The Vermont health care industry is rapidly growing and in need of trained professionals who can help meet the expanding medical needs of the state’s population. Looking ahead to 2017, skilled Diagnostic Medical Sonographers will find many employment opportunities as the health care industry relies more on high-tech, non-invasive procedures to meet patient needs.
5 Steps to Becoming a Sonographer in Vermont
- Step 1: Decide the type of degree and the preferred concentration
- Step 2: Find a school with a sonography program accredited by the CAAHEP and that offers the chosen degree and preferred concentration, whether that is general, cardiac, pediatric cardiac or vascular
- Step 3: Evaluate each school in terms of location, prerequisites, admission requirements and program quality
- Step 4: Complete coursework and clinical training to become an ultrasound technician
- Step 5: Become a certified sonographer by passing the ARDMS exams students will sit for the ARDMS exams
What to Learn in an Accredited Sonography Program?
It is essential to choose a CAAHEP accredited program, which has been reviewed by professionals for the quality of the coursework, clinical training and faculty.
Typical courses for an accredited sonography program include:
- Fundamentals of pathophysiology
- Organ systems
- Kinesiology
- Diagnostic imaging
- SD/4D imaging
- Contrast imaging
- Biomedical sciences
- Anatomy
- Molecular imaging
- Health care administration
Depending on the program, clinical training is completed at the medical center where the program is offered or at a clinic affiliate of the school. Some programs will allow students to complete clinical training at a facility of their choice, though the school must approve the selection. For students attending out-of-state schools or an online sonography school to complete coursework, this can be an important program feature.
Options for Schooling
As of 2017, there are no CAAHEP-accredited ultrasound technician schools in Vermont, so students must find an out-of-state school or an online school.
Many sonography students prefer to find a school close to home, and Vermont is fortunately in a populated area of the U.S. Vermont is bordered by New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The three states have CAAHEP-accredited programs, and all three states are within easy driving distance of Vermont.
Visiting our Ultrasound School Directory in 2017, which lists accredited programs. All programs can be sorted by state, city, program type. The programs have contact information including contact names, emails, phone numbers, school address and school links.
Online Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools
It is also possible to take online accredited ultrasound technician programs. The CAAHEP lists two qualifying schools with accredited distance education programs. However, it is only the coursework that can be completed online. Clinical training must be completed at an approved medical center. The two ultrasound programs are:
- Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas – ultrasound technician certificate programs in cardiac, vascular and general sonography
- Jackson College in Jackson, Michigan – certificate program in vascular, Associates degree in vascular, cardiac and general sonography
Salary and Career Outlook for Sonographers in Vermont
Vermont is small state, but statistics show the average annual wage is excellent at $74,160 as of May 2016 per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This represents a wage that is 3.3 percent higher than the national average wage of $71,750.
It is expected that the number of jobs will grow by 17.5 percent in the 2014-2024 period. Burlington, Vermont is the largest city in the state and the pay ranges from $51,500 to $91,900. In the non-metropolitan area of southern Vermont, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn an average salary of $64,310. | See Job Openings
Diagnostic Medical Sonography is an excellent career choice. Thanks to technology, everyone has multiple opportunities to pursue an educational pathway that best fits their needs. No matter what state a student lives in, there is always a CAAHEP-accredited school within reach.
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