Accredited Ultrasound Tech Schools Newtown Square PA

How to Choose the Right Ultrasound Technician College near Newtown Square Pennsylvania

Newtown Square PA ultrasound technician with patient Once you have decided to obtain an ultrasound technician degree near Newtown Square PA, it’s time to begin the procedure of choosing a college. To begin with, you have to find the right program that will furnish the appropriate training to become a qualified professional. And given that a number of states do mandate that ultrasound techs be either licensed or certified, depending on where you will practice you may also need to be prepared to pass a certification or licensing exam. So it’s extremely important that you research each program in order to assess and compare your alternatives. But just where does one begin? A number of potential students will begin by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Certainly location and cost should be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are other important factors also. For example, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they provide internship programs. These and other qualifications 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 training programs that are offered.

Ultrasound Tech Job Summary

Newtown Square PA sonographer testing pregnant woman There are multiple 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 primary job function, which is to implement diagnostic ultrasound techniques on patients. Even though a number of techs practice as generalists there are specializations within the profession, for example in pediatrics and cardiology. The majority practice in Newtown Square PA clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Routine daily work duties of an ultrasound tech can include:

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 re-calibrating them
Transferring patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
Operating equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
Assessing results and determining necessity for further testing

Sonographers must regularly assess 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 remain current with medical knowledge, they are required to enroll in continuing education training on a regular basis.

Ultrasound Tech Degree Programs Offered

Newtown Square PA ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Ultrasound tech enrollees have the choice to acquire either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will generally require around 18 months to 2 years to finish depending on the program and class load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as long as four years to finish. Another alternative for individuals who have previously 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 relevant medical field, you can enroll in a certificate program that will require only 12 to 18 months to finish. One thing to bear in mind is that almost all ultrasound technician programs do have a clinical training element as part of their course of study. It often may be satisfied by entering into an internship program which numerous colleges set up through Newtown Square PA clinics and hospitals. Once you have graduated from one of the certificate or degree programs, you will then need to comply with the certification or licensing requirements in Pennsylvania or whatever state you decide to practice in.

Online Ultrasound Tech Schools

woman attending online sonography school in Newtown Square PA As earlier discussed, almost all sonogram tech colleges have a clinical component to their programs. So although you can receive a certificate or degree online, a substantial part of the training will be either conducted in an on campus lab or at an authorized off-campus medical care provider. Practical training can typically be satisfied by means of an internship at a local Newtown Square PA outpatient clinic, hospital or private practice. However the rest of the training and classes can be attended online in your Newtown Square home. This is especially beneficial for those students that continue working while getting their degrees. Plus online colleges are many times less expensive than on-campus alternatives. Expenditures for study materials and commuting may be reduced also. But just as with any sonographer school you are reviewing, confirm that the online program you choose 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 certification, licensing 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 online classes could be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Sonography Programs

Questions to ask Newtown Square 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 evaluating and comparing ultrasound technician colleges. You will first probably want to decide whether you will access classes online or commute to a school campus in the Newtown Square PA area. Obviously location will be critical if you choose the latter, and the price of tuition no doubt will be an important qualification as well. But there are other things that you should also take into consideration, for example if the colleges are accredited and if they offer internship programs. So in order to complete your due diligence so that you can arrive at your ultimate selection, below are several questions that you may want to ask each sonographer program prior to making a decision.

Are the Sonogram Tech Schools Accredited? Most ultrasound technician colleges have received some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. However, it’s still crucial to confirm that the program and school are accredited. Among 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 earning accreditation from the JRC-DMS have undergone a rigorous review of their teachers and educational materials. If the college is online it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. All accrediting agencies should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides guaranteeing a superior education, accreditation will also assist in securing financial aid and student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Accreditation may also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And a number of Newtown Square PA health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry-level positions.

Are Internship Programs Offered? Inquire if the ultrasound technician colleges you are evaluating have associations with Newtown Square PA hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Not only are internships a great manner to receive hands on training in a clinical environment, they are also a way to fulfill the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a supplemental benefit, they may assist graduates and students form professional relationships in the Newtown Square medical community and help with job placement.

Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Find out if the sonographer programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Pennsylvania healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Newtown Square PA home. Students 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 concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program 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 commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the ultrasound tech program as well.

Does the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the sonographer school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Newtown Square PA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Newtown Square PA?

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

Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

The first mention of the township was in 1684, when Thomas Norbury and John Humphrey were appointed collectors of the "Levie for the cort house and Prison for ye Township of Newtowne".[4] Newtown Square was the name used for the townstead with the majority of early settlers being Welshmen. These Welsh "Friends" (Quakers) needed a road to facilitate their journey to meeting, the only established road at the time being Newtown Street Road, which ran north and south. As such, in 1687, an east-west road was laid out (Goshen Road) so the Friends could attend either Goshen or the Haverford Friends Meeting. By 1696, these friends had become numerous enough to hold their own meeting in Newtown and continued to meet in a private home until the completion of the Newtown Square Friends Meetinghouse in 1711. In the 18th century, Newtown was basically a farming community. Blacksmith and wheelwright shops emerged on the main arteries to service horse and buggy travelers. Taverns and inns were also opened to accommodate local patrons as well as drovers taking their livestock to the markets in Philadelphia.

During the Revolutionary War, Newtown township was visited several times by foraging parties of the British Army. On Goshen Road, west of Newtown Square, were the outpost and headquarters of General Potter.[5]

During the 19th century a number of mills sprang up along Crum Creek (the western border) and Darby Creek (in the northeast corner of the Township). These included saw mills, paper mills, shingle mills, and a woolen factory. In the Darby Creek area a number of tenement houses were built as well as a general store to service the needs of the mill workers.

In 1860, the population of Newtown Township was 830; the population of Philadelphia was approximately half a million. At this time, the railroad, so called the "Iron horse," was laying track out of Philadelphia in all directions with service to Chester, Media, West Chester, and Radnor ... but not Newtown Square. As these towns, as well as stops along the way, grew and prospered, mills closed and businesses declined in Newtown Square. By 1890, the population had fallen to 648.

Find the Right Accredited Ultrasound Tech Schools Newtown Square PA

Enrolling in the right ultrasound technician certificate or degree program is a crucial first step to launching a gratifying new profession providing diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician programs require that you have a high school diploma or a GED. Along with satisfying academic requirements, you should be in at least reasonably good physical condition, able to stand for prolonged periods with the ability to regularly lift weights of fifty pounds or more, as is it frequently necessary to adjust patients and move heavy equipment. Other desirable skills include technical aptitude, the ability to remain collected when faced with an anxious or angry patient and the ability to communicate in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Ultrasound Tech Schools. However, as we have discussed in this post, there are a number of questions that you should ask each school you are considering. This holds true whether you enroll in an online program or drive to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the appropriate questions so that you can assess each school, you will be able to narrow down your options until you are left with the ideal program for your education. And with the proper training, discipline and motivation to succeed, you can achieve your goal to practice as an sonographer in Newtown Square PA.