Sonography Programs in Montana

How to Become a Sonographer in Montana and Sonography Programs in Montana

When a physician needs to see the inside of the body without an invasive procedure, he may turn to the services of a diagnostic medical sonographer. Using sonography or ultrasound equipment, the sonographer will take images of the inside of the body that can help the physician diagnose underlying problems. Diagnostic medical sonographers can specialize in many different areas including abdominal sonography, breast sonography, musculoskeletal sonography, neurosonography, or obstetric and gynecologic sonography. Sonographers are responsible for taking care of the equipment, preparing patients for procedures, taking the images that are needed for diagnosis, discussing findings with the physician, and keeping careful records.

If you’re interested in learning about how to become a sonographer in Montana and sonography programs in Montana, you may be interested to know that you can start preparing yourself for this career as early as high school. A strong foundation in math and science are very valuable for a sonographer. After graduating high school, there are several paths you can take to become a diagnostic medical sonographer. There are no degree programs in this area in the state of Montana. You can obtain a similar healthcare degree such as medical assisting from a Montana college and proceed to take a certificate program in diagnostic medical sonography in another state.

Most certificate programs for diagnostic medical sonography list an associate of applied science degree among the prerequisites. Any program with an emphasis on math and science and some basic medical courses like medical terminology will equip the student for a certificate in medical sonography. Certificate programs typically take between 12 and 18 months. There are many career opportunities for diagnostic medical sonographers in Montana. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth for this career is expected to be 44 percent nationally between 2010 and 2020. Graduates in this field can increase their employability by obtaining certification from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

In the state of Montana, the mean annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers was $64,850 as of May 2011. This is about $31.18 an hour. Those with earnings in the top ten percent of this occupation made more than $90,310 while those with earnings in the bottom ten percent made less than $29,170. Southwestern Montana has some of the highest salaries for this position, with an average annual salary of $76,100. The average in Western Montana was $71,400. In Billings, ultrasound technicians made about $62,400 a year. With these great opportunities, there are lots of compelling reasons to pursue this career.

Sonography Schools Near You & Online in Montana