How to Enroll in the Best Ultrasound Tech Degree Program near Fort Oglethorpe Georgia
Once you have decided to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Fort Oglethorpe GA, the next step is to begin the procedure of picking a college. First, you need to find the right program that will furnish the necessary training to become a skilled professional. And since some states do require that ultrasound techs be either certified or licensed, depending on your residence you may also need to be prepared to pass a licensing or certification examination. So it’s very important that you investigate each college so that you can assess and compare your alternatives. But just where does one start? Most potential students will begin by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Naturally location and cost need to be considered when making a decision, but there are other significant factors also. For example, if the ultrasound technician schools are accredited or if they offer internship programs. These and additional qualifiers will be covered more in depth later in this article. But to start with, let’s discuss what a sonogram tech does and the credentials and online training programs that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Ultrasound Technician Schools!
Ultrasound Technician Work Description
There are various professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. Regardless of name, they all have the same primary job description, which is to carry out diagnostic ultrasound techniques on patients. While a number of techs practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in cardiology and pediatrics. Most practice in Fort Oglethorpe GA clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Standard daily job duties of a sonogram tech may include:
- Keeping records of patient medical histories and details of each procedure
- Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
- Readying the ultrasound machines for usage and then cleaning and re-calibrating them
- Escorting patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
- Operating equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
- Assessing results and identifying need for further testing
Ultrasound techs must routinely gauge the performance and safety of their equipment. They also are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. In order to maintain that degree of professionalism and remain current with medical knowledge, they are required to complete continuing education programs on an ongoing basis.
Sonogram Technician Degree Programs Available
Ultrasound tech students have the option to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will typically require around 18 months to 2 years to finish based upon the program and class load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at up to four years to complete. Another option for those who have already earned a college degree is a post graduate certificate program. If you have earned a Bachelor’s Degree in any major or an Associate Degree in a related health field, you can instead choose a certificate program that will require just 12 to 18 months to complete. One thing to bear in mind is that most sonographer colleges do have a clinical training component as part of their course of study. It often may be fulfilled by entering into an internship program which many colleges set up with Fort Oglethorpe GA hospitals and clinics. Once you have graduated from one of the certificate or degree programs, you will then need to fulfill the certification or licensing prerequisites in Georgia or whatever state you decide to practice in.
Ultrasound Technician Online Classes
As earlier discussed, nearly all sonogram technician schools have a practical requirement to their programs. So although you can earn a degree or certificate online, a significant part of the training will be either carried out in an on-campus lab or at an authorized off-campus facility. Clinical training can usually be satisfied by means of an internship at a local Fort Oglethorpe GA hospital, outpatient clinic or family practice. But the balance of the classes and training can be accessed online in your Fort Oglethorpe home. This is especially convenient for those students that keep working while getting their degrees. In addition online colleges are many times less expensive than on campus options. Expenses for commuting and study materials can be lessened also. But just as with every sonographer college you are considering, check that the online school you choose is accredited. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially important for certification, licensing and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are motivated enough to attend classes away from the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online school could be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Sonography Programs
When you have determined the type of certificate or degree that you would like to obtain, you can initiate the process of assessing and comparing sonogram technician colleges. You may first want to choose whether you would rather attend classes online or travel to a school campus in the Fort Oglethorpe GA area. Obviously location will be significant if you choose the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualification also. But there are other factors that you must also take into consideration, for instance if the schools are accredited and if they sponsor internships. So in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can make your final selection, below are a few questions that you need ask each ultrasound tech program prior to making a decision.
Are the Ultrasound Tech Colleges Accredited? A large number of ultrasound technician schools have earned some type of accreditation, whether regional or national. Nevertheless, it’s still imperative to make sure that the school and program are accredited. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Schools obtaining accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through an extensive review of their instructors and course materials. If the program is online it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. All accrediting agencies should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides guaranteeing a quality education, accreditation will also help in obtaining financial assistance and student loans, which are many times not offered for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And numerous Fort Oglethorpe GA employers will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry-level openings.
Are Internships Sponsored? Find out if the sonogram tech colleges you are assessing have associations with Fort Oglethorpe GA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent way to get hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a means to fulfill the practical training requirement for the majority of programs. As an ancillary benefit, they may assist students and graduates form professional connections in the Fort Oglethorpe medical community and help with job placement.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the ultrasound tech programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Georgia healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Fort Oglethorpe GA residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the sonogram tech program as well.
Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the ultrasound tech school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Fort Oglethorpe GA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.
Schools That Offer Ultrasound Technician Fort Oglethorpe Georgia
Picking the right ultrasound technician certificate or degree program is an important first step to entering a gratifying new career providing diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician programs require that you have a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition to satisfying academic standards, you must be in at least reasonably good physical condition, able to stand for lengthy time frames and able to regularly lift weights of fifty pounds or more, as is it often necessary to adjust patients and move heavy equipment. Other preferred skills include technical proficiency, the ability to remain collected when confronted by an angry or anxious patient and the ability to converse in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Schools That Offer Ultrasound Technician and wanting more information on Sonography Education Programs. However, as we have covered in this article, there are several questions that you need to ask each college you are reviewing. This is true whether you select an online program or travel to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the proper questions so that you can evaluate each school, you can narrow down your options until you are left with the best program for your education. And with the right training, dedication and motivation to succeed, you can reach your goal to work as an sonographer in Fort Oglethorpe GA.
More Ultrasound Locations in Georgia
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
Fort Oglethorpe is a city predominantly in Catoosa County with some portions in Walker County in the U.S. state of Georgia.[4] As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,263.[5] It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to Lakeview – Fort Oglethorpe High School.
The United States Army established a cavalry post at the site of Hargrave, Georgia, an unincorporated town situated next to the Chickamauga National Battlefield. The existing settlement was named for a Confederate soldier, William Hamilton Hargrave, who along with his wife Amelia Cecilia Strange-Hargrave owned most of the land in the area. The couple was well known in the 19th century to travellers heading to Ross's Landing on the Tennessee River from LaFayette, Georgia. William Hargrave and other landowners in the area were forced to sell their property to the Army[citation needed] to be used as a base for the 6th Cavalry. The Chickamauga Post established in 1902 by the U.S. Army was later named Fort Oglethorpe after James Oglethorpe, the founder of the Colony of Georgia. During World War I and World War II, the area served as a war-time induction and processing center, and also housed German prisoners of war.[6] Fort Oglethorpe was a major training center for the Women's Army Corps during World War II. The post was declared surplus in 1947 and sold to civilians, forming the nucleus for a city that was incorporated in 1949.[7][8]
Fort Oglethorpe is located in western Catoosa County and northeastern Walker County at 34°56′44″N 85°14′44″W / 34.94556°N 85.24556°W / 34.94556; -85.24556 (34.945683, -85.245653).[9] It is 9 miles (14 km) south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, by U.S. Route 27, which also leads south 18 miles (29 km) to LaFayette, Georgia. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park takes up the southern two-thirds of the city's area.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 10
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 