Maryland Ultrasound Tech Programs

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How to Become a Sonography in Maryland - Sonography Programs in Maryland

Sonography is the use of sound waves in order to see what is going on inside the body. Sonographers are the professionals who are trained to work the sonography equipment and interpret the images that they see. When people think of sonographers, they usually just think of pregnant women and babies. However, sonographers are needed in all areas of medicine. There are five specialties within the sonography career: OB/GYN sonographers, abdominal sonographers, neurosonographers, breast sonographers, and musculoskeletal sonographers. You can specialize in just one area or in multiple areas.

If you feel that being a sonographer in Maryland is the right career for you, you need to earn at least an associate's degree. Most community colleges around Maryland offer associate's degrees in sonography. Some colleges and universities even offer bachelor's degrees in sonography. However, it is not required to have a bachelor's degree. If you already have a bachelor's degree in another field, you can always enroll in a sonography certificate program. That means, other than any science or health courses, all you have to worry about taking are the sonography courses. Upon completion, you will need to take the certification test as most employers will only hire those who are certified.

If you work as a sonographer, you will make an average of $64,000 a year. That is by no means a guarantee though. The amount of your actual salary will depend on various factors like who you work for, your level of education, your level of experience, etc. Also, even if the employer does not require you get certification, whether or not you are certified can have an impact on your annual salary. When you get certified, it adds distinction to your credentials and demonstrates someone who really knows what they are doing when it comes to sonography.

No matter which area of sonography you choose to specialize in, you will find the career to be extremely rewarding. The more specialties you get certified in, the better your chances are of finding a job and of getting a higher salary. Employers would rather pay one employee more to do sonograms in various areas than to have to pay more than one employee to do the different ones. So, if you really enjoy sonography, you should specialize in at least two areas to make yourself more marketable to employers. One thing is for sure, it definitely will not hurt your chances of getting a job if you do that.

Maryland Board of Nursing
4140 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 585-1900
Fax: (410) 358-3530

Maryland Nurses Association

• Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Health and Human Services
• Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)