Ultrasound Tech Associates Degree Windsor Locks CT - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Choose the Right Ultrasound Technician College near Windsor Locks Connecticut

Windsor Locks CT ultrasound technician with patient Since you have made a decision to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Windsor Locks CT, it’s time to begin the procedure of choosing a school. To begin with, you have to find the ideal program that will provide the appropriate instruction to become a qualified professional. And since some states do mandate that sonographers be either certified or licensed, depending on your residence you may also need preparation to pass a certification or licensing exam. So it’s extremely important that you investigate each school in order to assess and compare your choices. But just where does one begin? Most students will start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location should be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are additional important factors as well. Such as, if the ultrasound technician schools are accredited or if they provide internship programs. These and other qualifications will be covered more in depth later in this post. But first, let’s go over what a sonogram tech does and the credentials and online training programs that are available.

Sonogram Tech Work Description

Windsor Locks CT sonographer testing pregnant woman There are more than one acceptable titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. No matter what their title is, they all have the same basic job description, which is to implement diagnostic ultrasound procedures on patients. While many practice as generalists there are specialties within the field, for instance in pediatrics and cardiology. Most work in Windsor Locks CT hospitals, clinics, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Standard daily job duties of an ultrasound technician may consist of:

Keeping records of patient medical histories and details of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Readying the ultrasound machines for testing and then sterilizing and re-calibrating them
Transferring patients to treatment rooms and making them comfortable
Using equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
Reviewing the results and determining need for supplemental testing

Sonographers must routinely evaluate the safety and performance 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 stay up to date with medical knowledge, they are required to complete continuing education training on a regular basis.

Ultrasound Tech Degrees Offered

Windsor Locks CT ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Ultrasound tech students have the opportunity to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will usually require about 18 months to 2 years to accomplish dependent on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as long as four years to finalize. Another alternative for individuals who have already received a college degree is a post graduate certificate program. If you have received a Bachelor’s Degree in any major or an Associate Degree in a relevant medical field, you can enroll in a certificate program that will require only 12 to 18 months to complete. Something to consider is that most sonographer colleges do have a clinical training component as part of their curriculum. It often may be fulfilled by entering into an internship program which numerous colleges organize through Windsor Locks CT hospitals and clinics. Once you have graduated from one of the certificate or degree programs, you will then have to comply with the licensing or certification requirements in Connecticut or whichever state you decide to work in.

Ultrasound Technician Online Schools

woman attending online sonography school in Windsor Locks CT As aforementioned, almost all sonogram technician colleges have a practical requirement to their programs. So although you can receive a degree or certificate online, a substantial portion of the training will be either carried out in an on campus lab or at an authorized off campus facility. Practical training can often be fulfilled through an internship at a local Windsor Locks CT hospital, outpatient clinic or private practice. But the balance of the training and classes may be attended online in your Windsor Locks home. This is particularly convenient for those individuals that keep working while earning their degrees. In addition online colleges are often more affordable than on-campus alternatives. Expenses for study materials and commuting can be decreased as well. But just as with any sonographer school you are looking at, confirm that the online program you select is accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting organizations is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially crucial for licensing, certification and job placement (more on accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to learn outside of the classroom in the comfort of your own home, then an online degree may be the ideal choice for you.

Topics to Ask Sonography Colleges

Questions to ask Windsor Locks CT ultrasound tech schools When you have determined the type of certificate or degree that you would like to earn, you can initiate the process of evaluating and comparing ultrasound tech schools. You may first want to decide whether you will attend classes online or commute to a college campus in the Windsor Locks CT area. Obviously location will be critical if you decide on the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualifier as well. But there are other things that you must also take into account, for instance if the colleges are accredited and if they offer internship programs. So in order to complete your due diligence so that you can arrive at your ultimate selection, below are several questions that you may want to ask each sonographer college prior to making a decision.

Are the Sonogram Technician Colleges Accredited? Most sonogram tech colleges have obtained some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. Even so, it’s still imperative to make sure that the school and program are accredited. Among 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 an extensive evaluation of their instructors and course materials. If the program is online it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. All accrediting organizations 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 help in obtaining financial aid and student loans, which are many times not accessible for non-accredited programs. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And a number of Windsor Locks CT health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry level jobs.

Are Internships Provided? Ask if the ultrasound technician schools you are reviewing have relationships with Windsor Locks CT hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a great manner to obtain hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they may assist graduates and students develop professional connections in the Windsor Locks medical community and help with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help available? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Ask if the ultrasound tech schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Connecticut healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Windsor Locks CT residence. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don’t reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person 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 permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the ultrasound tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the ultrasound tech program you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Windsor Locks CT area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Windsor Locks CT?

If you are considering a Sonography Tech School near Windsor Locks Connecticut, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new school campus.

Windsor Locks, Connecticut

Windsor Locks is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,498.[1] It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region and occupies approximately 1/3 of the town. Windsor Locks is also the site of the New England Air Museum.

Located beside the Connecticut River and equidistant from the densely populated cities of Springfield, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut, Windsor Locks is named for a set of canal locks that opened in 1829. Windsor Locks is situated just south of the first large falls in the Connecticut River, the Enfield Falls, which is the northernmost point that seagoing vessels can reach on the Connecticut River before transferring to smaller ships. The Enfield Falls Canal circumvents the Enfield Falls and its nearby shallows.[2]

Originally part of Windsor, Windsor Locks broke off into its own settlement in 1854[3] after the thriving Enfield Locks going around Enfield Falls which opened in 1829. The Bradley International Airport opened as a military base in 1940, and opened to civilian use in 1947. In 1967 the town boundary was somewhat altered due to the opening of the Bradley Connector. The town boundary between Windsor Locks and Windsor changed several times and was altered with Windsor Locks being on the westbound side and the Windsor side on the eastbound side with the border on the median.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.3 km2), of which 9.0 square miles (23.4 km2) is land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km2), or 3.65%, is water.[1]

Find the Right Ultrasound Tech Associates Degree Windsor Locks CT

Selecting the right ultrasound tech degree or certificate program is a crucial first step to embarking on a gratifying new profession delivering diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer schools require that you have earned a high school diploma or a GED. Along with meeting academic requirements, you must be in at least reasonably good physical condition, capable of standing for prolonged periods with the ability to regularly lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it frequently necessary to adjust patients and maneuver heavy machines. Other beneficial skills include technical proficiency, the ability to stay collected when faced with an angry or anxious patient and the ability to converse in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Ultrasound Tech Associates Degree. However, as we have discussed in this post, there are a number of questions that you should ask each college you are looking at. This is the case whether you choose an online program or travel to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the proper questions so that you can assess each college, you can narrow down your choices until you are left with the best school for your education. And with the proper training, discipline and determination to succeed, you can realize your goal to work as an ultrasound tech in Windsor Locks CT.