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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
IS "SONOGRAPHY MINUTES" AN ACCREDITED ULTRASOUND PROGRAM?
“Sonography Minutes” is not an Ultrasound program or school, and it is not accredited with the United States of America Ultrasound program accrediting body, CAAHEP as an Ultrasound training program. Sonography Minutes is not intended to provide an Ultrasound Education or degree, rather, it is for informational purposes only, to be used as a supplementary educational tool for those who are either within an accredited Ultrasound Educational Program or who have graduated from an accredited Ultrasound Educational Program or alternative Medical Field (such as a Medical School, PA, or ARNP program).
Can I watch Sonography Minutes' educational content instead of attending ultrasound school?
No. Consuming Sonography Mintutes’ educational content will not provide you with a complete education in Ultrasound. Participating in Sonography Minutes’ trainings will not qualify you to sit for any Ultrasound licensing exams, which are required within most medical facilities in order to perform work as a Sonographer. Sonography Minutes is for informational purposes only and is not intended to act as or replace education within an accredited Ultrasound school or program.
Can I sit for my ultrasound licensing exams after participating in sonography minutes' educational trainings?
No. To sit for the United States Ultrasound Licensing exams (ARDMS), you must complete training within a formal accredited ultrasound program or school. Please see the ARDMS website for further information on prerequisites for Ultrasound licensing exams.
How do i find an accredited ultrasound school/program?
I recommend the following websites to start with your information search: https://www.ultrasoundschoolsinfo.com; https://ultrasoundschoolsguide.com; https://www.caahep.org; https://sonographytechnicianschools.com; https:ultrasoundtechnicianschools.com; https://www.ardms.org; https://ultrasoundtechniciancenter.org. I also recommend that you check the websites of local 2 and 4 year colleges in your area to see whether or not they offer diagnostic ultrasound programs (be sure to compare these programs with the caahep accreditation website; I wholeheartedly recommend through to a caahep accredited program)
How long is ultrasound school?
It depends on what type of program you enter. You can get an Ultrasound Certificate (length of program varies); an Associate’s Degree in Diagnostic Ultrasound (2 years + prerequisite classes); or a Bachelor’s Degree in Ultrasound. My personal opinion is to go for either an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree program. Yes, you can obtain employement with an Ultrasound Certificate, but employers prefer Associate’s Degrees or Bachelor’s Degrees, so a Certificate could potentially limit your future career prospects. Also, if you ever want to move up the ladder in Ultrasound (Lead Sonographer, Department Manager, Ultrasound Instructor, etc.) you will need an Associate’s Degree at a very minimum, though a Bachelor’s Degree is preferred.
WHAT TYPEs of ultrasound are there?
General Ultrasound: this is a field in which Sonographers evaluate many parts of the body including the abdomen, small parts (such as the thyroid, scrotum and prostate), breast, OBGYN (female and male pelvis and first, second and third trimester obstetrics), pediatrics (working with babies and children), and neurosonology (looking at babies’ brains with ultrasound). They also work with Radiologists and PA’s to provide ultrasound guidance for procedures (core biopsy, FNA, etc.) in the operating room, emergency room and cath lab. General Sonographers work in outpatient, inpatient and/or emergency room settings.
Vascular Ultrasound: this is a field in which Sonographers evaluate the arteries and the veins of the body including extremity veins and arteries, mesenteric doppler, renal arterial doppler, TIPS, abdominal vasculature, renal and liver transplants, carotid, and transcranial doppler. Vascular Sonographers work in oupatient, inpatient and/or emergency room settings.
Echo: in this field, Sonographers evaluate the fetal, adult and pediatric heart for abnormalities and blood flow characteristics. Echo Sonographers work in outpatient, inpatient and/or emergency room settings.
MSK: in this field, Sonographers evaluate muscles, nerves, tendons, cartilage and ligaments thoughout the body. MSK Sonographers most commmonly work in outpatient settings.
Breast: in this field, Sonographers work closely with Breast Radiologists and Mammographers (breast x-ray techs) to evaluate the Breast tissue. They also assist the Radiologist with Ultrasound guided breast procedures including FNA, core biopsy and wire localizations. Breast Sonographers most commonly work in a dedicated Breast Center (outpatient), though they may be called from time to time to evaluate patients with Breast symptoms in the Emergency room.
Pediatric Sonographer: in this field, Sonographers work with babies and children, most commonly in a dedicated Children’s Hospital. A Sonographer in this setting may be an Echo tech or a General Ultrasound tech.
OBGYN Sonographer: in this field, Sonographers work in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (and evaluate high-risk OB patients under the supervision of a Gynecologist or High-Risk OB Physician) or work in an outpatient OBGYN clinic, evaluating GYN and OB patients under the supervision of a Gynecologist.
WHAT TYPE OF LICENSING DO SONOGRAPHER'S Hold?
In the United States of America, a licensed Sonographer has one or more certifications from the ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography). The 4 categories of certifications are RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) which is held by General Sonographers; RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist) which is held by Vascular Sonographers, RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers) which is held by Echo Sonographers; and RMSKS (Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer). Most medical facilites require that their Sonographers hold one (or more) of the above certifications and/or be registry eligible (eligible to sit for one or more of the above certifications and become certified within one year of hire). Sonographers are not medical practitioners and cannot practice independently. Sonographers work under the supervison of a Radiologist or other licensed medical practitioner (such as a Physician, PA or ARNP). Sonographers cannot diagnose, or offer medical advice or opinion to patients.
what sub-specialties are within each ultrasound category?
RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer): Abdomen, Breast, Fetal Echocardiography, Neurosonology, OBGYN, Pediatric Sonography
RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist): there are no subspecialties within this category
RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer): Adult Echo, Fetal Echo, Pediatric Echo
RMSKS (Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer): there are no subspecialites within this category.
Can I become registered in a subspecialty of sonography without holding one of the 4 primary licensing categories?
No. You must become licensed in one of the 4 primary categories (RDMS, RVT, RDCS or RMSKS). You become licensed in one of these 4 categories by taking an Ultrasound physics exam + one subspecialty exam. You may hold as many subspecialty licenses within that category as you can obtain (by passing the exam for that sub-specialty). You may also hold more than one category of licensure (Example: a common certification to hold is both RDMS and RVT).
Can I practice Ultrasound as a sub-specialist only? Sometimes.
OBGYN, Breast, and Pediatric are sub-specialites that you can have a career in without crossing into other sub-specialites.
Other subspecialties (such as abdomen, neurosonology, etc.) are performed in conjunction with other sub-specialties, and there’s not a job available performing just that one type of sub-specialty. Most commonly, a General Sonographer will hold Abdomen and OBGYN credentials and perform both types of exams in their day-to-day profession.
The other sub-specialities are considered a “bonus,” unless working strictly in a Breast Center or an OBGYN practice.
Many people interested in the field of Sonographer think that it would be cool to become a neurosonologist (they look at baby brains with ultrasound). Note that this is not its own, separate field, and is performed by General Sonographers who also perform other types of Ultrasound specialties such as Abdomen and OBGYN.
do i need to take prerequisite classes to attend ultrasound school?
Yes. Every Ultrasound program will have their own specific list of prerequisites in order to apply for the ultrasound program. Visit the website of the school that you are interested in to find that school’s specific list of prerequisite classes.
I'm Outside the US, how does ultrasound school and licensing work in my country?
Ultrasound school requirements, licensing and the field of ultrasound is different within every country. In some countries, ultrasound is not performed by technologists, and only licensed physicians may perform the exams. You will need to research the field of ultrasound for any countries outside the United States of America. The above FAQ’s pertain only to the Ultrasound field within the United States of America.