A person interested in becoming an ultrasound technician may be able to receive training form a hospital, a college, a university, or through a vocational-technical institute. In order to be accepted into some ultrasound technician programs, it is necessary to first have a general background in science or to have experience in the healthcare field. These programs generally take anywhere from two to four years, with a two year ultrasound technician program resulting in an associate degree and a four year program ending in a bachelor’s degree.
Typical coursework for a person pursuing an ultrasound technician degree includes physiology, anatomy, basic physics, instrumentation, medical ethics, and patient care. It is not necessary to become licensed in the ultrasound technician field, but those with certification through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) are preferred by most employers.
