Does Anyone Know An Ultrasound Tech School Around Philadelphia, Pa?
November 4th, 2009
I have been looking into how to become an ultrasound technician. I can’t seem to find any schools that offer ultrasound/radiology programs in my area. (I went to the college search things once I ran out of ideas and they say certain schools offer programs, but when I go to check out the school, they don’t…)
So, does anyone know of any schools in the Philadelphia, PA or Delaware County, PA area that offer ultrasound tech programs?
Thanks!!
When thinking about entering an ultrasound program, you need not be concerned so much about certificate vs. degree. What is important is that you go to an ACCREDITED program, whether it is college or hospital based. An accredited program allows you to take your registry (licensing) exams upon graduation. Once you get licensed, you will never be asked about your schooling again. An employer does not care what route you take to get licensed, they just want you to have that license.
Don’t waste your time or money on a NON-accredited program. Upon completion and graduation from a NON-accredited program, you must work in the field of sonography for a full year prior to taking your licensing examinations. But, you will have a hard time finding an employer to hire you, unless you are licensed.
I would suggest you observe an imaging department to get an idea of what ultrasonographers do daily. There is much more to it than scanning pregnant women. Most people have no idea how much is involved in this career!
You can find a list of accredited schools in your area, by searching “diagnostic medical sonography” and your state at the following site. There are links provided for each program, which will give you additional information (including course duration):http://www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited…
The accredited u/s programs, in PA, are:
Community College of Allegheny County – Boyce Campus – Monroeville
Crozer-Chester Medical Center (Keystone) – Upland
Great Lakes Institute of Technology – Erie
Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg Campus – Harrisburg
Lackawanna College – Scranton
Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences – Lancaster
Misericordia University – Dallas
Northampton Community College – Bethlehem
Thomas Jefferson University – Philadelphia
Western School of Health and Business Careers-Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh
Many people, myself included, go to school to become a radiologic technologist, before continuing to ultrasound school. In fact, it can be difficult to get into u/s school without the RT license. There are many more choices for schools for x-ray in most states. You can find them here, by searching “radiography“ and your state:http://www.jrcert.org/cert/Search.jsp
The pay for ultrasound technologists will vary, depending on experience and geographical location. The American Society of Radiologic Technologists just did a large salary survey, in 2007. You can see how much a RT and/or ultrasound technologist averaged, per year, in your state here:https://www.asrt.org/media/pdf/research/…
Consider another approach … because the Philadelphia area has over 60 colleges and universities in the metro area, and many are “teaching hospitals,” you may want to speak directly with them regarding options within their teaching hospitals or other sources for getting the ultrasound experience and/or degree.
Here’s a short list of places to contact:
(1) Albert Einstein Medical Center
(2) Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
(3) Graduate Hospital
(4) Hahnemann University Hospital
(5) Medical college of Pennsylvania
(6) Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
(7) University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Also, here’s a link to a Ultrasound Tech School in Phila.http://www.medicalandnursing-training.co…
Good luck!