to monitor pregnancies, which is the safest imaging option for the fetus. Abdominal sonographers, on the other hand, specialize in diagnosing conditions of the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, and spleen. Occasionally, abdominal sonographers also use sonographic technology to scan the chest, though other machines are often more popular for diagnosing conditions in this area.

One growing area of diagnostic medical sonography is neurosonography. Professionals who work in this area of medical imagining use sonographic equipment to scan the brain and other parts of the nervous system. The machines used by neurosonographers use different frequencies and beams to create images. Another type of sonography that uses different frequencies and beams is the breast sonographer, which studies tissue through high-frequency beams. Breast sonographers diagnose breast cancer, which affects millions of women — and some men — every year.

Working as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

To work as a diagnostic medical sonographer, no matter what specialty you choose, you need a solid education to help you find a job. Some employers hire and train those with just a high school diploma, but this is becoming increasingly rare. There are also one-year training programs, which provide you with a certificate for sonography, but these programs are not accredited with the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs. However, there are nearly 150 two-year and four-year programs that are accredited, and most employers like to see one of these programs on your resume. As a sonographer, you don’t need any special license, but some registry programs are available, which can help you land a job after graduation.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 53,700 sonographers in the United States as of 2010, mostly working state, local, and private hospitals, and earning a median salary of $64,380. Between 2010 and 2020, employment for medical sonographers is expected to rise about 44 percent, which is faster than average expected job growth across all industry. That means that today is the perfect time to consider a diagnostic medical sonographer career. Be sure that the program you choose is properly accredited to ensure that your degree will be accepted by future employers.

Earn a Healthcare Service Degree Online

If you already have a job and don't have time for rigid class schedules, earning a degree online is the way to go. With the degree programs listed below, you can earn your health services degree in as little as one or two years. Although there aren't any specific sonography degrees online, a related health services degree is just what you need to jump start your career as an ultrasound tech.

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AS in Health IT	DeVry University — The associate's degree program in health information technology from DeVry University, while not an ultrasound technologist degree program, is a related healthcare service program which prepares its students to manage electronic health information systems and work with healthcare applications. HIT professionals work with nurses, physicians, diagnostic medical sonography techs, and more in myriad health organizations.
AS in Medical Assisting	Herzing University — Herzing University has an associate's degree in medical assisting program, which is not the same thing as an ultrasound technologist program, but is very similar, that is focused on preparing students to become the next generation of healthcare leaders with knowledge of advanced medical technologies, such as health systems databases, songraphy equipment, and more.
BS in Health Services	Virginia College — Please note that this is not an ultrasound technologist degree. The BS degree in health services management offered by Virginia College Online offers a thorough teaching across a wide spectrum of healthcare topics. This program will prepare individuals for a career in healthcare management, a step above being a general sonographer.
AAS in Medical Assisting	Kaplan University — The Associate of Applied Science degree in medical assisting from Kaplan University is not a sonography program, but might make a good background for the field . It provides an entry-level education perfectly suited for those wishing to go into a career in diagnostic medical sonography. Students of this program will learn all the basic skills required of any medical assistant.
AS in Health IT	Hodges University — Hodges University's online Associate of Science in Health Information Technology program, while not an ultrasound technologist degree program, is a related healthcare service program which prepares its students to understand and support the information needs of the healthcare industry. Students who graduate with an HIT degree become proficient in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems, and coding the diagnoses and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients.