How to Select the Right Ultrasound Technician Degree Program near Statesville North Carolina
Once you have made a decision to obtain an ultrasound technician degree near Statesville NC, the next step is to start the process of picking a school. To begin with, you need to find the ideal program that will provide the necessary education to become a skilled professional. And given that a number of states do mandate that ultrasound techs be either licensed or certified, depending on where you will practice you may also need to be prepared to pass a certification or licensing exam. So it’s extremely important that you research each program in order to evaluate and compare your choices. But exactly where does one begin? Many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Naturally cost and location must be taken into account when making a decision, but there are other significant factors also. For instance, if the ultrasound technician schools are accredited or if they sponsor internships. These and additional qualifications will be addressed more in depth later in this article. But to start with, let’s review what an ultrasound tech does and the credentials and online education options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Ultrasound Technician Schools!
Sonographer Work Summary
There are various professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. Regardless of name, they all have the same basic job function, which is to carry out diagnostic ultrasound procedures on patients. Although many practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in cardiology and pediatrics. Most work in Statesville NC clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Common daily work duties of an ultrasound technician can involve:
- Keeping records of patient case histories and specifics of each procedure
- Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
- Preparing the ultrasound machines for usage and then cleaning and re-calibrating them
- Moving patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
- Operating equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
- Evaluating results and identifying need for additional testing
Sonographers must frequently evaluate the performance and safety of their equipment. They also are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. So as to sustain that level of professionalism and stay up to date with medical knowledge, they are required to enroll in continuing education courses on an ongoing basis.
Ultrasound Technician Degrees Available
Sonogram tech enrollees have the opportunity to acquire either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will usually involve around 18 months to 2 years to accomplish based upon the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at up to 4 years to complete. Another alternative 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 enroll in a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to complete. Something to consider is that most ultrasound technician schools do have a practical training component as a portion of their course of study. It often may be fulfilled by entering into an internship program which numerous colleges sponsor with Statesville NC clinics and hospitals. Once you have graduated from any of the certificate or degree programs, you will then have to comply with the licensing or certification requirements in North Carolina or whichever state you elect to work in.
Online Ultrasound Tech Colleges
As aforementioned, virtually all sonogram technician schools have a practical requirement to their programs. So although you can receive a certificate or degree online, a substantial portion of the training will be either carried out in an on-campus lab or at an approved off campus facility. Clinical training can usually be satisfied by means of an internship at a local Statesville NC outpatient clinic, hospital or family practice. But the rest of the classes and training can be accessed online in your Statesville home. This is especially convenient for those individuals that continue working while obtaining their degrees. In addition online colleges are often less costly than traditional alternatives. Expenses for study materials and commuting can be reduced as well. But similarly as with any sonographer school you are considering, confirm that the online program you choose is accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting organizations is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially significant for licensing, certification and job placement (more on accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to attend classes away from the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then online classes could be the right choice for you.
Points to Ask Ultrasound Tech Programs
As soon as you have decided on which certificate or degree that you would like to obtain, you can begin the procedure of evaluating and comparing ultrasound tech colleges. You may first want to decide whether you would rather access classes online or commute to a school campus in the Statesville NC area. Clearly location will be important if you select the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualifier as well. But there are other factors that you must also take into consideration, for example if the colleges are accredited and if they sponsor internships. Therefore in order to complete your due diligence so that you can make your final selection, following are a few questions that you may want to ask each ultrasound tech college prior to making a decision.
Are the Ultrasound Technician Schools Accredited? The majority of sonogram technician colleges have obtained some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still imperative to verify that the program and school are accredited. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Programs obtaining accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through an extensive examination of their teachers and educational materials. If the school is online it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Along with ensuring a quality education, accreditation will also assist in getting financial aid and student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And numerous Statesville NC employers will only hire a graduate of an accredited college for entry level openings.
Are Internships Provided? Inquire if the ultrasound technician colleges you are assessing have partnerships with Statesville NC clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only a great means to get practical training in a clinical environment, they are additionally a way to fulfill the clinical training requirement for most programs. As a supplemental benefit, they may help graduates and students develop professional connections in the Statesville medical community and assist with job placement.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Find out if the ultrasound tech schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with North Carolina healthcare employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Statesville NC residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the ultrasound tech program as well.
Does the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the sonographer school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Statesville NC area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.
Ultrasound Tech Degree Online Statesville North Carolina
Enrolling in the right sonographer degree or certificate program is an important first step to embarking on a gratifying new career furnishing diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer colleges require that you have a high school diploma or equivalent. Along with meeting academic requirements, you need to be in at least fairly good physical health, capable of standing for lengthy time frames with the ability to regularly lift weights of fifty pounds or more, as is it typically necessary to adjust patients and move heavy machinery. Additional preferred skills include technical aptitude, the ability to keep levelheaded when confronted by an angry or anxious patient and the ability to converse clearly and compassionately. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Ultrasound Tech Degree Online and wanting more information on Schools Offering Ultrasound Tech Programs. However, as we have addressed in this post, there are multiple questions that you should ask each school you are reviewing. This holds true whether you choose an online program or drive to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the appropriate questions so that you can assess each school, you will be able to narrow down your choices until you are left with the ideal school for your education. And with the right training, discipline and determination to succeed, you can accomplish your objective to work as an ultrasound tech in Statesville NC.
More Ultrasound Locations in North Carolina
Statesville, North Carolina
Statesville is a city in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States. Statesville was established in 1789 by an act of the North Carolina Legislature.[4] The population was 24,532 at the 2010 census,[5] and was estimated at 26,506 in 2016.[1] It is the county seat of Iredell County and is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area.[6]
Statesville is in central Iredell County, in the western part of the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Interstate 40 and Interstate 77 intersect in the northeastern part of the city. I-40 leads northeast 41 miles (66 km) to Winston-Salem and west 30 miles (48 km) to Hickory, while I-77 leads north 55 miles (89 km) to the Virginia border and south 42 miles (68 km) to Charlotte. Three U.S. highways run through the center of Statesville. US 21 follows the same general route as I-77, leading north 38 miles (61 km) to Elkin and south 15 miles (24 km) to Mooresville. US 64 runs to the northeast close to I-40, leading 24 miles (39 km) to Mocksville, while to the northwest it leads 43 miles (69 km) to Lenoir. US 70 runs southwest out of Statesville 13 miles (21 km) to Catawba and southeast 25 miles (40 km) to Salisbury.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Statesville has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.1 km2), of which 24.2 square miles (62.8 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.48%, are water.[5] The north side of Statesville is drained by Fourth Creek, while the south side is drained by Third Creek. Both creeks flow east, joining just before reaching the South Yadkin River near Cooleemee.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 10
2 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
17 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
23 Reviews 9 Reviews 3 Reviews 