What Are Online Sonography and Ultrasound Certificates?
Online sonography certificate programs can look quite different depending on the school. They typically run 1-2 years and feature a blend of didactic instruction, lab work, and clinical experience. Most programs emphasize over 1,000 hours of practical clinical experience in hospitals or medical clinics, along with training in on-campus simulation centers.
Students in an ultrasound certificate program learn to operate the imaging technology and instrumentation. They also gain specialized medical knowledge to help them analyze diagnostic images. Some programs offer concentrations in cardiac, abdominal, or musculoskeletal sonography.
Prospective students typically need a two-year healthcare degree for admission. Ultrasound tech certificate programs appeal to different types of people, including students coming directly from a medical degree, medical professionals switching fields, and sonographers looking for advancement opportunities.
After completing a sonography certificate program, graduates may pursue employment as a sonographer or ultrasound technician. Many employers, however, prefer candidates with professional certification from organizations like American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Some states even require licensure, which means certification is mandatory.
Sonography and Ultrasound Certificate Program, Certification, and Degree Program Overview
Students can earn sonography and ultrasound postsecondary degrees through community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities. Students can pursue certificates through technical schools, colleges, universities, and hospital clinics. Finally, students can earn certifications from industry organizations. Typically, certificate programs train students, whereas certifications test experienced professionals.
Length: 1-3 years, but this can vary.
Prerequisite Education and Experience:
- Completed associate or bachelor's of science degree in a health field
- *May already have working experience in the medical field
- *May already be a practicing sonographer
Who May Offer Them?
- Technical or vocational schools
- Colleges
- Hospitals
Internship/Clinical Experience Included in Program?
- Yes
- *If you're a practicing sonographer, you may only need to take supplemental courses for your certificate.
Continuing Education Required to Maintain Certificate? Yes
Example Certificates:
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Diagnostic medical sonography
- Cardiac sonography
- Pediatric cardiac sonography
- Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)
- Cardiovascular technology
- Vascular sonography
- Abdominal and ophthalmologic sonography
Required in Every State?
No, only Oregon, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and New Mexico require licensing. However, employers and insurance providers usually prefer that sonographers and ultrasound techs have certification.
When to Pursue:
- After students/professionals have completed an accredited sonography program, either through a certificate in sonography, associate's degree in sonography, or bachelor's degree in sonography.
- *Program must include clinical experience.
Granted Through:
3 options:
Exam Required for Certification:
3 options:
Continuing Education Required to Renew Certification? Yes
Example ARDMS Credentials After Completing Certification:
- Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)
- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS)
- Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT)
- Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer (RMSKS)
Example ARRT Credentials After Completing Certification:
- Registered Radiologist Assistant (R.R.A.)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR)
- Mammography (M)
- Vascular Interventional Radiography (VI)
Required to Become a Sonographer or Ultrasound Tech?
No, but it makes students/professionals more competitive in the job market and allows them to pursue multiple specializations and prepare for different certifications.
Types of Ultrasound Technician Degrees:
- Two-year associate
- Four-year bachelor's
- Master's degree
Example Degrees:
- Associate of applied science in diagnostic medical sonography
- Bachelor of science in vascular ultrasound
- Bachelor of science in diagnostic medical sonography
- Bachelor of science in radiation science
What to Expect From Online Sonography and Ultrasound Certificate Programs
The list below highlights popular ultrasound certificate program concentrations. These tracks teach students how to take and analyze images in various anatomical regions. Students learn specialized scanning techniques for those areas of the body, along with possible life-saving disease detection techniques.
Sonography and Ultrasound Certificate Concentrations
- Vascular sonography
- Breast ultrasound
- General ultrasound
- Fetal echocardiography
- Adult echocardiography
- Pediatric echocardiography
- Obstetrics and gynecological ultrasound
- Diagnostic medical sonography
- Cardiac sonography
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Neurosonography
- Pediatric sonography
- Musculoskeletal sonography
- Midwife sonography
Sonography and Ultrasound Certificate Courses
In this course, students learn how sonography equipment works, how it impacts the body, and how it can be used safely.
This course teaches students how to provide care responsibly. Learners may also examine equipment safety protocols, communication standards, and potential health and safety risks of the profession.
