Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

I've been thinking about a career change - I currently work in an office and feel that not only am I so specialized that I could never find a similar job at the same pay, but also that I'm not crazy about what I do.

I'd like to have a more active job that keeps me on my feet a bit more and I keep thinking about the Ultrasound technicians that I met while I was pg. does anyone do this? Is it a difficult field to get into? What kind of schooling would I need? I always did well in biology and math...

TIA

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

I've been thinking the same thing!!!! Since being PG, this seems like an awesome career to get into. Any info anyone can share is welcomed!

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

You do have to go back to school. I think it is a 2 year program. I had a coworker who did it at Sanford Brown Institute.

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

I just went to an open house for this program last night at a hospital/school here in FL. I need a career change as well and am so interested in this.

The program I would do is to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Since I have a bachelors I already have the core classes so i'd be exempt from that, but the program does start you from the beginning and takes you through four types of sonography (which most schools don't do, most focus on one or two types). It's an expensive program and long (22 months) and there is A LOT of clinical hours that need to be done. Working full time isn't an option (especially during the last 9 months of the program), which is now why I have to figure out what to do.

Once you're done, the pay is great and there are so many options. The career is growing like crazy too and the school I went to said they had 100% placement for their students in jobs last term!

I found out so much information last night and the only thing holding me back is $$$ .

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

I looked into doing this a few years back. there is a great progrma, but its full time for 2 years and you would take the classes at the northport VA hospital. its also very expensive.

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

I was interested in this too.
I was looking into it, for me personally it seemed very expensive and the schedule seemed intense so for at least 2 years I wouldn't be able to work at the same time. That kind of discouraged me a bit since I can't afford to stop working completely for 2 years and pay that kind of money for school.
What was really strange was that I went to their website & requested information about the program, but got an email back from them saying I didn't meet their qualifications and wasn't in their "target" for who they want to recruit (which I thought was very strange since I had my bachelors degree already)... so I kind of gave up on it.
I still think it would be a cool job though.

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

The program is through the Boces program, not the VA, they go to classes at the VA but the program is through Boces. IT is a 24 month program starting in July of each year. You have to take an entrance exam and have all the prerecs. Its a hard program but worth it. It is expensive but there are loans and stuff you can get.
When you check into these programs make sure you are gettingthe full Ultrasound program because some of the programs you only come out being able to do Echo and vascular and none of the Sonography part of it IE babies, gallbladders etc
I am a nuclear tech who went to school at the VA they no longer have programs. Ibtook classes with the boces students thats how i know this. I then went to work at southside which is one of boces clinical sites where I was friends with the Sono tech who oversaw the students.
great program room to do so much money is good field is open you can go on boces website and find all he info out

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead has a progam too. I don't know all the info, but you can call them.

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

I was thinking that also when I was prego.
Everyone is posting that its expensive, can someone please tell me how much exactly?

Re: Career change: Ultrasound/sonographer technician

There are 4 programs in the area- 2 of which are in Brooklyn. 3 are accredited. They range from 20,000 to 33,000. The less expensive ones are the accredited ones and they require pre-reqs that will add up if you don't already have them.

There may be some in NYC too -- I think NYU has one.