Online Ultrasound Tech Degrees

Online ultrasound technician degrees, also known
as diagnostic medical sonography degrees, will train students to enter into an evolving, expanding field in health care. Sometimes grouped together with other medical imaging programs, online ultrasound tech degrees may be offered as full- or part-time programs, depending on the school. Students will learn how to work with ultrasound equipment on a diverse range of patients, not just pregnant women. Ultrasound equipment is now used to collect images of the abdomen and other parts of the body for other medical purposes as well. An accredited online ultrasound tech degree should also prepare students to sit for the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) exam, which is administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). Students researching online schools should look for official accreditation and information pointing to the preparation of this exam.

Most online ultrasound tech degrees are offered at the associate’s level, though certificate and bachelor degree programs are available too. Health care professionals looking to change their career path or add a digital imaging certification to their existing training and experience should consider the certificate option, while those who are new to the health care industry should opt for the associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree program. Associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in ultrasound technology will feature a combination of liberal arts and sciences courses plus a major-specific curriculum. Major-specific courses will include sectional anatomy, legal and ethical aspects of health care, diagnostic imaging, patient care, physics, medical imaging, research methods, pathophysiology, and more. More advanced programs may allow students to choose a sonography or ultrasound specialty, too. Whether or not you pursue a bachelor’s degree depends on your desire to open up your career options and increase your potential salary.

Just as many other health care fields are experiencing job growth and a healthy job outlook, online ultrasound tech graduates will notice that their field is projected to experience faster-than-average job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the industry will see a 19 percent increase — or approximately 8,700 new jobs — in employment. The best jobs will be found at large research hospitals which have budgets for new, experimental technology and cutting edge health care systems. The BLS also estimates that the median annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers is nearly the same for those who work in hospitals — $$56,850 — and those who work in doctors’ offices — $56,970. As more patients are filtered out of hospitals to managed care and outpatient care facilities, diagnostic sonographers will see more job openings appear in those health care environments as well.