Ultrasound Tech Training Salem OR - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Select the Right Ultrasound Tech School near Salem Oregon

Salem OR ultrasound technician with patient Since you have decided to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Salem OR, it’s time to start the process of choosing a college. To begin with, you must find the ideal program that will furnish the appropriate education to become a qualified professional. And since some states do require that ultrasound techs be either certified or licensed, depending on where you will practice you may also need to be prepared to pass a licensing or certification 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? Most individuals will start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Certainly location and cost should be considered when arriving at a decision, but there are additional important factors as well. For example, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they sponsor internship programs. These and other qualifiers will be covered more in depth later in this article. But to start with, let’s review what an ultrasound tech does and the degrees and online education options that are available.

Sonographer Work Description

Salem OR sonographer testing pregnant woman There are various acceptable titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also referred to as sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. Regardless of name, they all have the same basic job description, which is to implement diagnostic ultrasound procedures on patients. While many practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in cardiology and pediatrics. The majority practice in Salem OR hospitals, clinics, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Common daily job tasks of an ultrasound tech can consist of:

Maintaining records of patient case histories and specifics of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Readying the ultrasound machines for usage and then cleaning and re-calibrating them
Escorting patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
Utilizing equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
Reviewing the results and identifying necessity for supplemental testing

Sonographers must frequently evaluate the safety and performance of their equipment. They also are held to a high ethical 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 required to enroll in continuing education programs on a regular basis.

Ultrasound Tech Degrees Offered

Salem OR ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Ultrasound technician students have the option to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will normally take about 18 months to 2 years to accomplish depending on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at up to 4 years to finalize. Another option 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 sector, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to complete. Something to consider is that almost all ultrasound technician programs do have a clinical training component as a portion of their curriculum. It can often be satisfied by taking part in an internship program which many schools sponsor through Salem OR hospitals and clinics. After you have graduated from one of the certificate or degree programs, you will then need to satisfy the certification or licensing requirements in Oregon or whichever state you elect to practice in.

Online Ultrasound Tech Colleges

woman attending online sonography school in Salem OR As previously mentioned, almost all ultrasound technician colleges have a practical requirement to their programs. So while you can receive a degree or certificate online, a substantial part of the training will be either held in an on-campus laboratory or at an approved off campus facility. Practical training can typically be satisfied by means of an internship at a local Salem OR hospital, outpatient clinic or family practice. But the rest of the training and classes may be accessed online in your Salem home. This is particularly convenient for those individuals that continue working while obtaining their degrees. Plus online schools are many times less costly than on-campus alternatives. Expenses for study materials and commuting may be decreased as well. But similarly as with any sonographer school you are looking at, make sure that the online school you select is accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting organizations 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 learn outside of the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online degree could be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Sonography Programs

Questions to ask Salem OR ultrasound tech schools When you have determined the type of degree or certificate that you would like to obtain, you can start the procedure of assessing and comparing sonogram technician schools. You may first want to decide whether you will access classes online or commute to a school campus in the Salem OR area. Obviously location will be important if you decide on the latter, and the price of tuition undoubtedly will be an important qualifier as well. But there are additional things that you must also take into consideration, for example if the colleges are accredited and if they offer internships. Therefore in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can arrive at your ultimate selection, following are a few questions that you may want to ask each ultrasound tech school prior to making a decision.

Are the Ultrasound Technician Schools Accredited? Most ultrasound tech colleges have received some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still important 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). Schools obtaining accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through an extensive evaluation of their teachers and course materials. If the college is online it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. All accrediting agencies should be acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides ensuring a quality education, accreditation will also assist in acquiring financial assistance and student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited programs. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And many Salem OR employers will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry-level positions.

Are Internships Provided? Ask if the ultrasound tech colleges you are interested in have partnerships with Salem OR hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Not only are internships a great means to receive hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are also a way to satisfy the clinical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they can help graduates and students develop professional relationships in the Salem medical community and help with job placement.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the sonographer programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Oregon healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Salem OR home. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps 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 normally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical 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 a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the ultrasound tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the ultrasound tech college you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Salem OR area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Salem OR?

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

Salem, Oregon

Salem /ˈseɪləm/ is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood of West Salem is in Polk County. Salem was founded in 1842, became the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851, and was incorporated in 1857.

Salem had a population of 154,637 at the 2010 census, making it the third largest city in the state after Portland and Eugene. Salem is a little more than an hour's driving distance away from Portland. Salem is the principal city of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Marion and Polk counties[7] and had a combined population of 390,738 at the 2010 census. A 2013 estimate placed the metropolitan population at 400,408, the state's second largest.[8]

The city is home to Willamette University, Corban University, and Chemeketa Community College. The State of Oregon is the largest public employer in the city, and Salem Health is the largest private employer. Transportation includes public transit from Salem-Keizer Transit (which operates under the name Cherriots), Amtrak service and non-commercial air travel at McNary Field. Major roads include Interstate 5, Oregon Route 99E, and Oregon Route 22, which connects West Salem across the Willamette River via the Marion Street and Center Street bridges.

The Native Americans who inhabited the central Willamette Valley at first European contact, the Kalapuya, called the area Chim-i-ki-ti, which means "meeting or resting place" in the Central Kalapuya language (Santiam).[9] When the Methodist Mission moved to the area, they called the new establishment Chemeketa; although it was more widely known as the Mill, because of its situation on Mill Creek.[10] When the Oregon Institute was established, the community became known as the Institute.[10]

Find the Right Ultrasound Tech Training Salem OR

Selecting the ideal ultrasound tech certificate or degree program is a vital first step to entering a gratifying new career delivering diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer colleges require that you have earned a high school diploma or a GED. In addition to satisfying academic standards, you should be in at least reasonably good physical health, capable of standing for prolonged time frames and able to routinely lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it typically necessary to position patients and maneuver heavy equipment. Other helpful skills include technical proficiency, the ability to stay calm 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 Ultrasound Tech Training. However, as we have discussed in this post, there are several questions that you should ask each college you are reviewing. This is the case whether you select an online program or drive to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the appropriate questions so that you can compare each program, you can narrow down your choices until you are left with the ideal program for your education. And with the proper training, dedication and determination to succeed, you can reach your objective to work as an ultrasound tech in Salem OR.