Ultrasound Education Programs Reston VA - Become an Ultrasound Technician

How to Enroll in the Right Ultrasound Tech Training Program near Reston Virginia

Reston VA ultrasound technician with patient Once you have made a decision to obtain an ultrasound technician degree near Reston VA, the next step is to start the procedure of picking a school. First, you have to find the right program that will furnish the proper education to become a qualified professional. And since a number of states do mandate that sonographers be either certified or licensed, depending on your residence you may also need to be prepared to pass a certification or licensing examination. So it’s very important that you investigate each college in order to assess and compare your options. But exactly where does one start? Many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Of course location and cost must be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are other critical factors also. For example, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they provide internship programs. These and additional qualifiers will be addressed more in detail later in this post. But first, let’s discuss what a sonogram tech does and the degrees and online education programs that are available.

Sonogram Tech Job Summary

Reston VA sonographer testing pregnant woman There are multiple professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also referred to as ultrasound technologists, sonogram techs, and diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers). Regardless of name, they all have the same basic job description, which is to carry out diagnostic ultrasound procedures on patients. Even though many practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in pediatrics and cardiology. Most work in Reston VA clinics, hospitals, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Common daily work tasks of a sonogram tech can involve:

Keeping records of patient case histories and specifics of each procedure
Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
Preparing the ultrasound machines for usage and then sterilizing and recalibrating them
Escorting patients to treatment rooms and making them comfortable
Using equipment while limiting patient exposure to sound waves
Reviewing the results and determining need for additional testing

Sonographers must routinely gauge the performance and safety of their equipment. They also are held to a high ethical standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. So as to sustain that degree of professionalism and remain up to date with medical knowledge, they are required to complete continuing education training on a regular basis.

Sonogram Tech Degrees Offered

Reston VA ultrasound tech testing pregnant woman Sonogram technician students have the choice to acquire either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will typically take around 18 months to 2 years to finish depending on the program and class load. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at up to four years to complete. Another option for those who have already obtained a college degree is a post graduate certificate program. If you have received a Bachelor’s Degree in any major or an Associate Degree in a relevant medical sector, you can instead choose a certificate program that will take just 12 to 18 months to finish. Something to consider is that almost all sonographer schools do have a clinical training element as a portion of their curriculum. It can often be fulfilled by entering into an internship program which numerous colleges set up with Reston VA clinics and hospitals. After you have graduated from any of the certificate or degree programs, you will then need to satisfy the licensing or certification prerequisites in Virginia or whatever state you elect to practice in.

Online Sonogram Tech Colleges

woman attending online sonography school in Reston VA As earlier discussed, nearly all sonogram tech schools have a clinical component to their programs. So while you can receive a certificate or degree online, a substantial portion of the training will be either carried out in an on campus laboratory or at an approved off-campus facility. Practical training can often be fulfilled by means of an internship at a local Reston VA outpatient clinic, hospital or private practice. But the remainder of the training and classes can be accessed online in your Reston home. This is especially beneficial for those individuals that continue working while getting their degrees. Plus online colleges are frequently less costly than on campus options. Expenditures for study materials and commuting can be lessened as well. But similarly as with any ultrasound tech school you are looking at, make sure that the online program you ultimately pick is accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is especially significant for certification, licensing and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to learn outside of the classroom in the comfort of your own home, then an online school could be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Sonogram Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Reston VA ultrasound tech schools When you have decided on which certificate or degree that you would like to earn, you can start the procedure of assessing and comparing sonogram technician colleges. You will first probably want to choose whether you will access classes online or travel to a college campus in the Reston VA area. Clearly location will be important if you choose the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualification as well. But there are additional things that you must also take into consideration, such as if the schools are accredited and if they provide internships. Therefore in order to complete your due diligence so that you can make your ultimate selection, following are some questions that you may want to ask each ultrasound tech school prior to making a decision.

Are the Sonogram Tech Programs Accredited? A large number of ultrasound technician schools have obtained some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. However, it’s still imperative to verify that the school and program are accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting agencies in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Programs obtaining accreditation from the JRC-DMS have gone through an extensive review of their teachers and educational materials. If the school is online it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. All accrediting organizations should be acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides guaranteeing a premium education, accreditation will also assist in getting financial aid and student loans, which are many times not available for non-accredited schools. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And many Reston VA employers will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry level positions.

Are Internship Programs Offered? Find out if the ultrasound tech schools you are evaluating have relationships with Reston VA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a terrific way to get practical training in a clinical environment, they are also a means to satisfy the practical training requirement for most programs. As a supplemental benefit, they can assist graduates and students establish professional relationships in the Reston health care community and assist with job placement.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the sonographer schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Virginia healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Reston VA home. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that don’t reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the sonogram tech program as well.

Does the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the sonographer college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Reston VA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Reston VA?

If you are considering a Sonography Tech School near Reston Virginia, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new school campus.

Reston, Virginia

Reston is one of the leading "New Town" planned communities in the United States. Founded in 1964, Reston was influenced by the Garden City movement that emphasized planned, self-contained communities that intermingled green space, residential neighborhoods, and commercial development.[3] The intent of Reston's founder, Robert E. Simon, was to build a town that would revolutionize post–World War II concepts of land use and residential/corporate development in suburban America.[4] In 2018, Reston was ranked as the Best Places to Live in Virginia by Money magazine for its expanses of parks, lakes, golf courses, and bridle paths as well as the numerous shopping and dining opportunities in Reston Town Center.[5] Beginning in 2017, however, high-density commercial and residential developments along the Dulles Toll Road began to spark concerns among residents about local government's ability to ensure that key infrastructure, including roads, schools, and parks, would remain in sync with the accelerating pace of new construction.[6]

Reston is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Reston's population to be 60,070 as of December 2017.[7]

In the early days of Colonial America, the land on which Reston sits was part of the Northern Neck Proprietary, a vast grant by King Charles II to Lord Thomas Fairfax that extended from the Potomac River to the Rappahannock. The property remained in the Fairfax family until they sold it in 1852.[8]

Carl A. Wiehle and William Dunn bought 6,449 acres in northern Fairfax County along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad line in 1886, later dividing the land between them, with Wiehle retaining the acreage north of the railroad line. Wiehle envisioned founding a town on the property, including a hotel, parks, and community center, but completed only a handful of homes before his death in 1901.[8]

Find the Right Ultrasound Education Programs Reston VA

Choosing the ideal ultrasound tech certificate or degree program is an important first step to commencing a fulfilling new profession delivering diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer schools require that you have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. Apart from meeting academic requirements, you need to be in at least fairly good physical condition, able to stand for lengthy time frames with the ability to regularly lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it typically necessary to position patients and move heavy equipment. Other helpful talents include technical aptitude, the ability to stay collected when faced with an anxious or angry patient and the ability to converse in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Ultrasound Education Programs. However, as we have covered in this post, there are multiple questions that you should ask each program you are reviewing. This holds true whether you enroll in an online degree or travel to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the appropriate questions so that you can compare each school, you can narrow down your alternatives until you are left with the best program for your education. And with the proper training, discipline and determination to succeed, you can accomplish your goal to work as an sonographer in Reston VA.