How does having a high-paying job sound like to you? With the global economic meltdown that was clearly felt across the nation, getting into and maintaining a job that supports your lifestyle is exactly what you need. Now, if you are interested in a career that not only answers your financial needs but also provides personal satisfaction through service, then you might want to consider a career as an ultrasound technician.
According to studies conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, ultrasound technician career is one of the fastest growing careers in the medical field today. With more physicians depending on sonography when it comes to diagnosing patient illnesses, the need for competent and well-rounded technicians is increasing.
However, do not be satisfied receiving just the minimum salary for ultrasound technicians because you can further increase your wage package by following these tips:
Ensure your school is accredited by CAAHEP. CAAHEP, or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, is an accrediting body that recognizes and certifies whether a school's program curriculum for a health related degree is up to par with what the body considers as its standard. This means that if you graduate from a non-accredited school, your chance of being hired by health facilities is almost nil.
Prospective employers prefer graduates from accredited schools because it means that the type of learning you received is of high standard and it reassures the employers that the health professionals they are hiring are experts in their fields.
Likewise, graduating from accredited schools helps prepare you for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) registration exam.
Complete an associate's degree for ultrasound technicians. This is the minimum amount of education that hospitals and other medical facilities require for technicians applying as sonographers. Although you can already gain employment in any medical facility with this level of education, you will increase your chances of hiring if you complete a four-year degree course. As an example, learning more advanced radiology branches and specializations add to your hirability.
Pass the certification exam for ultrasound technicians. Most States do not require licenses, but that does not mean you can simply complete your course and then find work easily. Employers prefer applicants who are certified by any of the following accrediting bodies: Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), or the American Registry of Radiological Technologists (ARRT). Therefore, if you want to receive higher pay, pass the exams.
Invest in years of experience. Constantly changing careers is a sure way to stop your growth in whatever career you have. Why? Because you will not develop mastery of skills. In addition, prospective employers will not take you seriously because of your fickle mindedness when it comes to choosing a career. Especially in the field of ultrasound technician, the only way to develop expertise is by continually performing the tasks of a sonographer as well as gain more knowledge on the other related branches of radiology.
Therefore, if you want to receive a higher pay, then invest in yourself by seeking higher education, having yourself certified in not just one or two, but higher and related branches of learning, and lastly, by gaining much needed experience on the job.