Is anyone an Ultrasound technician or knows one?

I am interested in pursuing this career. From what I can gather there are 2 schools that offer this on Long Island: Boces and Sanford Brown. I have heard that the one offered by Boces is the better one – but I don’t like the fact that I’d have to quit my regular job to go back to school. Also, the pre-reqs would require me to take some additional courses before starting the program.

I have a bachelors degree already so the fact that Sanford Brown would allow me to take classes on weekend appeals to me and I don’t need to take pre-req classes. But I’ve heard mixed things about Sanford Brown – the fact that its not accredited by the CAAHEP is a big turnoff, but their salesperson told me it has not prevented anyone from getting a job. Once you work for 12 months you can get your certification and be good to go. She said most candidates are hired by the office/hospital they do their externship at. I would love to hear from someone who has attended Sanford Brown to get true feedback. I am waiting from the school to provide a name, but I’m always leery of references provided by the group you are investigating- kwim?. Any one know of someone?

I posted the below details to give anyone doing a similar search some more info.


1)Western Suffolk Boces via a program run by Wilson Tech – Dix Hills
a.24 month program
i.don’t know break down of course vs field work
b.$25,000 + $1700 in expenses
c.Starts every July
d.8 am – 6 pm M-F
e.Accredited by commission of accreditation of allied health programs
f.Requires pre-reqs of college level physics, algebra, English and anatomy.
g.Requires entrance exam
h.Can take certification exam upon completion on program

2)Sanford Brown – Garden City
a.22 month program
i.16 month classroom
ii.6 months of externship
b.$33,000 includes all
c.May offer a weekend course starting in Feb 09
d.offers night courses, weekend courses and day courses
e.Program not accredited by commission of accreditation of allied health programs
f.However, school is accredited by Accrediting council for Independent Colleges and Schools
g.Requires a $75 app fee, and an entrance exam in Reading Language and Math
h.Requires bachelor degree with credits in Math and Science
i.Must work for 12 months FT after program completion to take certification exam – externship does not count

ETS that I tried posting this on NFR but they moved it to career - It looks like a double post since I posted about it last week, but I didn't get any responses from actual Sonographers - I'm guessing most people don't look at the career section - so I was hoping to get some feedback from everyone- rather than just a few... please help!

Message edited 10/8/2008 4:25:57 PM.

Re: Is anyone an Ultrasound technician or knows one?

To be hired in a hospital, I think the program you graduate from has to be CAAHEP accredited and Sanford Brown is not. Western Suffolk Boces is accredited and their program is 2 years.

Re: Is anyone an Ultrasound technician or knows one?

sanford brown is NOT accredited. when you graduate you can't sit for the test since it is not accredited. You will have to do hours at a hospital to then sit for it and it will be hard to find a hospital willing to hire you without a license.. Winthrop and North Shore DEF will not hire you and if you ever found a hospital sanford brown says 12 months but because you are not certified you are more per diem and it can take years to get your hours

google it and you will find many compaints.

the only school on long island that does it is western suffolk boces.



my friend's sister did sanford brown and COULD NOT get a job. she is now in suffolk boces

Message edited 10/8/2008 11:44:54 PM.

Re: Is anyone an Ultrasound technician or knows one?

I posted on your pregnancy link.. Boces thats the one i meant.. i wrote Bosses.. Thats the one i heard was a great school for ultrasound. Im an xray/mammo tech with a well known radiology practice on long island. I can find out where most of our sono techs went to.

When going into this field.. you will find most schools.. at leasts the accredited ones will require you to go FULL time during the day... plus once your done with school you, your required to do a certain amount of hours (internship or externship.. the one you dont get paid for) This will also be something you will have to do most likely 8-4 shift.

My job will let you sit in and observe techs, this way you can see what its all about.. i had to do this before my school for xray would even let me apply my application for the school.

Be VERY CAREFULL.. with what school you go too.. some promise alot and are not accredited and make it sound very simple and then when you graduated you find yourself jobless b/c they led you the wrong way!!!

Re: Is anyone an Ultrasound technician or knows one?

You should check out a career in
ultrasound technician

Re: Is anyone an Ultrasound technician or knows one?

I called Sanford Brown last October and had a bad feeling at such the hard "sell" they were pushing. I told them very clearly I was not interested at the end of the phone call and up until 2 weeks ago they were STILL calling! They. Do. NOT. Stop.

That being said I am currently back in school and taking pre-reqs for nursing and one of the LPN's in my class has a sister who went to Sanford Brown. She cannot find a job over a year later and is in SCC now.

They have a horrid reputation for some reason and another LPN says some places will not hire you if they see you went there.

I would suggest BOCES over SB. However I do not know enough about them

Re: Is anyone an Ultrasound technician or knows one?

check out these great schools/programs for Ultrasound Technician

http://www.careersinhealth.net/ultrasound-technician/