What Does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Do?

To become a sonographer, you need a post-secondary certificate or a diploma. Training and education requirements depend on your career goals.

An entry-level ultrasound technician will need to complete a certificate program in diagnostic medical sonography. Vocational schools, community colleges and teaching hospitals offer such programs, which combine instruction with hands-on, clinical experience.

Most students earn an associate degree. Degree programs combine instruction with hands-on, clinical experience but are more in-depth and well-rounded than a certificate program. Some students choose to earn a bachelor’s degree. 

Coursework includes anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, physics, patient care, physiology and medical terminology. Many diagnostic medical sonography programs offer a window into the different areas of specialization.

For any pathway, look for medical sonography programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Sonographers typically earn professional certification before or shortly after they take their first job. That requires passing a certification exam from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). 

In addition, most sonographers earn basic life support or BLS certification, which means they are trained in CPR.

Diagnostic medical sonographers usually specialize in abdominal sonography, cardiac sonography (focused on the heart), neurosonography (focused on the nervous system, including the brain), obstetric and gynecologic sonography, ophthalmologic sonography (eyes) or vascular technology (blood vessels). Sonographers who specialize in one area often train and earn certifications in other areas to increase their level of expertise. 

To go into a more specific area of interest – such as bone densitometry, mammography or another branch of the field – requires extra classes as well as clinical experience. 

Most states do not require sonographers to be licensed, but some do. (Check your state medical board for details.)

There are many roles related to sonography that may provide a different path to or from this career, including cardiovascular technicians, radiology techs and MRI techs.

A certificate program takes one to two years. An associate degree takes two years. A bachelor’s degree takes four years. Continuing education is ongoing.

Sonography and radiology are both used to create diagnostic images, but they differ in the technology used to get those images. Radiology uses radiation, such as CT scans and MRIs, or magnetic resonance imaging. Sonography uses ultrasound, as described above.

It looks promising, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031.

There’s ample opportunity in this career, which is why it’s one of SkillPointe’s highest-paying skilled trade careers. 

Medical sonographers work at hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and imaging laboratories.

Successful medical sonographers tend to possess these traits:

• Good people skills
• Physically fit and able to assist and move ill or disabled patients 
• Detail-oriented
• Understand complex machinery
• Curious