How to Find the Right Ultrasound Technician School near Kings Bay Georgia
Since you have decided to obtain an ultrasound technician degree near Kings Bay GA, the next step is to begin the process of selecting a school. First, you have to find the right program that will furnish the proper training to become a skilled professional. And given that some states do mandate that ultrasound techs be either certified or licensed, depending on your residence you may also need preparation to pass a certification or licensing exam. So it’s very important that you investigate each school in order to evaluate and compare your choices. But just where does one start? Most individuals will start by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location need to be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are other important factors also. Such as, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they sponsor internship programs. These and additional qualifiers will be covered more in detail later in this post. But first, let’s review what an ultrasound tech does and the credentials and online training programs that are available.
Sonographer Occupation Description
There are multiple professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called ultrasound technologists, sonogram techs, and diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers). Regardless of name, they all have the same basic job function, which is to perform diagnostic ultrasound testing on patients. While a number of techs practice as generalists there are specialties within the profession, for example in cardiology and pediatrics. Most work in Kings Bay GA hospitals, clinics, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. Typical daily job functions of an ultrasound technician may include:
- Preserving records of patient medical histories and specifics of each procedure
- Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
- Readying the ultrasound machines for usage and then sterilizing and re-calibrating them
- Moving patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
- Using equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
- Evaluating results and identifying necessity for further testing
Sonographers must regularly assess the performance and safety of their equipment. They also are held to a high ethical standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. In order to sustain that level of professionalism and remain up to date with medical knowledge, they are required to enroll in continuing education courses on an ongoing basis.
Sonogram Tech Degrees Offered
Ultrasound technician enrollees have the opportunity to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will normally take around 18 months to 2 years to accomplish depending on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at up to 4 years to finish. Another alternative for individuals who have previously earned a college degree is a post graduate certificate program. If you have earned a Bachelor’s Degree in any major or an Associate Degree in a related health field, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to finish. One thing to consider is that the majority of sonographer schools do have a clinical training element as a portion of their course of study. It can often be fulfilled by participating in an internship program which numerous colleges sponsor through Kings Bay GA clinics and hospitals. After you have graduated from any of the degree or certificate programs, you will then have to fulfill the certification or licensing prerequisites in Georgia or whichever state you elect to work in.
Sonographer Online Programs
As earlier discussed, almost all ultrasound technician colleges have a practical requirement to their programs. So although you can obtain a degree or certificate online, a substantial portion of the training will be either held in an on campus lab or at an approved off campus facility. Practical training can typically be satisfied through an internship at a local Kings Bay GA outpatient clinic, hospital or family practice. However the remainder of the training and classes may be accessed online in your Kings Bay home. This is especially convenient for those students that keep working while getting their degrees. Plus online programs are frequently more affordable than on-campus options. Costs for commuting and study materials may be lessened also. But just as with any sonographer college you are looking at, make sure that the online school you select is accredited. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is particularly crucial for licensing, certification and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to learn away from the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online school may be the ideal choice for you.
Topics to Ask Ultrasound Technician Programs
After you have determined which degree or certificate that you would like to earn, you can begin the process of reviewing and comparing sonogram technician schools. You may first want to choose whether you will access classes online or travel to a school campus in the Kings Bay GA area. Naturally location will be critical if you select the latter, and the price of tuition undoubtedly will be an important qualification as well. But there are other variables that you should also take into consideration, for instance if the colleges are accredited and if they sponsor internships. Therefore in order to complete your due diligence so that you can arrive at your ultimate selection, following are a few questions that you may want to ask each sonography college prior to making a decision.
Are the Ultrasound Tech Colleges Accredited? The majority of ultrasound tech schools have received some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still imperative to confirm that the program and school are accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting organizations in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Programs obtaining accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through a rigorous review of their teachers and educational materials. If the college is online it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. All accrediting agencies should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides guaranteeing a quality education, accreditation will also assist in acquiring financial assistance and student loans, which are many times not available for non-accredited programs. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And a number of Kings Bay GA employers will only hire graduates of an accredited school for entry level positions.
Are Internships Provided? Ask if the sonogram tech colleges you are evaluating have associations with Kings Bay GA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a great way to receive hands on training in a clinical environment, they are additionally a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a supplemental benefit, they can assist graduates and students develop professional relationships in the Kings Bay health care community and help with job placement.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Ask if the ultrasound tech programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Georgia healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Kings Bay GA residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the ultrasound technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the sonographer school you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Kings Bay GA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.
Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Kings Bay GA?
If you are considering a Sonography Tech School near Kings Bay Georgia, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new school campus.
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy located adjacent to the town of St. Marys in Camden County, Georgia, on the North River in southeastern Georgia, and 38 miles (61 km) from Jacksonville, Florida. The Submarine Base is the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's home port for U.S. Navy Fleet ballistic missile nuclear submarines armed with Trident missile nuclear weapons. This submarine base covers about 16,000 acres (6,400 hectares) of land, of which 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) are protected wetlands.
Early in the 19th century, much of what is now the submarine base was the site of several plantations, including Cherry Point, Harmony Hall, New Canaan, Marianna and Kings Bay. Beginning in the 1790s, Thomas King built a plantation along the bay. John Houston McIntosh built a considerably larger plantation known as New Canaan, where he grew cotton and sugar cane.
The plantation system declined following the Civil War, and the land was broken up into smaller holdings. No residents were paid the going rate for the land that was used to build the submarine base.[citation needed] One land owner was paid four thousand dollars for 62 acres of deep water land. Such residents harvested shrimp, fish and other seafood, and trapped and hunted to supplement small-scale farming of corn, sugar and other vegetables.
The US Army began to acquire 7,000 acres (28.33 km2; 10.94 sq mi) of land at Kings Bay in 1954 to build a military ocean terminal to ship ammunition in case of a national emergency. Construction began in 1955 and was completed in 1958. A 200' wide channel was dredged to Cumberland Sound, and included two turning basins.[1]
Find the Right Ultrasound Education Kings Bay GA
Enrolling in the right sonographer certificate or degree program is a crucial first step to commencing a rewarding new career providing diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer programs require that you have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. Apart from meeting academic requirements, you must be in at least fairly good physical condition, able to stand for extended durations and able to routinely lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it typically necessary to adjust patients and maneuver heavy machinery. Other helpful skills include technical proficiency, the ability to remain levelheaded when faced with an angry or anxious patient and the ability to converse clearly and compassionately. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Ultrasound Education. However, as we have addressed in this article, there are several questions that you should ask each school you are considering. This is the case whether you choose an online program or drive to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the right questions so that you can assess each school, you can narrow down your alternatives until you are left with the best program for your education. And with the right training, discipline and motivation to succeed, you can achieve your goal to work as an ultrasound tech in Kings Bay GA.
Other Ultrasound Locations in Georgia
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
