Prenatal Sonography Technician Programs Lehighton PA

How to Enroll in the Right Ultrasound Tech Degree Program near Lehighton Pennsylvania

Lehighton PA ultrasound technician with patient Since you have decided to obtain an ultrasound technician degree near Lehighton PA, it’s time to begin the procedure of choosing a school. First, you need to find the right program that will furnish the necessary instruction to become a skilled professional. And given that some states do require that ultrasound techs be either certified or licensed, depending on your residence you may also need preparation to pass a certification or licensing examination. So it’s very important that you investigate each program in order to evaluate and compare your alternatives. But just where does one begin? Most potential students will begin by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Of course cost and location need to be considered when making a decision, but there are additional significant factors as well. Such as, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they sponsor internship programs. These and additional 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 credentials and online education options that are available.

Sonogram Tech Work Summary

Lehighton PA sonographer testing pregnant woman There are multiple acceptable 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 function, which is to perform diagnostic ultrasound procedures on patients. Although a number of techs practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in pediatrics and cardiology. The majority work in Lehighton PA hospitals, clinics, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Standard daily job tasks of an ultrasound technician can consist of:

Keeping records of patient case histories and specifics of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Prepping the ultrasound machines for testing and then cleaning and re-calibrating them
Transferring patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
Using equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
Evaluating results and determining necessity for supplemental testing

Ultrasound techs must frequently assess the performance and safety of their equipment. They also are held to a high ethical standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. So as to maintain that degree of professionalism and remain current with medical knowledge, they are required to complete continuing education training on a regular basis.

Sonogram Tech Degrees Offered

Lehighton PA 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 generally take around 18 months to 2 years to complete dependent on the program and class load. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at up to four years to complete. Another alternative for individuals who have previously obtained 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 relevant health field, you can enroll in a certificate program that will require only 12 to 18 months to finish. One thing to keep in mind is that almost all sonographer programs do have a practical training element as a portion of their curriculum. It often may be satisfied by participating in an internship program which numerous schools set up through Lehighton PA clinics and hospitals. Once you have graduated from any of the degree or certificate programs, you will then need to fulfill the certification or licensing prerequisites in Pennsylvania or whatever state you choose to work in.

Online Ultrasound Technician Degrees

woman attending online sonography school in Lehighton PA As earlier discussed, nearly all sonogram technician schools have a clinical requirement to their programs. So while you can receive a certificate or degree online, a significant portion of the training will be either held in an on-campus lab or at an authorized off campus facility. Practical training can usually be fulfilled by means of an internship at a local Lehighton PA hospital, outpatient clinic or private practice. But the rest of the training and classes can be attended online in your Lehighton home. This is particularly beneficial for those students that continue working while earning their degrees. In addition online schools are often less costly than on campus alternatives. Costs for study materials and commuting can be reduced also. But just as with any sonographer college you are reviewing, confirm that the online school 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 licensing, certification and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to attend classes outside of the classroom in the comfort of your own home, then an online degree could be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Sonogram Tech Programs

Questions to ask Lehighton PA ultrasound tech schools Once you have decided on which degree or certificate that you would like to obtain, you can begin the procedure of assessing and comparing sonogram technician schools. You may first want to decide whether you would rather attend classes online or travel to a college campus in the Lehighton PA area. Obviously location will be important if you decide on the latter, and the price of tuition undoubtedly will be an important qualification also. But there are other things that you must also take into account, such as if the schools are accredited and if they offer internship programs. So in order to perform your due diligence so that you can make your final selection, below are some questions that you need ask each sonography college before deciding.

Are the Sonogram Tech Schools Accredited? A large number of ultrasound tech schools have obtained some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. Nevertheless, it’s still important to confirm that the school and program are accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting organizations in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Programs receiving accreditation from the JRC-DMS have undergone an extensive review of their teachers and course materials. If the college is online it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. All accrediting organizations 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 assist in acquiring financial assistance and student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation may also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And a number of Lehighton PA employers will only hire a graduate of an accredited college for entry-level openings.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out if the ultrasound technician colleges you are evaluating have relationships with Lehighton PA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only a great manner to receive hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are also a way to fulfill the clinical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they may help graduates and students establish professional connections in the Lehighton health care community and help with job placement.

Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the sonographer schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Pennsylvania healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Lehighton PA home. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually 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 hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the sonogram tech program also.

Does the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the ultrasound tech program you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Lehighton PA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn 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 Lehighton PA?

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

Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Lehighton (/li'hɑitən/) is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States, 77 miles (124 km) north of Philadelphia, and 54 miles (87 km) south of Scranton. In the past, it developed early industries because of water power from the Lehigh River. With the location of a repair facility here and its regional operations, the Lehigh Valley Railroad became for years a major employer of thousands of people from the area. Post-World War II railroad and industry restructuring led to job and population losses.

At the time of the first European's encounters with historic American Indian tribes, this area was part of the shared hunting territory of the Iroquoian Susquehannock and the Algonquian Lenape (also called the Delaware, after their language and territory along the Delaware River) peoples, who were often at odds.[5] Relatives of the peoples of New England and along the St. Lawrence valley of Canada, the Delaware bands occupied much of the coastal mid-Atlantic area in Delaware, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and lower eastern New York, including Long Island.[5] The Susquehannock confederacy's homelands were mainly along the Susquehanna River, from the Mohawk Valley in lower New York southerly to the Chesapeake and Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, but may have ranged into the 'empty lands'[6] of West Virginia, Eastern Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania.[5] The Dutch and Swedes first settled the Delaware Valley, and found the area north of the Lehigh Gap to be lightly occupied, probably by transients, but traveled regularly by the Susquehannock. This tribe traveled quite a bit according to the American Heritage Book of Indians,[5] including being described in lofty terms by John Smith when a band visited the new Jamestown, Virginia colony.[5] In the decades of the Beaver Wars in the mid-1600s, the Susquehannocks conquered and made the Lenape a tributary tribe — and also nearly inflicted an overwhelming defeat on the powerful Iroquois Confederacy,.[5] Shortly thereafter, the Susquehannocks suffered a reversal, falling first to epidemic disease that raged for three years which killed off potentially 90% of their population,[5] and a series of battles on most of their frontiers as various enemies took advantage.[5] This vacated the southeastern and central Pennsylvania regions for the Delaware peoples. However, all tribes were thereafter displaced westwards by continued colonial growth. Delaware dominance at the time of European colonization is why William Penn's settlers adopted Lenape Lenki (Delaware) names for landscape features, and less than a handful of Susquehannock names.

Lehighton was built on the site of the German Moravian Brethren's mission station "Gnadenhütten" (cabins of grace) founded in 1746. It was established as a mission to the Lenape by Moravians from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, lower on the Lehigh River.[7] The German name was transcribed as "Canatanheat" by missionary John Brainerd.[8]

During the French and Indian Wars (Seven Years' War), Native allies of the French killed 11 missionaries and Lenape (Delaware) converted Christians at Gnadenhutten on 24 November 1755. They destroyed the mission village,[9] and only four of the fifteen residents escaped.[10] (During the American Revolutionary War in 1782, Pennsylvania militia raided another Moravian mission village, also called Gnadenhutten, in present-day Ohio. Suspecting the Lenape of being allied with the British, the militia killed 96 unarmed men, women, and children in what became better known as the Gnadenhutten Massacre.)

Find the Right Prenatal Sonography Technician Programs Lehighton PA

Choosing the right ultrasound tech certificate or degree program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling new career delivering diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician schools require that you have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition to satisfying academic requirements, you need to be in at least fairly good physical health, capable of standing for extended durations with the ability to regularly lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it frequently necessary to adjust patients and maneuver heavy machinery. Additional preferred skills include technical proficiency, the ability to remain levelheaded when faced with an anxious or angry patient and the ability to communicate clearly and compassionately. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Prenatal Sonography Technician Programs. However, as we have covered in this article, there are a number of questions that you need to ask each program you are looking at. This is true whether you choose an online program or commute to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the right questions so that you can assess each college, you can narrow down your options until you are left with the ideal 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 Lehighton PA.