Medical terminology courses teach students the language of healthcare and sonography. Enrollees learn medical terms, abbreviations, spelling, and pronunciation to ensure they can communicate effectively with patients and other professionals.
This course teaches students techniques and standards for scanning and evaluating diagnostic images. Learners examine images and test out their training in labs and clinical experiences.
In cross-sectional anatomy courses, students learn to identify parts of the body in ultrasounds, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance images.
This course focuses on the vascular ultrasound and teaches techniques for producing optimal images. Students learn the anatomy of the vascular system and the fluid dynamics in the body.
Choosing an Online Program
To choose the best ultrasound tech certificate program, prospective students need to know what to look for in an online program and how to pick a college. Learners need to consider their own career goals, interests, and academic history to find the best match.
For example, candidates should explore accredited programs with curricula that emphasize practical training and offer specializations they're interested in. Ideal programs should also feature scheduling options and admission requirements that the applicant can reasonably satisfy.
Accreditation for Sonography and Ultrasound Programs
Prospective students need to pay attention to accreditation for all college and university programs. All schools should hold regional accreditation with the proper organization or else students may lose out on financial aid and employment opportunities.
Moreover, sonography certificate programs and ultrasound tech certificate programs should possess programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This can influence postgraduate certification, licensure, and employment.
Sonography and Ultrasound Careers
Healthcare professionals in the sonography and ultrasound field enjoy a strong employment outlook. Their specialized training makes them part of a thriving workforce that the BLS projects will grow faster than the average rate for all occupations between 2019-2029. The majority of these specialists work in hospitals, physician offices, outpatient care centers, and diagnostic labs.
These professionals also tend to earn much more than the median annual wage for all occupations. As per the BLS, diagnostic medical sonographers earn median annual wages of $75,920, cardiovascular technologists earn $59,100, and health technicians earn $45,620. The sections below detail possible career paths.
Diagnostic medical sonographers possess the skills and training to work in an array of sonographic fields. Rather than focus on one speciality, diagnostic medical sonography certificate programs provide comprehensive training, covering abdomen, gynecology, and vascular sonography. Students learn the skills and imaging techniques to work in various settings and with different patient types.
Prospective sonographers can specialize in abdominal imaging via degrees, certificates, and certifications. Training covers abdominal scanning techniques and image analysis, along with common diseases and ailments these scans typically look for. Many ultrasound certificate programs include abdominal sonography as one of the main components.
Students can enroll in ultrasound tech certificate programs that offer specialized training in breast sonography. These programs typically cover breast anatomy and imaging techniques, along with image analysis of benign and malignant lesions. Graduates can pursue breast sonography certification as well.
Prospective neurosonographers can pursue a degree or certificate in this field, which also qualifies them for certification. These sonography certificate programs teach learners to use specialized transcranial dopplers to examine the brain and nervous system and measure blood flow.
Many ultrasound certificate programs, diplomas, and degrees offer specialized gynecological sonography training. Students learn the techniques and tools used in obstetrics and gynecological ultrasound exams. They also examine the typical sonographic anatomy of the pelvic region, uterus, and ovaries.
Prospective echocardiographers and cardiac sonographers can pursue a certificate or degree that may also lead to professional certification. This speciality delves into the evaluation of heart images, looking at the function, chamber size, and surrounding anatomy of the heart. Students learn to calibrate tools and identify signs of heart disease and other issues.
One of the more common ultrasound tech certificate programs, vascular sonography certificate programs familiarize students with the primary anatomy, instrumentation, and typical procedures of the field. Enrollees also learn how to conduct specialized ultrasounds, such as venous duplex, cerebrovascular duplex, and arterial duplex scans.
Musculoskeletal sonography certificate programs prepare students for specialized careers and certifications. Enrollees explore the anatomies and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and learn scanning basics. Advanced training covers scanning techniques for soft tissues and the upper and lower extremities.
Sonography and Ultrasound Organizations
Sonography and ultrasound organizations provide students and professionals alike with excellent education and career benefits. Members can access industry news and research, find scholarships, and get career support. They can also enroll in continuing education programs, attend events, and advance their careers with professional development workshops.
Sonographers and ultrasound technicians may join national organizations, but regional chapters and field specialist organizations feature a more limited membership pool. Some of the largest and best professional organizations in this field include:
