Degree In Ultrasound Sonography Lubbock TX - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Find the Right Ultrasound Tech Degree Program near Lubbock Texas

Lubbock TX ultrasound technician with patient Once you have decided to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Lubbock TX, it’s time to begin the procedure of selecting a college. To begin with, you have to find the ideal program that will furnish the proper education to become a qualified professional. And since 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 certification or licensing exam. So it’s very important that you research each college so that you can evaluate and compare your alternatives. But just where does one start? Most students will start by searching for schools that are within travelling distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location should be taken into account when making a decision, but there are other significant factors also. For instance, if the ultrasound technician schools are accredited or if they provide 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 degrees and online education programs that are available.

Sonographer Job Description

Lubbock TX sonographer testing pregnant woman There are various professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. Regardless of name, they all have the same primary job description, which is to perform diagnostic ultrasound testing on patients. Even though a number of techs work as generalists there are specialties within the profession, for example in pediatrics and cardiology. Most work in Lubbock TX clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Typical daily job tasks of a sonogram tech can involve:

Maintaining records of patient case histories and specifics of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Preparing the ultrasound machines for usage and then sterilizing and recalibrating them
Escorting patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
Utilizing equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
Reviewing the results and determining necessity for further testing

Sonographers must regularly assess the safety and performance of their equipment. They also must adhere to a high professional standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. So as to sustain that degree of professionalism and remain current with medical knowledge, they are mandated to enroll in continuing education courses on a regular basis.

Ultrasound Tech Degrees Offered

Lubbock TX ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Ultrasound technician students have the option to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will generally take about 18 months to 2 years to complete depending on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at as long as 4 years to complete. Another option for those who have previously earned 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 health sector, you can enroll in a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to complete. Something to bear in mind is that almost all sonographer programs do have a clinical training component as a portion of their curriculum. It can often be fulfilled by entering into an internship program which numerous colleges organize with Lubbock TX hospitals and clinics. When you have graduated from one of the certificate or degree programs, you will then need to fulfill the certification or licensing prerequisites in Texas or whichever state you decide to work in.

Online Ultrasound Technician Colleges

woman attending online sonography school in Lubbock TX As previously mentioned, virtually all sonogram tech schools have a practical requirement to their programs. So while you can earn a degree or certificate online, a significant portion of the training will be either carried out in an on campus lab or at a sponsored off-campus facility. Practical training can usually be satisfied by means of an internship at a local Lubbock TX hospital, outpatient clinic or family practice. However the balance of the training and classes can be attended online in your Lubbock home. This is particularly convenient for those students that continue working while obtaining their degrees. In addition online schools are many times less costly than on campus alternatives. Expenditures for study materials and commuting can be reduced also. But similarly as with every ultrasound tech school you are considering, check that the online program you enroll in is accredited. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially crucial for certification, licensing and job placement (more on accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to learn outside of the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online degree may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Ultrasound Tech Schools

Questions to ask Lubbock TX ultrasound tech schools As soon as you have decided on which certificate or degree that you would like to obtain, you can initiate the procedure of evaluating and comparing ultrasound technician schools. You will first probably want to decide whether you would rather access classes online or travel to a college campus in the Lubbock TX area. Certainly location will be important if you select the latter, and the cost of tuition undoubtedly will be an important qualification also. But there are other things that you should also take into consideration, for instance if the colleges are accredited and if they sponsor internships. Therefore in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can arrive at your ultimate selection, following are some questions that you need ask each ultrasound tech school prior to making a decision.

Are the Ultrasound Technician Colleges Accredited? A large number of ultrasound tech schools have obtained some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still crucial to make sure that the school and program 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). Programs receiving accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through an extensive review of their teachers and educational materials. If the program is online it may also earn 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. Along with ensuring a premium education, accreditation will also help in getting financial assistance and student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And a number of Lubbock TX health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry level jobs.

Are Internships Offered? Ask if the sonogram technician programs you are interested in have partnerships with Lubbock TX hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a terrific way to receive hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are also a means to satisfy the practical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a supplemental benefit, they can help students and graduates establish professional relationships in the Lubbock healthcare community and assist with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the sonographer schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Texas healthcare employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Lubbock TX residence. 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 local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don’t reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the sonogram technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the ultrasound tech program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Lubbock TX area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Lubbock TX?

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

Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock (/ˈlʌbək/ LUB-ək)[6] is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States.[7] The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically and geographically as the Llano Estacado and ecologically is part of the southern end of the High Plains. According to a 2015 Census estimate, Lubbock had a population of 252,506.[2] making it the 83rd-most populous city in the United States of America and the 11th-most populous city in the state of Texas.[8][9] The city is the economic center of the Lubbock metropolitan area, which has a projected 2020 population of 327,424.[10]

Lubbock's nickname, "Hub City", derives from it being the economic, educational, and health care hub of the multicounty region, north of the Permian Basin and south of the Texas Panhandle, commonly called the South Plains.[11] The area is the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in the world[12][13] and is heavily dependent on water drawn from the Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation. Lubbock was selected as the 12th-best place to start a small business by CNNMoney.com.[14] CNN mentioned the city's traditional business atmosphere: low rent for commercial space, central location, and cooperative city government. Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University, the sixth-largest college by enrollment in the state. Lubbock High School has been recognized for three consecutive years by Newsweek as one of the top high schools in the United States, based in part on its international baccalaureate program.[15]

Lubbock County was founded in 1876. It was named after Thomas Saltus Lubbock, former Texas Ranger and brother of Francis Lubbock, governor of Texas during the Civil War.[16] As early as 1884, a U.S. post office existed in Yellow House Canyon. A small town, known as Old Lubbock, Lubbock, or North Town, was established about three miles to the east. In 1890, the original Lubbock merged with Monterey, another small town south of the canyon. The new town adopted the Lubbock name. The merger included moving the original Lubbock's Nicolett Hotel across the canyon on rollers to the new townsite. Lubbock became the county seat in 1891,[17] and was incorporated on March 16, 1909. In the same year, the first railroad train arrived.

Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) was founded in Lubbock in 1923. A separate university, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, opened as Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1969. Both universities are now overseen by the Texas Tech University System, after it was established in 1996 and based in Lubbock. Lubbock Christian University, founded in 1957, and Sunset International Bible Institute, both affiliated with the Churches of Christ, have their main campuses in the city. South Plains College and Wayland Baptist University operate branch campuses in Lubbock.

Find the Right Degree In Ultrasound Sonography Lubbock TX

Choosing the right sonographer degree or certificate program is an important first step to commencing a rewarding new profession providing diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician programs require that you have a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition to satisfying academic standards, you need to be in at least reasonably good physical health, able to stand for lengthy time frames with the ability to regularly lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it typically necessary to adjust patients and move heavy machines. Additional desirable skills include technical aptitude, the ability to keep calm when confronted by an angry or anxious patient and the ability to communicate clearly and compassionately. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Degree In Ultrasound Sonography. However, as we have covered in this post, there are a number of questions that you need to ask each program you are considering. This holds true whether you select an online program or travel to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the right questions so that you can assess each program, you can narrow down your alternatives until you are left with the ideal program for your education. And with the right training, dedication and determination to succeed, you can realize your goal to practice as an ultrasound technologist in Lubbock TX.