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Ultrasound technicians, also called sonographers or diagnostic medical sonographers, are health care professionals who use special equipment to generate images of patients' bodies for medical diagnosis by a physician or healthcare practitioner. Most people are familiar with obstetrics and gynecology sonographers, who record images during a woman's pregnancy. Other types of ultrasound technicians include abdominal sonographers, breast sonographers and neurosonographers. Ultrasound technicians are typically employed by hospitals, but more opportunities may be found at offices of physicians and in medical and diagnostic laboratories as mobile diagnostic imaging equipment becomes more advanced.
Ultrasound Technician Schools in Virginia
To become a sonographer, you can earn an associate or bachelor's degree from a college or university (two-year programs are most common). You can also complete training in hospitals, vocational-technical institutions or the Armed Forces. Ultrasound technician programs usually include courses in ultrasound principles, patient care, human anatomy, general physics and medical terminology. No states require licensure, but registration is highly recommended as most employers use this qualification to measure one's professional abilities. To become registered, you must first complete formal education and/or training then pass an exam in a sonography specialty. Earning your degree from one of the following sonography schools in Virginia is the first step to becoming a registered diagnostic medical sonographer.
Ultrasound Technician Salaries in Virginia
Job opportunities for ultrasound technicians are expected to grow 18 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). To join the 1,080 sonographers in Virginia, begin training at one of the Virginia ultrasound technician schools listed below. The BLS reports that in May 2009, Virginia ultrasound technicians earned a median salary of $63,780. Ultrasound technician jobs can be found throughout the state, but you'll find the most sonographers in Richmond.
To find a school near you, take a look at the following Virginia sonography schools.
| School Name | Campus | Highest Award | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Associate | 41,266 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Richlands | Associate | 3,716 |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Associate | 25,857 |
The map below shows job statistics for the career type by metro area, for Virginia. A table below the map shows job popularity and salaries across the state.
Listed below are metro areas ranked by the popularity of jobs for Sonographers relative to the population of the city, as of 2008. Salary data was obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A Relative Popularity of 1.0 means that the city has an average number of the particular job, for its population, compared to the rest of the US. Higher numbers mean proportionally more jobs of that type.| Metro Area | Jobs | Salary (2008) | Relative Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
VIRGINIA | |||
| Roanoke | 80 | $61,030 | 1.5 |
| Lynchburg | 40 | $64,850 | 1.2 |
| Richmond | 200 | $63,070 | 1 |
| Virginia Beach | 180 | $59,520 | 0.7 |
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