Online Sonography Associates Degree Levittown PA - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Find the Right Ultrasound Tech Training Program near Levittown Pennsylvania

Levittown PA ultrasound technician with patient Once you have made a decision to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Levittown PA, it’s time to begin the process of choosing a college. First, you have to find the ideal program that will furnish the necessary education to become a skilled professional. And because a number of states do mandate that ultrasound techs be either licensed or certified, depending on your residence you may also need to be prepared to pass a licensing or certification exam. So it’s very important that you investigate each college in order to assess and compare your alternatives. But just where does one start? Most prospective students will start by searching for schools that are within travelling distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Of course location and cost must 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 offer internship programs. These and additional qualifiers will be covered more in detail later in this post. But to start with, let’s review what a sonogram tech does and the degrees and online education options that are offered.

Ultrasound Technician Job Description

Levittown PA sonographer testing pregnant woman There are multiple professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also referred to as 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 carry out diagnostic ultrasound testing on patients. Although many practice as generalists there are specialties within the profession, for example in cardiology and pediatrics. The majority practice in Levittown PA hospitals, clinics, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. Common daily work 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 sterilizing and recalibrating them
Moving patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
Using equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
Reviewing the results and determining need for further testing

Ultrasound techs must regularly assess the safety and performance of their machines. They also must adhere to a high professional standard and code of conduct as medical practitioners. So as to sustain that level of professionalism and remain up to date with medical knowledge, they are mandated to enroll in continuing education programs on a regular basis.

Ultrasound Tech Degree Programs Available

Levittown PA ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Ultrasound tech students have the option to acquire either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will typically involve about 18 months to 2 years to complete depending on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at up to 4 years to finish. Another alternative for those who have already 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 medical field, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require only 12 to 18 months to finish. One thing to keep in mind is that most ultrasound technician programs do have a practical training element as a portion of their course of study. It can often be satisfied by participating in an internship program which numerous schools organize through Levittown PA clinics and hospitals. Once you have graduated from one of the degree or certificate programs, you will then need to satisfy the licensing or certification prerequisites in Pennsylvania or whichever state you elect to work in.

Online Ultrasound Technician Programs

woman attending online sonography school in Levittown PA As previously mentioned, virtually all ultrasound tech colleges have a clinical component to their programs. So although you can receive a degree or certificate online, a significant part of the training will be either held in an on campus lab or at an approved off campus facility. Practical training can typically be fulfilled by means of an internship at a local Levittown PA hospital, outpatient clinic or family practice. But the balance of the training and classes can be attended online in your Levittown home. This is especially beneficial for those students that keep working while getting their degrees. In addition online colleges are frequently less expensive than on campus alternatives. Expenditures for commuting and study materials can be reduced as well. But just as with every sonography program you are reviewing, check that the online program you choose is accredited. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially important for licensing, certification and job placement (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 may be the ideal option for you.

Subjects to Ask Ultrasound Technician Programs

Questions to ask Levittown PA ultrasound tech schools As soon as you have decided on which certificate or degree that you would like to earn, you can begin the process of reviewing and comparing sonogram technician schools. You may first want to choose whether you will attend classes online or travel to a school campus in the Levittown PA area. Naturally location will be significant if you decide on the latter, and the cost of tuition undoubtedly will be an important qualification as well. But there are additional variables that you must also take into consideration, for example if the schools are accredited and if they provide internship programs. So in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can arrive at your final selection, below are some questions that you need ask each sonographer program before deciding.

Are the Sonogram Technician Colleges Accredited? The majority of ultrasound technician schools have obtained some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. Even so, it’s still important to make sure that the school and program are accredited. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations 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 undergone an extensive evaluation of their teachers and educational materials. If the school is online it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. In addition to ensuring a superior education, accreditation will also assist in securing financial aid and student loans, which are many times not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And many Levittown PA employers will only hire graduates of an accredited school for entry-level openings.

