I completed an Ultrasound program that was not accredited by Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). It is only accredited by ACCSCT and was granted institutional approval from the Bureau for Private Post Secondary and Vocation Education (BPPVE). While attending the program, I was trained by ARDMS insturctors and I completed my externship at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood CA. I graduated July of 2008 and I have not been able to find a job since I don't have experience other than what I've practiced at my externship. My college says I am eligible for ARDMS exams but then I hear that I need 12 months paid work experience in order to be able to take ARDMS exams. If there are any links or advice anyone can offer, It will be much appreciated. Thank you.

Congrats on your graduation. I'm sorry to hear of the problems you have been experiencing but the story is all-too familiar in our field. In my Advance blog (Reflections in Realtime) I have commented several times re: the imprtance of attending CAAHEP-accredited programs and your situation is a case-in-point (sorry to use yours as an example).

 First, I would like to disclose that I am currently on the Board of Directors of the ARDMS. That being said, I am writing as a sonography professional who wants to help (not as a formal representative of the ARDMS nor an authority on this subject)  - My suggestions to you (and others in this situation) would be as follows:

1) Do not rely on what the school you attended (or plan to attend) tells you in terms of being eligible to take the ARDMS examinations - you must do your own due-diligence.

2) Review the prerequisits on the ARDMS website (www.ardms.org) including the FAQs  to determine for yourself if you qualify now or what you need to do to become qulifiesd to take their exams. If you have any questions or uncertainties then by all means contact the Registrant Services at the ARDMS directly. They will be able to provide reliable help to you.

3) Have all documentation together so that you can reference it and make it available to others (at the ARDMS or potential employers).

4) Consider volunteering in a sonography lab or a physicians office that does sonography scans (free labor may be hard to turn down in these economic times) - you may not be able to perform direct patient-care related activities but it will give you experience in the environment and get your foot in the door so that the lab might be more willing to give you a chance.

5) DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR GOALS OR GIVE UP HOPE! You have put too much into this not to follow it through - eventually I suspect that you will be able to find a lab that will be willing to let you gain the needed level of experience (if that is what you lack) and you will become qulified to take the examinations and become a credentialled sonogorgapher.

6) Please post a follow-up to this discussion to let us know how it goes - I am sure others can learn from your experiences (good and bad).

 GOOD LUCK!

 Dan M 

Well first of all, I would like to say thank you very much for the information you have provided me with. I know I am not the first one to have gone through this dilema, but I will definitely do my research as far as looking into prerequisites for ARDMS exams. Now, about volunteering in a sonography lab I've heard from different people that if you do volunteer work, you need some sort of insurance? I am not sure if that is the proper term but basically If I do voluneer work, and I slip up or something goes wrong, would that fall back on me, or how does that work? I'd really like to know if there's anything specific that I need for that. I know this is what I want to do and I will do everything I can and as best as I can to achieve my goals. Once again thank you for the information, it is greatly appreciated.

-Christina V.

I would not be concerned re: liability issues - particularly if you volunteer in a hospital. They have clear policies / reguirements re: volunteers and they will be able to tell you what they require. A private physician office or small out-pt clinic may have a less formal approach.

 In any case, I would not initiate a discussion on that topic at the time of inquirey. There is a fgeneral belief that if a patient wants to bring legal action against some one or a healthcare organization they (their lawyers) will go after the "big $$". Unless you are independantly wealthy (and if you are you probably dont need to volunteer or work!) a volunteer is not the person they will go after monetarily speaking.

 

GOOD LUCK! 

Well, I will definitely look into volunteer work in my area and even at my externship site. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions.

Hello again, I would like to ask you a few more questions if you don't mind. What other opportunities are there in the Ultrasound field? Can I own my own imaging center, mobile company, etc..? Any suggestions on that matter? I am really looking at my options right now and I'd really appreciate it if you are able to give me any information on this. Thank you for your time.

-Christina Valdivia

Hi,

Yes- there are plenty of "other" opportunities in the DMS field besides working in a hospital.

It is possible to own an imaging center or a mobile company (be aware that there may be some limitations re; purchsing equipment, providing diagnoses, etc - so, like any business venture, you have to investigate these issues before you decide to hang out a shingle). You can also do contract / consulting work (making your own hours), educational opportunities, working for equipment manufacturers in applications or R & D, sales, research, etc. etc. etc..

However, in my opinion, one should get a good foundation and experience and that starts with working in a reputable hospital or imaging center where you will have the guidence and support you'll need as a new sonographer. Once you've gained both experience and confidence and learned more about the field in general, you can branch out to one or several of those options - or stay where you are - you just might like it!

 Good luck,

 

DM 

Hi: I just read your Posting and that is exactly what I have been going thru.  I have tried everything  no one calls you back or anything, everyone wants expierence  and ARDMS reg.  but you need to work a year first.  If you have any other ideas please let me know it has been a year and a half and still nothing and I'm not the only one .  Someone just needs to be willing to give you a chance but I think maybe there are to many of us they don't need to bother.  Sorry for not having any better news but again if you know of anything else to try that would be great.I would hate to have thrown all that time and money away. 

Hello, I agree there are many of us in this particular situation, but clinics & hospitals are not our only choices. Since my clinical hours focused on ob/gyn I am really considering opening up my own 3D/4D Sonogram center. Not for diagnostic purposes, but for entertainment, selling pictures, dvd's, photo albums the whole bit to families that really want good memories of their little ones. I really enjoyed watching the families faces light up when they saw their babies in 3D/4D, it was pretty cool. So I am considering that because I learned so much & I'm confident I can get great images. Of course it is risky because it is after all a business, and the economy isn't looking so great right now, but I say why not? people are not going to stop having babies, and there are so many people out there who would like to make the pregnancy an enjoyable and beautiful expeirence. My advice to you is look at your options. I'm struggling too, but nothing is impossible, even though we are economically down, we still are the greatest country in the world. Good Luck!