Ultrasound Technician Schools in Texas

Guide to Texas Ultrasound & Sonographer Degree Programs

If you are looking for a change in careers, you may want to consider entering a training program to become a diagnostic medical sonographer.  Students in accredited programs in Texas can complete a full course of study in this field in about eighteen months.  That means you could be on the job and earning a good living in a relatively short period of time.  If you want to increase your job prospects in this healthcare field, you may also want to consider entering in a two year program to earn your associate’s degree or a four year program to complete your bachelor’s degree.

Courses in these ultrasound and sonographer degree programs will concentrate on anatomy, physiology, mathematics and physics.  So, you must be an analytical thinker to be successful in this occupation.  Along with the technical skills you will develop, you must have excellent interpersonal skills.  As part of your job as a sonographer, you need to not only communicate with patients, but also with doctors.  You have to explain procedures in a way so that patients feel comfortable and understand the process.  Then you have to be able to explain the test results in both written and oral forms to physicians, using the appropriate medical terminology.

If you should require financial aid to meet the costs of your education, most accredited schools in Texas will have some form of help available.  Administrators at the school will be able to point you in the right direction to find the available grants, scholarships and low cost loans that will allow you to complete your education.

Texas Ultrasound & Sonographer Job Outlook and Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook in the field of sonography is favorable, meaning there will be jobs available for graduates from accredited degree programs.  The BLS expects there to be a nineteen percent increase in employment opportunities for ultrasound technicians through the year 2016.   Over half of those positions will be in general medical and surgical hospital settings.  The other half of the jobs will likely be in physician offices, outpatient care centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and higher education campuses.  In a state as large as Texas, you may also be able find opportunities working for mobile imaging services that travel to more rural areas of the state.

The average annual salary for an ultrasound technician in Texas ranges from $51,000 to $71,000.  Of course, how much you earn will depend on the degree you have achieved and the number of years of experience you have in the healthcare field. Opportunities for advancement are available as you extend your training to one of the specialty areas of sonography.  Programs are available to allow students to specialize in a number of areas, not limited to breast tissue, vascular systems, echocardiography or ophthalmology.