Sonographer Salaries On the Rise

I offer this suggestion for all who are considering an education in sonography:  I live in Georgia where the HOPE grant pays for educational opportunities for essentially every resident in Ga.  I, personally, have just been accepted to a Vascular Sonography program in a state technical college (community college).  I have researched this school, and it is one of the best sonography schools around.  It's attrition rate is 95-99%!  

So, if you have the luxury of being able to relocate to any other state, please consider relocating to Georgia for your education.  I can get my sonography degree for FREE with the HOPE Grant program.  All you have to do is be a resident in the state of Georgia for one year before being able to go to school for free in any of their state schools (i.e. universities or technical schools).  

Good luck to all who are starting school soon, as I am.  I have a bachelor's in business administration and am 48 with two grown daughters.  I've taken all of my pre-requisites (core courses) and am starting the Vascular program next month.  One word, though, since the sonography programs (there are 3) are so well-respected by the industry and their attrition rate is so high, and the tuition is paid by the state-funded HOPE grant -- the competition is very high.  You will need all "A's" in your core courses (you may have to repeat some courses to get "A's" -- but these credits from other (out-of-state) schools WILL transfer.

Thanks for this great forum!

Hello i was wondering if you knew anything about Mountain State Universary there offering a DMS program and i hear its really good. Though so expensive but is that normal pricing for an online schooling they also do clinicals in your area. so it looks really nice but it looks so expensive to get in this

I would caution anyone to not enter this field (or any others for that matter) only for the money - you have to like what you do for it to be an enjoyable career.

As I've written before, having the general DMS degree will provide more opportunities than training only in cardiovascular and there is always the option to be trained in general (getting credentialled, then gain experience in cardiovascular and migrate into that sub-specialty or add it to your options. Who knows, you might just like performning ob/gyn and / or other general type scans and won't want to leave it!

As far as " how much time would be required and how easy it would be to gain specialization in Cardio/Vascular " that depends on what your employer will provide in the way of getting cross-trained. Be aware that many hospitals' DMS labs are fragmented w/ cardiology doing cardia, vascualr suregery doing vascular, OB doing OB/GYN and radiology dept. left w/ all the rest.

If that is important to you then I suggest you find employment in a hospital that has their DMS services consolodated - that will make it more likely they will provide opportunities for you to cross-train as its in their interest to have workers that can do many types of studies.

My personal opinion: Stick w/ the general program, do the best you can and maybe even learn some cardiovascular on your own if you so desire then see what happens. You'll be in the work force and earning $$ sooner and you'll have plenty of options in the future.

Good luck!

Dan M

Hello. I hold a BS in computer science and have applied to a community college sonogram program which offers Diagnostic Medical Sonography only. I am awaiting notification of acceptance. In the meantime, I have discovered that a different community college in the region offers a choice of sonogram degrees in either Cardio and Vascular Sonography or DMS. Unfortunately, it is too late for me to apply to the Cardio and Vascular program as the deadline has passed. I understand that Cardio and Vascular pays more and I would prefer to get the higher paying degree since the cost in time and money is the same for both Cardio/Vascular and DMS. However, I would have to wait a year to get started. I don't know if I should stick with the DMS program I have applied to or wait a year and go into the Cardio/Vascular specialty. I suppose my decision would be determined by how much time would be required and how easy it would be to gain specialization in Cardio/Vascular after I graduated and began working as a DMS. Please advise.

Its really a personal preference re; the type of program you choose. As you indicated, going to a program that is exculsively cardiovascular does limit what you can do immediately after school. Many people prefer the challenges of vascular sonography and only want to do that while others like the variability that you get from a general DMS education.  That said, one benefit of a focused education is that you will likely be more knowledgeable about that specific area (an expert in one area vs a "jack of all trades" w/ minimum knowledge in a wide range of areas).

If you haven't done so already I would gather as much info as you can re: the specific sub-categories  so that you can make a knowledgeable decision BEFORE enrolling.

Additionally, there is nothing wrong with getting into the field in one area then branching out once you have mastered the original sub-specialty.

Good luck!

DM

Hi Im interested in attending Nova Southeastern in Florida for the Vascular Sonography program/Bachelor's.  Am I limiting myself by doing this program or should I look for a Diagnostic Medical Sonography program?  I heard the highest paying jobs are in Cardio Sonography.  I dont want to spend all this time and money and not have options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Congrats on choosing a new career in DMS! First and foremost - I hope you have selected or are enrolled in an education program that will meet the pre-requisites to allow you to take the ARDMS credentially exams. If you are not sure visit www.ardms.org and review the pre-reqs and discuss these with your school's registrar. While you are checking the ARDMS website you can also review the requirements for obtaining additional credentials.

Its not necessary to complete formal training for each credential type - OJT is OK provided you meet the other requirements including clinical time (experience) to add to an existing credential.

Good luck!

DM

Dan, I have a BA and MA in another field and am going back to school at 53 to complete an associate degree in cardiac sonography.  Since I have so much college already behind me and the need for earnings sooner than later, I wanted to take the quickest way into the field, but wondered what you think about the opportunities to add to my credentials on the job.  Are these additional certifications you mention in your article available via OTJ training and test-taking?

Thank you

Margy

I just recently found online degrees for sonography from Mountain State University. They offer the certificate, associates, and also bachelors degree in sonography completely online!

I am currently in an associates degree program for health sciences. will this be valuable to me? is there a degree for sonography?

Thank you so much for this article, it is really helpful!  I am researching this field at the moment, and this has really relped.  Thanks again :)