Advance Your Ultrasound Technology Career
Exploring New Job Opportunities In Sonography
Ultrasound technicians are at the forefront of critical health care and disease prevention. Not only is the field of sonography fulfilling, but it provides many avenues for advancement. Professionals in the ultrasound technology profession fill job titles such as diagnostic medical sonographers, ultrasound technologists, ultrasonographers and more. The education needed to become and advance as a sonographer varies, but rest assured that there is no one path to career advancement. Continue reading to learn more about the field and which educational and career path might be right for you.
Oregon Institute of Technology
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Career Advancement for Ultrasound Technicians
With so many different career paths for ultrasound technicians, it can be difficult to know where to start. However, knowing what a typical career path looks like will help you make a decision about specializations, education and if sonography is the field for you.
Top 3 Ways to Advance Your Medical Sonography Career
Sometimes a sonographer may have an established career, but they feel that it’s time for a promotion, pay raise or simply a change of pace. While there are different ways to advance your career, there are three surefire methods to getting the most out your medical sonography career.
1 Pick a Specialty
The first way to advance your sonography career is to pick a specialty. It’s no secret that becoming an expert in a certain topic will make you that much more valuable not only to your practice, but to your patients. Picking a specialty is a great way to proactively further your career, whether you’ve already started your career or you’re picking your track in a university program.
- Research specialties while looking for educational programs One easy way to discover which specialty is right for you is by researching the various areas of study at the school or program of your choice. Learn if they offer specialties in cardiovascular sonography, abdominal sonography, neurosonography or OB/GYN sonography. This works two-fold as you will narrow down options for schooling while also learning more about the field and how you would like to succeed within it.
- Find a school that teaches your preferred specialty When researching and applying to schools, be sure to double and triple check that all your schools offer the program of your choice. By taking that simple, but effective step you’re ensuring that you won’t waste time and money discovering that a program doesn’t offer exactly what you need.
- Consider what you’re passionate about If you’re not quite sure what your best path in sonography is, then consider what causes and diseases you are passionate about. Do you want to help parents see their unborn child? Or help heart disease patients overcome their ailments? In taking the time to learn what interests you, you will choose a specialty that will make you happy in the long run.
2 Further Your Education
It’s been said that one should never stop learning, and that is especially true for diagnostic medial sonographers. Whether you’re looking to complete a bachelor’s degree from an associate degree, or you want to pursue a Ph.D., receiving another degree can open up more job opportunities.
- Establish an educational goal Part of being successful is having a well thought out plan, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to furthering your education in ultrasound technology. The best way to do this is to establish goals. Think about everything from your dream job to application due dates written down in a visible space that will hold you accountable to pursue your dreams.
- Think about your available resources It’s no secret. School is expensive, but that doesn’t mean that it’s out of reach. When picking the right program for you, be sure to consider how much money you can spend each semester in addition to how much time you can give, and use that information to pick the perfect program for you.
- Apply for financial aid The beauty of going back to school is that there are still a multitude of scholarships, grants and loans to help aspiring ultrasound technicians through the process. Many schools offer cost calculators that can give approximations as to how much a semester will cost in addition to offering various resources to help connect to students to financial aid opportunities.
3. Expand Your Role
Another great way for sonographers to advance their career is to expand their role. This means keeping their role as a sonographer while adding on another responsibility at their current practice, such as becoming a nurse in addition to a medical sonographer.
- Reach out to a mentor or supervisor One of the best ways to learn if expanding your role is the right career move for you is to reach out to a mentor or supervisor that can help you learn about the field and the best way to proceed. They can help you with everything from deciding how to expand your role to discovering whether or not it’s the right choice for you.
- Learn about certifications for other positions Sometimes expanding your role may require additional certifications. Before deciding that it’s the right step for you, be sure to look into what certifications, if any, are needed and what requirements are needed to receive them. For example, medical sonographers that seek to also work as registered nurses will need to pass the NCLEX-RN and become certified.
- Network with those you’d like to learn from One of the greatest boons to any career is networking with purpose. If you are considering expanding your role, reach out to someone who has already done so. They can be an incredible resource in easing the transition should you choose to move forward with expanding your position.
Top 3 Medical Sonography Careers to Advance Into
Some careers are more well-suited for advancement than others, and there are always different benefits and attributes that will make one the most fulfilling choice for someone who’d like to advance. For those wanting to make the professional leap, it’s helpful to know exactly what those careers are and how to get there. Read on to learn more about the three best careers for ultrasonographers to advance into.
Managerial Role
Taking on a managerial role is one of the first things ultrasound techs can do when looking to advance in their careers. Not only does it signify that you are capable of handling greater responsibility, but doing so can also launch your ascent up the career ladder. Here are a few tips that can help you get you well on your way to a managerial role:
Be a model employee
For ultrasonographers looking to be promoted to a managerial position, the first thing that you can do to set yourself apart is to perform daily tasks on time, efficiently and passionately. Demonstrating that you love what you do, and doing a good job with every task is an excellent way to standout in a workplace.
When an opportunity comes, take it
A simple, but often overlooked way to expand your personal growth and open new employment options is to be open and accept extra tasks and opportunities. In remaining open to everything that comes your way, you will establish yourself as the go-to and go-getter of the practice.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a promotion
If you’re looking to move up to a managerial position, but it doesn’t seem like anyone has taken notice, it may be time to pitch the idea yourself. When doing this, it’s important to have a plan. Know what you’re going to say, how you’re going to say it, what you want out of your job and how you’re being that position will make the organization better as a whole.
Ultrasound Researcher
Becoming an ultrasound researcher is ideal for those who want to take an even more scientific approach to the bigger picture of sonography. Ultrasound researchers work closely with research scientists to learn more about the human body and ways to solve some of the nation’s most pressing public health issues.
Pursue a higher degree in sonography
While it’s possible to become an ultrasound researcher with a bachelor’s degree, it doesn’t hurt to get a master’s to become more knowledgeable and qualified to conduct research. Doing so will cement an understanding of research practices, and establish the skills necessary to do useful work in the field.
Gain expertise in an ultrasound specialty
As with many things in life, developing an expertise in a sector of sonography such as OB/GYN or neurosonography will make you a more valuable candidate for a position as a researcher. Being an expert gives you the basis of knowledge that will help you conduct meaningful work.
Reach out to other ultrasound researchers
It’s always a good idea to reach out to others in the field who had a career trajectory similar to that which you want to take. Doing so will help you learn what the best next steps to take are, how to get where you want to go and the qualities that are desired in ultrasound researchers.
Sonography Educator
Becoming a sonography educator is ideal for those who have attained a master’s or doctoral degree in sonography and have a love for both education and sonography. While an excellent option for those who no longer want to work in the field, but still want to remain involved in sonography, there are special steps people can take that will help anyone succeed as a sonography educator.
Earn a Master’s of PhD in sonography
Sonography educators are required to have a higher degree of education themselves. This will not only familiarize them with everything they’ll need to know to be successful as an educator, but it will also create a bond between themselves and the education process.
Consider skills needed to become an educator
Educators have to have certain qualities and skills beyond just that of sonography. They must be compassionate, willing to work with students to help them achieve their goals and understanding of different learning methods.
Minor in education as an undergraduate
Part of learning if becoming an educator may be the right path for you, is minoring in education as an undergraduate. You can also take a few education classes as a way to familiarize yourself with proper education techniques and give yourself a stronger base in educational skills.
A Closer Look: Ultrasound Technician Salary by State
As with any profession, there are variations in salary between different states. Employment outlook for ultrasound technicians is generally very good. On average, ultrasound technicians across the country make around $68,970, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an unemployment rate of 1.9 percent. Check out the salary and employment map below to compare salaries state by state.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2015)
Side-by-Side: Compare Salaries in Allied Healthcare
Knowing how much other professions make in relation to how much schooling it takes to get there, can be just the thing you need to know in order to decide your next professional and educational steps. The table below gives a comparative breakdown of the salaries in different professions in allied healthcare and typical educational requirements.
| Career | Median Annual Salary (2015) | Typical Educational Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $68,970 | Certificate, Associate or Bachelor’s Degree |
| Registered Nurse | $67,490 | Associate or Bachelor’s Degree, NCLEX-RN Exam |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $50,550 | Bachelor’s Degree, some states require licensing. |
| Radiologic and MRI Technologists | $58,120 | Associate Degree |
| Biological technicians | $41,650 | Associate Degree |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $73,360 | Associate Degree |
| Radiation Therapists | $80,220 | Associate Degree |
| Physician Assistants | $98,180 | Master’s Degree |
| EMTs and Paramedics | $31,980 | Post-secondary non-degree award |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2015)
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Advancing Your Career
There are several considerations someone should make before advancing in ultrasound technology. These range from looking at the job market to education requirements, and even relocation. Advancing in your sonography career isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. The following list of questions to ask yourself is engineered to help you make the best decision for your personal circumstances and needs.
