How to Choose the Right Ultrasound Technician School near Phippsburg Maine
Since you have made a decision to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Phippsburg ME, it’s time to begin the procedure of selecting a school. To begin with, you must find the ideal program that will furnish the appropriate education to become a skilled professional. And because some states do require that sonographers be either certified or licensed, depending on where you will practice you may also need preparation to pass a licensing or certification exam. So it’s very important that you research each program so that you can evaluate and compare your alternatives. But just where does one begin? A number of prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location need to be taken into account when making 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 covered more in detail later in this article. But to start with, let’s discuss what a sonogram tech does and the degrees and online education programs that are offered.
Ultrasound Tech Job Description
There are more than one acceptable titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also referred to as ultrasound technologists, sonogram techs, and diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers). No matter what their title is, they all have the same primary job description, which is to perform diagnostic ultrasound techniques on patients. Although a number of techs practice as generalists there are specialties within the field, for example in pediatrics and cardiology. The majority practice in Phippsburg ME hospitals, clinics, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Standard daily work functions of a sonogram technician can involve:
- Preserving records of patient case histories and details of each procedure
- Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
- Prepping the ultrasound machines for usage and then cleaning and recalibrating them
- Moving patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
- Using equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
- Evaluating results and determining need for additional testing
Sonographers must regularly evaluate the performance and safety of their machines. They also are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. So as to sustain that degree of professionalism and stay current with medical knowledge, they are required to enroll in continuing education training on a regular basis.
Ultrasound Tech Degree Programs Offered
Ultrasound technician students have the choice to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will typically require around 18 months to 2 years to finish depending on the program and class load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as long as four years to finalize. Another option for individuals who have previously 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 related health sector, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to complete. One thing to keep in mind is that almost all sonographer colleges do have a clinical training component as part of their curriculum. It often may be fulfilled by participating in an internship program which numerous schools sponsor with Phippsburg ME clinics and hospitals. Once you have graduated from one of the degree or certificate programs, you will then have to comply with the licensing or certification prerequisites in Maine or whichever state you decide to work in.
Ultrasound Tech Online Colleges
As earlier discussed, almost all ultrasound tech schools have a clinical component to their programs. So while you can obtain a degree or certificate online, a substantial portion of the training will be either conducted in an on campus laboratory or at a sponsored off-campus facility. Clinical training can typically be fulfilled through an internship at a local Phippsburg ME hospital, outpatient clinic or family practice. However the rest of the training and classes can be accessed online in your Phippsburg home. This is especially beneficial for those individuals that continue working while getting their degrees. In addition online programs are many times less costly than on-campus alternatives. Costs for study materials and commuting can be decreased as well. But just as with any ultrasound tech college you are considering, check that the online school you enroll in is accredited. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially significant for licensing, certification and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are motivated enough to attend classes outside of the classroom in the comfort of your own home, then an online degree may be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Sonogram Tech Programs
Now that you have determined which degree or certificate that you would like to earn, you can start the procedure of assessing and comparing sonogram technician colleges. You will first probably want to decide whether you would rather attend classes online or commute to a school campus in the Phippsburg ME area. Naturally location will be important if you select the latter, and the price of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualifier also. But there are other factors that you should also take into account, such as if the schools are accredited and if they offer internship programs. So in order to perform your due diligence so that you can arrive at your ultimate selection, below are some questions that you need ask each sonographer program prior to making a decision.
Are the Sonogram Tech Programs Accredited? Most ultrasound tech colleges have received some type of accreditation, whether regional or national. However, it’s still crucial to make sure that the program and school are accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting agencies 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 evaluation of their teachers and educational materials. If the school is online it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. All accrediting agencies should be acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. In addition to guaranteeing a quality education, accreditation will also help in getting financial assistance and student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And many Phippsburg ME health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited school for entry-level jobs.
Are Internship Programs Offered? Find out if the ultrasound technician schools you are assessing have partnerships with Phippsburg ME clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent way to receive practical training in a clinical setting, they are additionally a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they may assist students and graduates establish professional relationships in the Phippsburg health care community and assist with obtaining employment.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the ultrasound tech programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Maine healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Phippsburg ME home. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of 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 get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the sonogram tech program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the ultrasound tech program you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Phippsburg ME area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.
Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Phippsburg ME?
If you are considering a Sonography Tech School near Phippsburg Maine, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new school campus.
Phippsburg, Maine
Phippsburg is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States, on the west side of the mouth of the Kennebec River. The population was 2,216 at the 2010 census. It is within the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine, metropolitan statistical area. A tourist destination, Phippsburg is home to Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Fort Popham State Historic Site; it is also home to Fort Baldwin which overlooks Fort Popham, and Popham Beach State Park, as well as Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge. The town includes part of Winnegance.
Site of the Popham Colony, Phippsburg was — between 1607 and 1608 — the first known English settlement attempt in New England. During its brief existence, colonists built Virginia of Sagadahoc, the first ship in Maine's long history of shipbuilding.[4]
The next British settlement at the mouth of the Kennebec River began in 1653; Thomas Atkins, a fisherman, purchased from the sachem Mowhotiwormet, commonly called Chief Robinhood, the southern end of Phippsburg (with the exception of Popham). Atkins Bay bears his name. The population gradually increased until King Philip's War, when Indians in August 1676 attacked the eastern side of the Kennebec River, massacring and scalping the colonists, or else carrying them into captivity. Dwellings were burned and stocks of cattle killed. The entire area was abandoned.[5]
Resettlement commenced in 1679 at Newtown, located on the southern end of Arrowsic Island (across the river from present-day Phippsburg Center). About 1684, Francis Small had a trading post at Cape Small, which bears his name. But in 1689 the area was again destroyed and deserted during King William's War. With the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1713, conflict was formally ended between the Abenaki Indians and English settlements. In 1714, Newtown was reestablished, then incorporated in 1716 as Georgetown-on-Arrowsic by the Massachusetts General Court. Also in 1716, the Pejepscot Proprietors established a little fishing village called Augusta at the Small Point Harbor area of Phippsburg. Dr. Oliver Noyes, director of the colony, erected a stone fort 100 feet (30 meters) square to protect it. In 1717, Governor Samuel Shute held a conference at Georgetown-on-Arrowsic with tribal delegates, who arrived in a flotilla of canoes and encamped on Lee Island.[6]
Find the Right Sonography Degree Online Phippsburg ME
Picking the ideal sonographer degree or certificate program is a vital first step to launching a rewarding new career furnishing diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer programs require that you have earned a high school diploma or a GED. In addition to satisfying academic requirements, you must be in at least fairly good physical condition, able to stand for prolonged durations with the ability to routinely lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it often necessary to position patients and maneuver heavy equipment. Other beneficial skills include technical proficiency, the ability to remain levelheaded when faced with an anxious or angry patient and the ability to converse clearly and compassionately. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Sonography Degree Online. However, as we have covered in this article, there are several questions that you should ask each school you are reviewing. This is the case whether you choose an online degree or travel to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the right questions so that you can compare each school, you will be able to narrow down your choices until you are left with the ideal school for your education. And with the right training, dedication and determination to succeed, you can reach your goal to practice as an sonographer in Phippsburg ME.
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