How to Choose the Right Sonogram Technician Training Program near Sebago Maine
Once you have decided to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Sebago ME, the next step is to begin the process of choosing a college. First, you need to find the right program that will provide the proper education to become a skilled professional. And because a number of states do require that sonographers be either licensed or certified, depending on where you will practice you may also need to be prepared to pass a certification or licensing examination. So it’s extremely important that you investigate each college in order to evaluate and compare your options. But exactly where does one begin? Most potential students will start by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location must be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are other critical factors as well. For instance, if the ultrasound technician schools are accredited or if they provide internships. These and other qualifiers will be covered more in detail later in this article. But first, let’s go over what a sonogram tech does and the credentials and online training programs that are available.
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Ultrasound Technician Job Description
There are various professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also referred to as ultrasound technologists, sonogram techs, and diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers). Regardless of name, they all have the same primary job function, which is to carry out diagnostic ultrasound testing on patients. While a number of techs practice as generalists there are specialties within the profession, for instance in pediatrics and cardiology. Most practice in Sebago ME hospitals, clinics, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. Common daily work functions of an ultrasound tech can include:
- Preserving records of patient medical histories and specifics of each procedure
- Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
- Prepping the ultrasound machines for use and then cleaning and re-calibrating them
- Escorting patients to treatment rooms and making them comfortable
- Utilizing equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
- Reviewing the results and identifying need for further testing
Sonographers must routinely assess the performance and safety of their equipment. They also are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct as medical practitioners. In order to maintain that level of professionalism and stay up to date with medical knowledge, they are required to complete continuing education training on an ongoing basis.
Sonogram Technician Degree Programs Offered
Ultrasound technician students have the choice to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will generally take around 18 months to 2 years to complete depending on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as long as four years to complete. Another option for those who have previously received 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 relevant medical sector, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to finish. Something to bear in mind is that most sonographer programs do have a practical training element as part of their curriculum. It often may be fulfilled by participating in an internship program which numerous schools sponsor with Sebago ME hospitals and clinics. Once you have graduated from one of the certificate or degree programs, you will then need to satisfy the licensing or certification requirements in Maine or whichever state you decide to work in.
Ultrasound Technician Online Degrees
As earlier discussed, almost all ultrasound technician schools have a clinical component to their programs. So although you can earn a degree or certificate online, a substantial part of the training will be either carried out in an on campus lab or at a sponsored off-campus facility. Clinical training can typically be satisfied by means of an internship at a local Sebago ME outpatient clinic, hospital or family practice. But the balance of the classes and training may be accessed online in your Sebago home. This is especially beneficial for those students that keep working while getting their degrees. Plus online colleges are frequently less costly than on campus options. Costs for study materials and commuting may be reduced as well. But similarly as with any ultrasound tech school you are reviewing, confirm that the online school you ultimately pick is accredited. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is particularly significant for licensing, certification and job placement (more on accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to learn outside of the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online school could be the right option for you.
What to Ask Sonogram Tech Colleges
When you have determined the type of certificate or degree that you would like to earn, you can start the process of assessing and comparing ultrasound tech colleges. You may first want to choose whether you will access classes online or commute to a school campus in the Sebago ME area. Of course location will be important if you decide on the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an important qualifier as well. But there are other variables that you must also take into consideration, such as if the schools are accredited and if they offer internships. Therefore in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can make your final selection, below are a few questions that you need ask each ultrasound tech college before deciding.
Are the Sonogram Tech Programs Accredited? A large number of ultrasound technician schools have earned some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. Even so, it’s still crucial to make sure that the school and program are accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting organizations 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 a rigorous review of their instructors and course materials. If the program is online it might also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. All accrediting agencies should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Along with guaranteeing a superior education, accreditation will also help in getting financial aid and student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited programs. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And many Sebago ME health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited school for entry-level positions.
Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out if the sonogram tech schools you are evaluating have relationships with Sebago ME clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a great manner to get hands on training in a clinical environment, they are also a way to fulfill the practical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they can assist graduates and students develop professional relationships in the Sebago healthcare community and assist with job placement.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the ultrasound tech programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Maine healthcare employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Sebago ME home. Students who have decided 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 concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don’t reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the sonogram technician program as well.
Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the sonographer school you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Sebago ME area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Medical Sonography School Online Sebago Maine
Enrolling in the right sonographer degree or certificate program is a crucial first step to entering a fulfilling new profession providing diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician schools require that you have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. Apart from meeting academic requirements, you must be in at least fairly good physical health, able to stand for extended durations and able to routinely lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it often necessary to position patients and move heavy equipment. Other helpful talents include technical proficiency, the ability to remain levelheaded when faced with an angry or anxious patient and the ability to communicate in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Medical Sonography School Online and wanting more information on Where Can I Go To School For Ultrasound Technician. However, as we have covered in this post, there are multiple questions that you need to ask each program you are considering. This is true whether you enroll in an online degree or commute to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the proper questions so that you can compare each college, you can narrow down your options until you are left with the ideal school for your education. And with the right training, discipline and motivation to succeed, you can achieve your objective to work as an ultrasound technologist in Sebago ME.
More Ultrasound Locations in Maine
Sebago Lake
Sebago Lake is the deepest and second largest lake in the U.S. state of Maine. The lake is 316 feet (96 m) deep at its deepest point, with a mean depth of 101 feet (31 m), covers about 45 square miles (117 km2) in surface area, has a length of 12 miles (19 km) and a shoreline length of 105 miles (169 km).[2] The surface is around 270 feet (82 m) above sea level, so the deep bottom is below the present sea level.[3] It is in Cumberland County, Maine, and bordered by the towns of Casco, Naples, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham. The seasonally occupied town of Frye Island is on an island in the lake.[4]
The lake is connected to Brandy Pond by the Songo River and eventually to Long Lake in Naples. The name comes from a local Native American tribe. The lake is drained primarily by the Presumpscot River. The lake and rivers were an early transportation corridor from the coast to the interior, and encouraged the first incorporated European settlement of interior Maine in 1762.[5] Sebago Lake was linked to Portland harbor by the Cumberland and Oxford Canal in 1832. The outlet to the Presumpscot River was controlled for the canal by the Eel Weir Dam and the Head Dam, owned and operated by the Oriental Powder Company after the canal was replaced by a railroad[6] and by the S. D. Warren Paper Mill after 1878.[2][7]
The lake was a comparatively safe place for training military pilots from NAS Brunswick about flying over water; but several navy planes were lost over the lake during World War II. A Grumman TBF Avenger from the Lewiston Naval Auxiliary Air Facility ditched and sank near Raymond on 16 August 1943. Two low-flying British Vought Corsairs from Brunswick were lost after a mid-air collision over the lake near Raymond on 16 May 1944; and a third Corsair flew into the lake on July 16.[8] In December 2014 the first Sebago Lake beach landing in the history of the world was made by a yellow Supercub.
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