Sonography Course Downingtown PA - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Enroll in the Right Ultrasound Tech Training Program near Downingtown Pennsylvania

Downingtown PA ultrasound technician with patient Once you have made a decision to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Downingtown PA, the next step is to begin the procedure of selecting a school. First, you need to find the right program that will furnish the necessary training to become a skilled professional. And because some states do require that sonographers be either licensed or certified, 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 school so that you can evaluate and compare your alternatives. But just where does one begin? Many prospective students will start by looking for colleges that are within travelling distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location should be taken into account when making a decision, but there are additional critical factors as well. For example, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they provide internships. These and additional qualifiers will be addressed more in depth later in this post. But first, let’s go over what an ultrasound tech does and the degrees and online training options that are available.

Sonogram Tech Occupation Description

Downingtown PA sonographer testing pregnant woman There are several professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. No matter what their title is, they all have the same basic job description, which is to implement diagnostic ultrasound testing on patients. While many practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in cardiology and pediatrics. Most work in Downingtown PA hospitals, clinics, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Common daily job tasks of a sonogram technician can involve:

Maintaining 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 recalibrating them
Escorting patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
Using equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
Reviewing the results and identifying need for additional testing

Ultrasound techs must routinely evaluate the safety and performance of their machines. They also are held to a high ethical 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 an ongoing basis.

Sonogram Technician Degree Programs Offered

Downingtown PA ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Sonogram technician enrollees have the option to acquire either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will normally involve around 18 months to 2 years to finish depending on the program and class load. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at as long as four years to finalize. Another option 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 medical sector, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to complete. Something to keep in mind is that the majority of sonographer programs do have a clinical training component as a portion of their curriculum. It can often be satisfied by participating in an internship program which numerous schools organize with Downingtown PA clinics and hospitals. When you have graduated from any of the certificate or degree programs, you will then need to comply with the certification or licensing prerequisites in Pennsylvania or whichever state you elect to practice in.

Online Sonogram Tech Programs

woman attending online sonography school in Downingtown PA As earlier discussed, nearly all sonogram tech colleges have a clinical requirement to their programs. So while you can obtain a certificate or degree online, a substantial portion of the training will be either conducted in an on campus laboratory or at an approved off campus facility. Practical training can usually be satisfied through an internship at a local Downingtown PA hospital, outpatient clinic or family practice. However the remainder of the classes and training may be attended online in your Downingtown home. This is especially convenient for those students that continue working while obtaining their degrees. In addition online colleges are frequently less costly than traditional alternatives. Expenses for commuting and study materials may be decreased as well. But just as with every ultrasound tech program you are looking at, verify that the online school you ultimately pick is accredited. Among 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 dedicated enough to learn away from the classroom in the comfort of your own home, then an online degree could be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Sonogram Tech Programs

Questions to ask Downingtown PA ultrasound tech schools After you have decided on which degree or certificate that you would like to obtain, you can initiate the procedure of assessing and comparing ultrasound technician schools. You may first want to decide whether you would rather attend classes online or commute to a school campus in the Downingtown PA area. Obviously location will be critical if you choose the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an important qualifier as well. But there are additional factors that you must also take into account, for example if the schools are accredited and if they provide internship programs. Therefore in order to perform your due diligence so that you can arrive at your ultimate selection, following are a few questions that you may want to ask each sonographer program prior to making a decision.

Are the Ultrasound Technician Schools Accredited? The majority of ultrasound tech schools have acquired some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still important to verify 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 earning accreditation from the JRC-DMS have undergone an extensive assessment of their teachers and course materials. If the school is online it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. All accrediting organizations should be recognized 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 securing financial aid and student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Accreditation may also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And a number of Downingtown PA health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry-level openings.

Are Internships Offered? Ask if the ultrasound tech programs you are interested in have associations with Downingtown PA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a great way to get practical experience in a clinical setting, they are also a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for most programs. As a secondary benefit, they may assist students and graduates form professional relationships in the Downingtown medical community and help with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the ultrasound tech schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Pennsylvania healthcare employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Downingtown PA home. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble 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 choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom 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 looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the sonogram tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the sonographer college you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Downingtown PA area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need 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 Downingtown PA?

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

Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Downingtown is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 33 miles (53 km) west of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 7,891. Downingtown was settled by English and European colonists in the early 18th century and has a number of historic buildings and structures.

The town was originally named Milltown due to its number of mills along the East Branch Brandywine Creek, the first of which was founded by Daniel Butter. The Butter family also had paper mills in the area, and Frederick Bicking from Winterburg, Germany, was the patriarch of the Bicking paper families. Around the time of the American Revolution, Milltown became more commonly known as Downingtown after the prominent businessman Thomas Downing,[3] a Quaker immigrant in 1717 from Bradninch, Devon, England, who owned a number of those mills. The town was officially named Downingtown in 1812.

The town is located along the Lincoln Highway (now part of U.S. Route 30) which runs from the East Coast to the West Coast. It was an early westward road in the wagon days as the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. The Lincoln Highway was the first paved road to cross the nation from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike started in the early 1940s and was completed in the early 1950s; it runs north of US 30, bypassing Downingtown.

About 1705 Sami Warren built what has become known as the Downingtown Log House. In 1713 the next owner Hickman sold the 1½ story, 21' 9"×25' structure to Thomas and Mary Moore. Thomas Moore moved from the Log House in 1729 and died in 1738.

Find the Right Sonography Course Downingtown PA

Picking the ideal ultrasound technician certificate or degree program is a vital first step to commencing a gratifying new career providing diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer schools require that you have a high school diploma or a GED. In addition to meeting academic requirements, you must be in at least reasonably good physical health, able to stand for extended time frames and able to routinely lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it often necessary to adjust patients and maneuver heavy machinery. Additional beneficial talents include technical aptitude, the ability to keep levelheaded when confronted by 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 Course. However, as we have discussed in this article, there are multiple questions that you need to ask each college you are looking at. This is the case whether you choose an online program or drive to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the right questions so that you can compare each college, you can narrow down your alternatives until you are left with the ideal program for your education. And with the right training, discipline and determination to succeed, you can reach your objective to practice as an ultrasound technologist in Downingtown PA.