Colleges That Have Sonography Programs Athens GA - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Find the Right Ultrasound Tech Degree Program near Athens Georgia

Athens GA ultrasound technician with patient Now that you have decided to obtain an ultrasound technician degree near Athens GA, it’s time to begin the procedure of picking a school. To begin with, you have to find the ideal program that will furnish the necessary education to become a qualified professional. And given that a number of states do mandate that ultrasound techs be either licensed or certified, depending on where you will practice you may also need preparation to pass a certification or licensing examination. So it’s extremely important that you research each college so that you can assess and compare your choices. But exactly where does one begin? Many individuals will start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Naturally location and cost need to be considered when arriving at a decision, but there are additional significant factors as well. Such as, if the ultrasound technician schools are accredited or if they offer internships. These and other qualifiers will be addressed more in depth later in this article. But first, let’s review what a sonogram tech does and the degrees and online training options that are offered.

Ultrasound Tech Work Summary

Athens GA sonographer testing pregnant woman There are multiple 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 perform diagnostic ultrasound techniques on patients. Even though many work as generalists there are specializations within the profession, for instance in pediatrics and cardiology. Most practice in Athens GA clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Common daily job functions of a sonogram tech can include:

Preserving records of patient case histories and specifics of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Prepping the ultrasound machines for testing and then cleaning 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 necessity for further testing

Ultrasound techs must regularly assess the performance and safety of their machines. They also must adhere to a high professional standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. So as to sustain that level of professionalism and stay current with medical knowledge, they are mandated to enroll in continuing education courses on a regular basis.

Sonogram Technician Degrees Offered

Athens GA ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Sonogram tech enrollees have the option to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will usually involve about 18 months to 2 years to finish dependent on the program and class load. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at up to four years to finalize. Another alternative for individuals who have already 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 relevant medical sector, you can instead choose a certificate program that will take just 12 to 18 months to finish. One thing to keep in mind is that almost all sonographer programs do have a practical training component as a portion of their course of study. It often may be satisfied by entering into an internship program which numerous colleges sponsor with Athens GA clinics and hospitals. When you have graduated from any of the degree or certificate programs, you will then need to comply with the licensing or certification prerequisites in Georgia or whichever state you choose to work in.

Online Ultrasound Technician Programs

woman attending online sonography school in Athens GA As earlier discussed, virtually all ultrasound tech colleges have a clinical requirement to their programs. So while you can earn a degree or certificate online, a substantial part of the training will be either held in an on-campus lab or at an approved off-campus medical care provider. Clinical training can typically be fulfilled through an internship at a local Athens GA outpatient clinic, hospital or private practice. However the balance of the classes and training may be accessed online in your Athens home. This is particularly convenient for those individuals that continue working while getting their degrees. In addition online programs are many times more affordable than on campus options. Costs for study materials and commuting may be reduced as well. But just as with every sonographer program you are looking at, make sure that the online school you select is accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially significant for licensing, certification and job placement (more on accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to learn outside of the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online school could be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Ultrasound Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Athens GA ultrasound tech schools When you have decided on which degree or certificate that you would like to obtain, you can initiate the procedure of evaluating and comparing ultrasound technician schools. You will first probably want to choose whether you would rather attend classes online or commute to a college campus in the Athens GA area. Obviously location will be significant 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 should also take into account, such as if the programs are accredited and if they sponsor internship programs. Therefore in order to complete your due diligence so that you can make your final selection, following are several questions that you may want to ask each sonography program before deciding.

Are the Ultrasound Tech Programs Accredited? Most sonogram tech schools have obtained some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. However, it’s still important to make sure that the program and school are accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting agencies in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Schools receiving accreditation from the JRC-DMS have undergone a detailed examination of their teachers and course materials. If the college is online it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. All accrediting agencies should be acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. In addition to ensuring a premium education, accreditation will also help in getting financial aid and student loans, which are many times not offered for non-accredited schools. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And many Athens GA health facilities will only hire a graduate of an accredited college for entry level openings.

