Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

The duties of the dagnostic medical sonographer uses sonographic equipment, to collect reflected echoes which form an image that can be recorded for a physician to use in diagnosis. Diagnostic medical sonographers often specialize in fields related to physician specialties, including obstetric and gynecologic sonography, abdominal sonography, eurosonography and ophthalmologic sonography.

A diagnostic medical sonographer needs to be science and math oriented. They also must have solid communication and interpersonal skills, as they deal directly with patients.

Education and Credentials Required
Hospitals train diagnostic medical sonographers, as well as vocational-technical institutions, colleges and universities, and the military. Most programs admit high school graduates, but some prefer applicants with some scientific or healthcare experience. University training can last 2 to 4 years and result in a degree.

Nurses and technicians learn sonography in order to increase their marketability. Typically it takes one year to acquire a certificate for people already in the healthcare field. One can become registered through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), which improves the odds of finding work as employers typically hire registered. You must pass a general physics exam along with a specialty exam in order to register, and must keep your registration current with continuing education courses.

Future Prospects
Employment opportunities for diagnostic medical sonographers are expected to rise faster than average. This is partially due to the aging of the population and partially due to medicine’s increasing reliance on high tech imaging. Typically, hospitals will continue to be the main type of employer. However, most new jobs will arise in offices of physicians and diagnostic imaging centers.

Salary Range
The median salary, as of 2002, for diagnostic medical sonographers was $38,970. Experience, location, skill, reputation, hours worked and other factors impact income. Diagnostic medical sonographers rarely pay for their own health benefits and retirement benefits, as they are rarely self-employed.