How to Become an Ultrasound Technician

If you see a bruise or a gash, it’s easy to assess the problem and find a solution. But what about the things we can’t see?

Ultrasound technicians are healthcare specialists who can look beneath the surface. Using special equipment, they create noninvasive images of the insides of bodies to detect medical conditions, such as blood clots, pregnancies, and enlarged spleens.

Ultrasound technicians, also called sonographers, are generally paid well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), they’re among the highest-paid healthcare jobs that don’t require med school, earning a median annual salary of $84,470 as of May 2023.

Wondering how to become an ultrasound technician? There are four essential steps to follow. Most students need anywhere from 1-6 years to complete their ultrasound technician education, depending on their level of education before beginning the process and how extensive an educational pathway they choose.

For professionals who are educated and trained in another healthcare field, one-year certificate programs in sonography are available.

An ultrasound technician performs noninvasive imaging tests (sonograms or ultrasounds) to create pictures of a patient’s organs and tissues. Doctors, surgeons, radiologists, and other healthcare workers view these images to assess and diagnose medical conditions.

Ultrasound technicians often work in hospitals, doctor offices, medical laboratories, outpatient centers (e.g., ambulatory surgical centers and women’s health practices), and university and college health centers.

The basic duties of an ultrasound technician include:

The American Society of Radiologic Technologies (ASRT) publishes the “ASRT Practice Standards for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy” on its website. This document is a helpful resource for students and professionals in related fields.

The ultrasound technician certification process gives you the opportunity to prove you’ve met all education requirements and mastered the necessary skills to be a successful ultrasound technician.

Once you graduate from an accredited program, you can sit for the certification exam administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Later, you can seek additional specialized cardiac-related certifications from Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).

There are many sonography certifications you can earn. While these additional certifications will make your journey longer, they also provide specific expert knowledge and skills. These certifications include:

Available sonography-related cardiac certifications from CCI include:

According to the BLS, ultrasound technicians earn a competitive average annual salary of $84,470, or an average hourly wage of $40.61. Comparatively, the average American worker earns $61,900 per year, or an average hourly wage of $31.48.

The bottom 10% of ultrasound technicians earn an average of $63,680 per year, or an hourly wage of $30.61. The top 10% of ultrasound technicians earn $116,300 per year, or $55.91 per hour.

The BLS reports that the top-paying states for diagnostic medical sonographers are:

Certification in any field demonstrates competence, knowledge, and expertise. Initial certification for ultrasound technicians is a requirement for being able to practice professionally in most states.

As noted above, there are a number of specializations from ARDMS, ARRT, and CCI that can increase your earning power and ability to find a well-paying job.

In order to remain competitive for top jobs in well-known facilities and popular cities, advancing your education as an ultrasound technician can be a smart move. A bachelor’s degree in medical sonography may increase opportunities for positions like ultrasound department manager, while a master’s degree can open the door to positions in executive leadership (e.g., chief director of an ultrasound department), teaching at the college level, or becoming involved in research.

There are currently no doctoral programs in sonography, but a Ph.D. in a related health sciences field could lead to a senior position in a medical research facility or as dean of a university sonography program.