Are Internships Provided? Ask if the sonogram tech colleges you are evaluating have relationships with Athens GA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a great means to receive practical experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they can help students and graduates develop professional relationships in the Athens medical community and assist with job placement.

Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the ultrasound tech schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Georgia healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Athens GA residence. Those who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the sonogram tech program as well.

Does the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the sonographer school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Athens GA area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Athens GA?

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

Athens, Georgia

Athens, officially Athens–Clarke County, is a consolidated city–county and college town in the U.S. state of Georgia. Athens lies about 70 mi (113 km) northeast of downtown Atlanta. The University of Georgia, the state's flagship public university and a Tier I research institution, is in the city and contributed to its initial growth. In 1991, after a vote the preceding year, the original City of Athens abandoned its charter to form a unified government with Clarke County, referred to jointly as Athens–Clarke County.[4] As of 2017[update], the U.S. Census Bureau's estimated population of the consolidated city-county (all of Clarke County except Winterville and a portion of Bogart) was 125,691; the entire county including Winterville and Bogart had a population of 127,064.[5] Athens is the sixth-largest city in Georgia, and the principal city of the Athens metropolitan area,[6] which had a 2017 estimated population of 209,271, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.[7] It is a component of the larger Atlanta–Athens–Clarke County–Sandy Springs Combined Statistical Area, a trading area.[8] The city is dominated by a pervasive student culture and music scene centered on downtown Athens, next to the University of Georgia's North Campus.[9] Major music acts associated with Athens include numerous alternative rock bands such as R.E.M., the B-52's, Widespread Panic, Neutral Milk Hotel and the Indigo Girls.

In the late 18th century, a trading settlement on the banks of the Oconee River called Cedar Shoals stood where Athens is today. On January 27, 1785, the Georgia General Assembly granted a charter by Abraham Baldwin for the University of Georgia as the first state-supported university. Sixteen years later, in 1801, a committee from the university's board of trustees selected a site for the university on a hill above Cedar Shoals, in what was then Jackson County. On July 25, John Milledge, one of the trustees and later governor of Georgia, bought 633 acres (256 ha) from Daniel Easley and donated it to the university. Milledge named the surrounding area Athens after the city that was home to the Platonic Academy of Plato and Aristotle in Greece.[10]

The first buildings on the University of Georgia campus were made from logs. The town grew as lots adjacent to the college were sold to raise money for the additional construction of the school. By the time the first class graduated from the university in 1804, Athens consisted of three homes, three stores, and a few other buildings facing Front Street, now known as Broad Street. Completed in 1806 and named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin College was the first permanent structure of the University of Georgia and of the city of Athens. This brick building is now known as Old College.

Athens officially became a town in December 1806 with a government made up of a three-member commission.[11] The university and town continued to grow with cotton mills fueling the industrial and commercial development. Athens became known as the "Manchester of the South" after the city in England known for its mills. In 1833 a group of Athens businessmen led by James Camak, tired of their wagons getting stuck in the mud, built one of Georgia's first railroads, the Georgia, connecting Athens to Augusta by 1841, and to Marthasville (now Atlanta) by 1845. In the 1830s and 1840s, transportation developments and the growing influence of the University of Georgia made Athens one of the state's most important cities as the antebellum era neared the height of its development. The university essentially created a chain reaction of growth in the community which developed on its doorstep.[12]

Find the Right Colleges That Have Sonography Programs Athens GA

Choosing the right ultrasound tech degree or certificate program is an important first step to commencing a rewarding new career providing diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician schools require that you have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. Along with satisfying academic requirements, you must be in at least reasonably good physical condition, capable of standing for lengthy time frames with the ability to regularly lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it often necessary to adjust patients and move heavy machinery. Additional preferred talents include technical aptitude, the ability to remain collected when confronted by an anxious or angry patient and the ability to communicate in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Colleges That Have Sonography Programs. However, as we have discussed in this article, there are several questions that you should ask each program you are looking at. This is true whether you enroll in an online degree or travel to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the proper questions so that you can evaluate each college, you can narrow down your options until you are left with the ideal program for your education. And with the proper training, dedication and motivation to succeed, you can achieve your goal to practice as an ultrasound technologist in Athens GA.