Ultrasound School Glen Oaks NY - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Enroll in the Right Ultrasound Technician College near Glen Oaks New York

Glen Oaks NY ultrasound technician with patient Since you have decided to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Glen Oaks NY, the next step is to start the procedure of choosing a school. To begin with, you need to find the ideal program that will furnish the proper training to become a skilled 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 alternatives. But just where does one start? Most potential students will start by looking for colleges that are within travelling distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Naturally location and cost need to be considered when making a decision, but there are other important factors as well. Such as, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they sponsor internships. These and other qualifiers will be addressed more in detail later in this post. But first, let’s review what an ultrasound tech does and the degrees and online training options that are available.

Ultrasound Tech Job Description

Glen Oaks NY sonographer testing pregnant woman There are various 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 procedures on patients. Although a number of techs practice as generalists there are specialties within the field, for example in cardiology and pediatrics. Most work in Glen Oaks NY clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Common daily job duties of a sonogram tech may consist of:

Keeping records of patient case histories and details of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Readying the ultrasound machines for use and then cleaning and recalibrating them
Moving patients to treatment rooms and making them comfortable
Utilizing equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
Evaluating results and determining need for supplemental testing

Ultrasound techs must frequently evaluate the safety and performance of their equipment. They also must adhere to a high ethical standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. In order to sustain that degree of professionalism and remain current with medical knowledge, they are mandated to enroll in continuing education training on a regular basis.

Sonogram Tech Degree Programs Offered

Glen Oaks NY ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Sonogram tech students have the option to acquire either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will normally involve around 18 months to 2 years to complete dependent on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at up to 4 years to finish. Another option for individuals who have already earned 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 take only 12 to 18 months to complete. Something to bear in mind is that the majority of ultrasound technician programs do have a clinical training component as a portion of their course of study. It often may be satisfied by entering into an internship program which many colleges organize with Glen Oaks NY clinics and hospitals. Once you have graduated from any of the degree or certificate programs, you will then have to fulfill the licensing or certification requirements in New York or whatever state you choose to work in.

Online Ultrasound Tech Colleges

woman attending online sonography school in Glen Oaks NY As earlier discussed, nearly all ultrasound technician colleges have a practical component to their programs. So while you can obtain a certificate or degree online, a substantial portion of the training will be either carried out in an on-campus laboratory or at a sponsored off-campus medical care provider. Clinical training can often be fulfilled by means of an internship at a local Glen Oaks NY hospital, outpatient clinic or private practice. But the rest of the training and classes can be accessed online in your Glen Oaks home. This is especially convenient for those individuals that continue working while getting their degrees. In addition online programs are frequently less expensive than on-campus alternatives. Expenses for study materials and commuting may be reduced as well. But similarly as with every sonography program you are considering, confirm that the online program you select is accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is particularly crucial for certification, licensing and job placement (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 school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Ultrasound Tech Programs

Questions to ask Glen Oaks NY ultrasound tech schools Now that you have determined which certificate or degree that you would like to obtain, you can begin the procedure of reviewing and comparing sonogram tech schools. You will first probably want to choose whether you will attend classes online or commute to a school campus in the Glen Oaks NY area. Certainly location will be important if you select the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualifier as well. But there are additional factors that you must also take into account, for example if the programs are accredited and if they provide internship programs. Therefore in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can make your ultimate selection, following are a few questions that you need ask each ultrasound tech school prior to making a decision.

Are the Sonogram Technician Schools Accredited? A large number of sonogram tech colleges have obtained some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. However, it’s still crucial to make sure that the program and school are accredited. Among the most highly regarded 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 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 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 aid and student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And many Glen Oaks NY health facilities will only hire a graduate of an accredited college for entry-level jobs.

Are Internships Offered? Find out if the ultrasound tech colleges you are assessing have relationships with Glen Oaks NY hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a terrific means to obtain hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a means to satisfy the practical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they can help students and graduates establish professional connections in the Glen Oaks healthcare community and assist with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Ask if the ultrasound tech schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with New York healthcare employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and in demand.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Glen Oaks NY home. Those who have opted to attend classes online 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 choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually 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 are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller 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 sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the sonogram technician program also.

Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the sonographer school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Glen Oaks NY area, verify that they are offered. 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 have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Glen Oaks NY?

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

Glen Oaks, Queens

Glen Oaks lies between Grand Central Parkway and Nassau County to the north, Union Turnpike to the south, the Queens/Nassau border (Lakeville Road) to the east, and the Cross Island Parkway to the west. In this area, the Queens/Nassau border separates New York City from the Village of Lake Success to the north. The Queens/Nassau border is referred to locally as "the city line" and is so designated on New York City buses. Union Turnpike is the main commercial road in the area.

The northern edge of Glen Oaks is a line of hills which are part of the terminal moraine of the last glacial period. These hills include the highest point in Queens: 258.2 feet (78.7 m) above sea level.[2] The southern part of Glen Oaks is a glacial outwash plain.[citation needed]

The postal ZIP code zones for this area do not follow political boundaries, even crossing the city line. The easternmost part of the neighborhood is in the 11040 zip code, addressed as New Hyde Park. The northernmost part of the neighborhood—the North Shore Towers complex—is in the 11005 zip code, addressed as Floral Park. The portion of the neighborhood west of Little Neck Parkway—other than the Queens County Farm Museum—is in the 11426 zip code, addressed as Bellerose. Finally, the central part of the neighborhood is in the 11004 zip code, which may be addressed as either Glen Oaks or Floral Park. Since the zip codes cross the city line, they cannot be used as the sole means to determine sales tax rates. This has caused problems for area residents.[3]

North of Glen Oaks is the Little Neck neighborhood. The Queens neighborhoods of Bellerose and Floral Park lie south of Glen Oaks. The Nassau County villages of Bellerose and Floral Park lie south of the Queens neighborhoods with the same names. East of Glen Oaks (past Lake Success) is the unincorporated neighborhood of North New Hyde Park. South of North New Hyde Park is the Village of New Hyde Park. So even though Glen Oaks shares various postal city names with Nassau County villages, it is not adjacent to those villages and is not politically related to them other than being in the same state. The right-of-way of the historical Long Island Motor Parkway is now the southernmost edge of the parking lot of Green Meadows Farm. East of Little Neck Parkway, the Motor Parkway route is now 74th Avenue, including Tenney Park. The route also defines the southern border of the North Shore Towers complex (formerly the Glen Oaks Golf Club).[citation needed]

Find the Right Ultrasound School Glen Oaks NY

Enrolling in the ideal ultrasound technician degree or certificate program is a crucial first step to entering a rewarding new career delivering diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer colleges require that you have a high school diploma or a GED. In addition to satisfying academic requirements, you must be in at least reasonably good physical condition, able to stand for prolonged time frames and able to routinely lift weights of fifty pounds or more, as is it typically necessary to position patients and maneuver heavy machinery. Other desirable skills include technical aptitude, the ability to stay calm when confronted by 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 School. However, as we have discussed in this post, there are multiple questions that you should ask each school you are looking at. This is true whether you select an online degree 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 options until you are left with the best program for your education. And with the proper training, discipline and determination to succeed, you can reach your goal to practice as an sonographer in Glen Oaks NY.