Online Associates Degree In Sonography Palisades NY

How to Select the Right Ultrasound Tech Degree Program near Palisades New York

Palisades NY ultrasound technician with patient Now that you have made a decision to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Palisades NY, it’s time to begin the process of selecting a college. To begin with, you must find the ideal program that will provide the proper education to become a qualified professional. And because some states do require 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 research each program so that you can evaluate and compare your alternatives. But exactly where does one begin? Most students will start by looking for colleges that are within travelling distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Certainly location and cost must be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are additional critical factors as well. For instance, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they provide internship programs. These and other qualifiers will be addressed more in detail later in this post. But first, let’s discuss what an ultrasound tech does and the degrees and online training options that are available.

Ultrasound Technician Occupation Description

Palisades 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 techniques on patients. Even though a number of techs work as generalists there are specialties within the profession, for instance in pediatrics and cardiology. Most practice in Palisades NY clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Standard daily work duties of an ultrasound technician can consist of:

Preserving records of patient medical histories and specifics of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Prepping the ultrasound machines for usage and then cleaning and recalibrating them
Transferring patients to treatment rooms and making them comfortable
Operating equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
Evaluating results and identifying need for further testing

Ultrasound techs must routinely gauge the performance and safety of their machines. They also are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. In order to maintain that level of professionalism and remain current with medical knowledge, they are mandated to complete continuing education training on an ongoing basis.

Ultrasound Tech Degrees Offered

Palisades NY ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Sonogram technician students have the opportunity to acquire either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will usually require about 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 four years to complete. Another alternative for individuals who have already obtained 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 medical field, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to finish. One thing to consider is that the majority of sonographer schools do have a practical training component as part of their curriculum. It can often be satisfied by entering into an internship program which many schools sponsor with Palisades NY hospitals and clinics. When you have graduated from any of the degree or certificate programs, you will then need to satisfy the licensing or certification requirements in New York or whatever state you elect to practice in.

Online Ultrasound Technician Colleges

woman attending online sonography school in Palisades NY As earlier discussed, almost all ultrasound tech colleges have a clinical component to their programs. So although you can earn a degree or certificate online, a substantial portion of the training will be either held in an on campus laboratory or at an approved off-campus medical care provider. Practical training can often be fulfilled by means of an internship at a local Palisades NY outpatient clinic, hospital or private practice. But the remainder of the training and classes can be accessed online in your Palisades home. This is particularly convenient for those individuals that keep working while obtaining their degrees. In addition online colleges are often less expensive than traditional options. Costs for study materials and commuting may be decreased as well. But just as with every ultrasound tech college you are looking at, make sure that the online program you enroll in is accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially important for licensing, certification and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to attend classes away from the classroom in the comfort of your own home, then an online degree may be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Ultrasound Technician Programs

Questions to ask Palisades NY ultrasound tech schools After you have determined the type of certificate or degree that you would like to obtain, you can initiate the procedure of assessing and comparing ultrasound technician colleges. You may first want to choose whether you will attend classes online or commute to a college campus in the Palisades NY area. Of course location will be significant if you select the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualification also. But there are additional factors that you should also take into consideration, such as if the colleges are accredited and if they offer internships. Therefore in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can make your ultimate selection, below are some questions that you may want to ask each ultrasound tech college prior to making a decision.

Are the Sonogram Tech Colleges Accredited? A large number of sonogram tech colleges have earned some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still crucial to confirm that the school and program 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). Schools receiving accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through an extensive review of their instructors and course materials. If the program is online it may also earn 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. Along with guaranteeing a quality education, accreditation will also help in acquiring financial aid and student loans, which are many times not available for non-accredited programs. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And a number of Palisades NY employers will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry level jobs.

Are Internships Offered? Find out if the sonogram technician programs you are interested in have partnerships with Palisades NY clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent way to receive practical training in a clinical environment, they are also a way to fulfill the clinical training requirement for most programs. As a secondary benefit, they can help students and graduates establish professional relationships in the Palisades health care community and assist with job placement.

Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the sonographer schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with New York healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Palisades NY residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly 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.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average student to teacher 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 a chance to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the ultrasound tech program as well.

Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the sonographer school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Palisades NY 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, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Palisades NY?

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

Palisades, New York

Palisades, formerly known as Sneden's Landing, (pronounced SNEE-dens) is a hamlet in the Town of Orangetown in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of Rockleigh and Alpine, New Jersey; east of Tappan; south of Sparkill; and west of the Hudson River.

The hamlet has no mayor, nor any official legislative bodies. It does, however, have its own library, and post office with the zip code 10964 and served by the 359 exchange in Area Code 845. It is almost entirely residential with the exception of a small industrial area section on the Tappan border. The area commonly referred to as Snedens Landing is located within the eastern portion of Palisades between U.S. Route 9W and the Hudson River.

The hamlet has a registered historic district known as the Closter Road - Oak Tree Road Historic District. The district comprises the area from the north side of Closter Road and south side of Oak Tree Road approximately 1/2 mile west of US Route 9W in Palisades. (List of Registered Historic Places in Rockland County, New York)

In 1685 Dr. George Lockhart purchased 3,410 acres along the west bank of the Hudson River which would become Palisades, NY. In the ensuing 20 years the land would change hands twice. By 1702 there were two houses with 14 people, eight being slaves.[1] During this period the land was claimed by both New York and New Jersey. A king's commission settled the dispute in 1769 by drawing an official border between the two states. It placed Palisades just inside of New York.[2]

Find the Right Online Associates Degree In Sonography Palisades NY

Enrolling in the ideal ultrasound technician certificate or degree program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling new profession furnishing diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer programs require that you have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. Along with meeting academic standards, you need to be in at least reasonably good physical health, 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 maneuver heavy machines. Additional preferred talents include technical aptitude, the ability to keep collected 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 Online Associates Degree In Sonography. However, as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of questions that you should ask each school you are looking at. This holds true whether you enroll in an online degree or commute to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the right questions so that you can evaluate each school, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives until you are left with the ideal program for your education. And with the proper training, dedication and motivation to succeed, you can reach your goal to practice as an ultrasound tech in Palisades NY.