How to Become a Medical Sonographer

The employment outlook for medical sonographers has never been better. As the U.S. population ages, the country will need more skilled medical professionals to monitor and assess conditions associated with the elderly, such as musculoskeletal issues, heart disease, and cancer.

The healthcare industry increasingly views sonography as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to radiation imaging.

Continue reading to find out how to become a medical sonographer. Learn about degree options, opportunities for specialization, and salary prospects.

Becoming a medical sonographer requires about two years of postsecondary study. Many sonographers earn an associate of applied science degree from a community college, career college, or university.

Other educational paths include one-year associate degrees offered by hospital training programs or colleges, or four-year undergraduate degrees in sonography.

The path of how to become a medical sonographer involves a lot of technical skills — you’ll need to be able to work and maintain the sonographic equipment.

Performing an ultrasound requires good hand-eye coordination and attention to detail, to ensure images capture what the physician needs to see. Interpersonal skills help put patients at ease in what can be uncomfortable circumstances.

Only four states require licensing for medical sonographers: New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon. However, many programs prepare graduates for professional certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

This credential requires documented education and clinical experience. Candidates must also pass an exam.

Your education to become a medical sonographer includes a combination of classroom study and hands-on learning. Coursework covers anatomy and physiology, physics, sonographic instruments, and procedures for various types of ultrasound imaging. You also study how to document findings and write medical reports.

Clinical rotations ensure you can apply the principles and theories covered in the classroom in a real-world setting and allow you to gain experience working with patients. Medical sonographers must

You can choose from certificate programs or associate degree programs. Be sure the program you choose holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and prepares you for ARDMS examinations.

Some schools may offer elective courses in specialized ultrasound technology, like breast or musculoskeletal sonography. You can find programs offering on-campus, online, and hybrid learning opportunities.

While many students may prefer to be a medical sonography generalist, the field offers opportunities to specialize.

Specialization allows you to focus on a specific type of ultrasound imaging, like the abdomen or breast. You can also prepare to work with a particular population, like pediatric patients.

Some specializations may require additional training or continuing education. ARDMS offers certification in the specialties. You must pass the Sonography, Principles, and Instrumentation exam and a specialty exam to earn the professional credential.

Specializations include:

ARDMS previously offered a neurosonography credential, but discontinued the exam in 2017. According to the organization, components of the certification exam complement the content of the pediatric certification exam.

The median medical sonographer salary in May 2023 exceeded the median wage for all workers. Sonographers reported median earnings of $80,850 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. Wages ranged from less than $63,680, in the bottom 10th percentile to more than $116,300 in the 90th percentile.

Hospitals employ about 60% of medical sonographers. They paid sonographers an average salary of $88,650. Where you live also impacts your earning potential. Medical sonographers in California made the most in May 2023, with a median salary of $122,670.

Medical sonography jobs offer good pay and job security. The BLS projects 15% growth in the employment of diagnostic medical sonographers from 2023-2033. As medical imaging evolves, sonographers trained in cardiac, vascular, or muscular sonography may find increased career opportunities in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other healthcare settings.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are key differences. Ultrasound technicians provide monitoring information working with a team of doctors and healthcare professionals. Sonographers monitor, diagnose, and treat medical conditions for diverse patient populations with specific conditions. While medical sonographers perform some of the same procedures as ultrasound technicians, they often work in more specialized areas such as oncology or obstetrics.

You need strong math skills to work in the field of sonography. You must complete prerequisites in high school science and math courses, including algebra, calculus, and geometry, for admission to a sonography program.

Each of these professions requires a unique set of skills and different training. While nursing degrees provide students with comprehensive medical knowledge applied to patient care, sonographers must master a broad set of technological skills to monitor and assess a wide range of illnesses and injuries. Sonography programs require more clinical hours and final exams than a nursing degree.