Sonography Associates Degree Highland Park MI - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Select the Right Ultrasound Technician Degree Program near Highland Park Michigan

Highland Park MI ultrasound technician with patient Now that you have made a decision to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Highland Park MI, it’s time to begin the procedure of selecting a college. First, you need to find the right program that will furnish the necessary education to become a skilled professional. And since a number of states do mandate that sonographers 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 very important that you investigate each college so that you can assess and compare your options. But exactly where does one begin? Most students will start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location must be taken into account when making a decision, but there are additional critical factors as well. Such as, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they provide internship programs. These and other qualifiers will be covered more in depth later in this article. But to start with, let’s go over what an ultrasound tech does and the degrees and online training programs that are offered.

Ultrasound Technician Work Description

Highland Park MI sonographer testing pregnant woman There are more than one professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. Regardless of name, they all have the same primary job function, which is to perform diagnostic ultrasound techniques on patients. Although a number of techs practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in pediatrics and cardiology. Most practice in Highland Park MI clinics, hospitals, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. Standard daily work functions of an ultrasound tech may involve:

Preserving records of patient case histories and details of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Preparing the ultrasound machines for use and then sterilizing and re-calibrating them
Transferring patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
Utilizing equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
Reviewing the results and determining necessity for further testing

Sonographers 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 maintain that level of professionalism and stay up to date with medical knowledge, they are mandated to enroll in continuing education programs on a regular basis.

Sonogram Tech Degrees Available

Highland Park MI ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Sonogram tech students have the choice to acquire either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will usually require around 18 months to 2 years to accomplish depending on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as long as 4 years to finalize. Another alternative for individuals who have already earned a college degree is a post graduate certificate program. If you have obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in any major or an Associate Degree in a related health sector, you can enroll in a certificate program that will take just 12 to 18 months to finish. Something to keep in mind is that most sonographer colleges do have a clinical training component as a portion of their course of study. It can often be satisfied by taking part in an internship program which many colleges sponsor through Highland Park MI hospitals and clinics. Once you have graduated from one of the degree or certificate programs, you will then need to satisfy the certification or licensing prerequisites in Michigan or whatever state you decide to practice in.

Online Ultrasound Technician Colleges

woman attending online sonography school in Highland Park MI As previously mentioned, virtually all sonogram technician schools have a practical requirement to their programs. So although you can obtain a certificate or degree online, a significant portion of the training will be either held in an on campus laboratory or at an authorized off campus facility. Clinical training can usually be fulfilled by means of an internship at a local Highland Park MI hospital, outpatient clinic or family practice. But the remainder of the classes and training may be attended online in your Highland Park home. This is especially beneficial for those individuals that keep working while obtaining their degrees. In addition online colleges are frequently less expensive than on campus options. Expenditures for study materials and commuting can be reduced also. But similarly as with any ultrasound tech school you are looking at, verify that the online program 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 crucial for certification, licensing and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to attend classes outside of the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online degree could be the ideal option for you.

Subjects to Ask Sonogram Tech Schools

Questions to ask Highland Park MI ultrasound tech schools After you have determined which degree or certificate that you would like to obtain, you can start the procedure of evaluating and comparing sonogram tech schools. You will first probably want to choose whether you will attend classes online or travel to a school campus in the Highland Park MI area. Certainly location will be significant if you select the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an important qualifier as well. But there are other factors that you must also take into consideration, for instance if the schools are accredited and if they provide internship programs. So in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can make your final selection, following are several questions that you need ask each sonography college before deciding.

Are the Sonogram Technician Schools Accredited? Most ultrasound tech colleges have obtained some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. Even so, it’s still crucial to confirm that the school and program 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). Programs obtaining accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through an extensive evaluation of their teachers and course 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 organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Along with guaranteeing a premium education, accreditation will also help in getting financial aid and student loans, which are many times not offered for non-accredited programs. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And numerous Highland Park MI employers will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry level openings.

Are Internship Programs Offered? Find out if the sonogram technician colleges you are evaluating have partnerships with Highland Park MI clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a terrific way to receive practical experience in a clinical setting, they are also a means to fulfill the clinical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they can assist graduates and students establish professional relationships in the Highland Park healthcare community and assist with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the sonographer programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Michigan healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Highland Park MI residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the ultrasound tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the ultrasound tech school you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Highland Park MI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Highland Park MI?

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

Highland Park, Michigan

Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the State of Michigan, within Metro Detroit. The population was 11,776 at the 2010 census. The city is completely surrounded by Detroit except for a small portion that touches the city of Hamtramck, which is also surrounded by Detroit.

The area that was to become Highland Park began as a small farming community, on a large ridge located at what is now Woodward Avenue and Highland, six miles (9.7 km) north of Detroit. In 1818, prominent Detroit judge Augustus B. Woodward bought the ridge, and platted the village of Woodwardville in 1825. The development of the village failed. Another Detroit judge, Benjamin F. H. Witherell, son of Michigan Supreme Court justice James Witherell, attempted to found a village platted as Cassandra on this site in 1836, but this plan also failed.[5]

By 1860, the settlement was given a post office under the name of Whitewood. After a succession of closures and reopenings of the rural post office, the settlement was finally incorporated as a village within Greenfield Township and Hamtramck Township under the name of Highland Park in 1889.[6]

In 1907, Henry Ford purchased 160 acres (65 ha) just north of Manchester Street between Woodward Avenue and Oakland Street to build an automobile plant. Construction of the Highland Park Ford Plant was completed in 1909, and the area's population dramatically increased just a few years later in 1913, when Henry Ford opened the first assembly line at the plant. The village of Highland Park was incorporated as a city in 1918[7] to protect its tax base, including its successful Ford plant, from Detroit's expanding boundaries.

Find the Right Sonography Associates Degree Highland Park MI

Selecting the right ultrasound tech degree or certificate program is an important first step to initiating a gratifying new career delivering diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician schools require that you have a high school diploma or a GED. Along with satisfying academic standards, you need to be in at least reasonably good physical health, able to stand for lengthy time frames with the ability to routinely lift weights of fifty pounds or more, as is it frequently necessary to adjust patients and maneuver heavy machinery. Other preferred talents include technical aptitude, the ability to stay levelheaded when confronted by an anxious or angry patient and the ability to communicate clearly and compassionately. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Sonography Associates Degree. However, as we have covered in this article, there are several questions that you need to ask each school you are considering. This is the case whether you enroll in an online program or travel to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the appropriate questions so that you can compare each program, you will be able to narrow down your choices until you are left with the best program for your education. And with the proper training, dedication and motivation to succeed, you can reach your goal to practice as an ultrasound technologist in Highland Park MI.