Are Internships Provided? Find out if the ultrasound tech schools you are assessing have relationships with Levittown PA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent means to obtain hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a means to fulfill the practical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they may help students and graduates develop professional relationships in the Levittown health care community and assist with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the ultrasound tech programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Pennsylvania healthcare employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Levittown PA home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps 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 often 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 way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing 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 decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the sonogram tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the sonographer college you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Levittown PA area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Levittown PA?

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

Levittown, Pennsylvania

Levittown is a census-designated place (CDP) and planned community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The population was 52,983 at the 2010 census.[2] It is 40 feet (12 m) above sea level. Though not a municipality, it is sometimes recognized as the largest suburb of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania[3] (while Upper Darby Township, Lower Merion Township, Bensalem Township, Abington Township and Bristol Township are municipalities larger in size in the three surrounding Pennsylvania counties). Starting with land purchased in 1951, it was planned and built by Levitt & Sons. The brothers Bill Levitt and architect Alfred Levitt designed its six typical houses.

The majority of the land on which it is built was purchased in 1951. Levitt and Sons only built six models of houses in Levittown, all single-family dwellings with lawns: the Levittowner, the Rancher, the Jubilee, the Pennsylvanian, the Colonial and the Country Clubber, with only modest exterior variations within each model. The homes were moderately priced and required only a low down payment. Construction of Levittown began in February 1952, soon after completion of Levittown, New York, located on Long Island. Levittown, Pennsylvania was the second "Levittown" built by William J. Levitt, who is often credited as the creator of the modern American suburb. To speed up construction, Levitt & Sons perfected a 26-step rationalized building method that was essentially an assembly line type of home building. The house remained stationary, while the construction workers moved from house to house. Each worker had one task such as pouring slabs, framing, installing electric sockets or installing washing machines. This highly regimented process enabled Levitt's workers to produce a finished house every 16 minutes. Construction of the homes commenced in 1952 and when completed in 1958, 17,311 homes were built.

What set Levittown apart from other developments at the time was that it was built as a complete community. Levitt & Sons designed neighborhoods with traffic-calming curvilinear roads, in which there were no four-way intersections. Each neighborhood had within its boundaries a site donated by Levitt & Sons for a public elementary school. Locations for churches and other public facilities were set aside on main thoroughfares such as the Levittown Parkway, likewise donated by the builder to religious groups and other organizations. Other amenities included Olympic-sized public pools, parks, "greenbelts", baseball fields and playgrounds, and a shopping center located in neighboring Tullytown borough that was considered large and modern at the time of its construction (and in fact was the largest east of the Mississippi). The first set of four sample homes were put on display in a swatch of land near the future Levittown Shop-a-Rama, and an estimated 30,000 people viewed them in that first weekend.[4]

Residents (who are sometimes called Levittowners) were first expected to comply with a lengthy list of rules and regulations regarding the upkeep of their homes and use of their property. Two of these "rules" included a prohibition on hanging laundry out to dry on Sunday and not allowing homeowners to fence off their yards. These proved unenforceable over time, particularly when backyard pools became financially accessible to the working class and privacy concerns drove many to fence off their yards.[5] In the years since Levitt & Sons ended construction, three- and four-story "garden apartments" and a number of non-Levitt owner-occupied houses have been built in Levittown.

Find the Right Online Sonography Associates Degree Levittown PA

Choosing the right sonographer degree or certificate program is an important first step to entering a rewarding new career furnishing diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer programs require that you have a high school diploma or a GED. Along with satisfying academic requirements, you must be in at least reasonably good physical health, capable of standing for prolonged time frames with the ability to regularly lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it often necessary to adjust patients and move heavy machinery. Other preferred talents include technical aptitude, the ability to keep calm 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 Online Sonography Associates Degree. However, as we have covered in this post, there are a number of questions that you should ask each school you are considering. This is the case whether you choose an online program or commute to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the proper questions so that you can assess each program, you can narrow down your alternatives until you are left with the best program for your education. And with the proper training, discipline and determination to succeed, you can accomplish your objective to practice as an sonographer in Levittown PA.