Non-invasive echocardiography

RadStu2B · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

What is the earning potential for the non-invasive echo tech? Sanford-Brown offers a 1-year course in it with a steep price (of course); they give you a sales pitch in which they claim that the salary is in the area of $40K/year or more. But what bothers me, is that this is a non-invasive only.
I am currently on a waiting list for the radiography course at the local community college. Have completed all the pre-reqs and all the degree requirements. Is there a possibility that I take what Sanford-Brown offers, and the Associate Degree from the community college? Any input is welcome. Thanks.

hjhogle · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject:

If you have already started in the direction of an RT, then you need to know that taking Sanford Brown's echo course, without also becoming an RT iwll not enable you to do anything other than echocardiography. If all you're interested in doing is cardiac echo, then that's ok. But you will not be an RT or Sonographer.

Salaries in any field from chef to ditch-digger vary widely by geographhic region. Salaries in the northeast (compared to say, south Florida) sound huge ... until you realize that the cost of living more than mitigates the inflated wage. The trick is not to focus strictly on the salary, but how that salary compares to other professions in the same geographic location. So there's no way to tell you if 1)what Sanford Brown told you is accurate or 2) whether the wage has any meaning.

I can tell you that, no matter where on the east coast I was working, echocardiographers did not earn as much as radiographers or sonographers.

Does that help? Try here on salary.com Enter the job title and location you're interested in, see what you come up with. http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_newsearch.asp
hjh, RT

Wassim · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 3 Location: CA, USA

Hi RadStu2B

In your message you said:

echo · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

You have asked about a starting salary for non-invasive Echo. tech. Well, it is in the range of low $30's and up.

If you want to begin a program NOW, I advise you to take a look at www.academyofultrasound.com This is an on-line 18-month program. Upon completing the course, you would be eligible to sit for the registry. Also, it is substantially less expensive and more "personal" than the program you mentioned. I do know of someone who had already completed admission requirements for the school you mentioned, then, because of the wait, decided to complete the Echo program offered by the Academy of Ultrasound.

Just an option.

Good Luck!!!
_________________
Echo

www.academyofultrasound.com

hjhogle · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

Well, you should be tipped off to the fact that this "academy" is NOT an accredited program by the fact that the word is mis-spelled on their website. In addition, the link to "Accredidation" on the left is not functional.

You'd be better served to spend your money elsewhere.

For a list of ACCREDITED programs, try on the CAAHEP website here:
http://www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited_Program.aspx

For more information on ultrasound, try ARDMS here:
http://www.ardms.org/default.asp?ContentID=1&menubar=1

hjh, RT

echo · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

Im glad you checked out their site. Im sure that if they have made an error in their spelling then your letting them know would be greatly appreciated. I dont beleive they specialize in website development.

BTW they didnt claim to be accredited, at this time. In case you arent aware, their are several excellant schools of ultrasound that arent accredited yet. Also becoming accredited takes 2 years before you can apply for institutional accrediting and then you can apply to caahep to accredit your program. They havent been in business for the 2 years yet but they seem to have a very innovative format for training future techs. Not everyone can go to a traditional ultrasound school, depending on career and family commitments.

They seem to be very open to suggestions to improve their program and seem to be trying to produce well trained and qualified techs. Something that doesnt always come from being accredited. You can also still sit for a national registry without a caahep school diploma.

You should at least speak to them, before you rule them out as a choice. No program is for everyone.
_________________
Echo

www.academyofultrasound.com

hjhogle · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:26 am Post subject:

How long have you been affiliated with them?

hjh, RT

echo · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

I've had one of their students in my echo lab for around 1 month now. So I guess I am affiliated, if you think the clinical site is affiliated.

The student is showing excellant progress. They came to us with strong knowledge in both pathology and in scanning skills.

I think that this program is doing what they say they are, in turning out positive beginning technicians, ready for their clinical training.
_________________
Echo

www.academyofultrasound.com