Top Ultrasound Technician Schools in Arizona

Being an ultrasound technician can be a very rewarding career. Also referred to as Diagnostic Medical Sonography, the scope of an the work goes beyond solely helping an obstetrician determine the sex and physical health of unborn babies. Technicians work under the supervision of various physicians and specialists to operate ultrasonic imaging equipment that uses high-frequency sound to detect a wide variety of neurological, cardiovascular and urological issues, among others.

These technicians must possess excellent skills in caring for patients to keep them positioned correctly and to also explain the procedures involved while performing an examination. Technicians must also be knowledgeable about diseases and diagnostic procedures and are responsible for the maintenance of the ultrasound equipment.



As with most medical careers, ultrasound technicians generally work full-time schedules. Since hospitals never close, work schedules for ultrasound technicians vary with many working evenings, weekends or overnight.





List of Accredited Schools near Arizona

Featured Program: Central Arizona College



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Upon completion of this full-time two year program at Central Arizona College, students become the best sonographers in the business! Students complete general education required courses as well as courses that teach them every in and out of the profession in a classroom setting, lecture setting, and hands-on setting. They learn to diagnose many different problems in various parts of the body, and the proper course of treatment for such diagnoses'. The course requires 23 credits and various other practicums to gain proficiency and be ready to interview for an entry level job in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. If you are interested in a lucrative and fulfilling career such as this branch of the medical field, enroll yourself with Central Arizona College today!

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Major Cities Offering Training in Arizona



In Arizona, the vast majority of schools offering ultrasound technician training are spread across the Phoenix Metro Area. These schools are mostly in Downtown Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe, with a few schools in Glendale and Apache Junction.





Outside of the greater Phoenix area, options for ultrasound technician training in Arizona are very limited, with ultrasound technology only being part of the nursing program curriculum of community colleges around the Tucson area. There are currently no ultrasound technician training programs available near Flagstaff, Kingman or Yuma.

Requirements for Technicians in Arizona

The State of Arizona does not require any sort of state issued license for ultrasound technicians, though most employers will not hire technicians without an accredited certification.



Those looking to enter the medical field should be advised that ultrasound technology is not an entry level position. For the most part, schools in Arizona require an AAS or higher degree in nursing or a related field for admission to an ultrasound technician program. Due to the level of patient care skills required, ultrasound technicians should have at least one year of experience in nursing or a related field before moving on to ultrasound.

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Job Outlook in Arizona

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently around 880 ultrasound technicians employed throughout the state of Arizona, with over 70 percent of them working in the greater Phoenix area. The number of ultrasound technicians in Phoenix and the surrounding areas is expected to increase by more than 18 percent by the year 2018, which is much lower than the national average. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects an explosive growth of 39 percent in the field by 2022, throughout the rest of the country.





The average salary for an ultrasound technician in the Phoenix area is $76,180 per year, which is higher than the state-wide and national average of $60,350.





Ultrasound technicians experience a major increase in pay from what they may have made if they were previously registered nurses in the Phoenix area. Labor statistics reports list the average annual salary for registered nurses in the Phoenix metropolitan area at $55,000.