This article summarizes what prospective students of echocardiography should expect in echocardiography courses. The field of ultrasound and sonography technologies may be of interest to those aspiring for a vocational career in the healthcare services. Echocardiography (or cardiovascular sonography) is a branch of diagnostic medical sonography that involves the creation and use of non-invasive images of patients’ hearts. Practitioners use ultrasound technology to make two or three dimensional representations for diagnostic purposes. At their very basic, echocardiography courses equip the students to use echocardiograms for assessing the condition of patient hearts by imparting both the theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject.

Many echocardiographers receive training from a school, college, or university. Some echocardiographers may be trained at a hospital or other medical facility, but most employers prefer to hire someone with formal training. Master’s degree programs in echocardiography are uncommon, but many schools offer four year echocardiography courses that lead to a bachelors degree.

The job outlook should be favorable for those in the field of ultrasound and sonography technologies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, (www.bls.gov), more than half of all echocardiographers were employed by hospitals, and most of the rest worked in offices of physicians or in medical and diagnostic laboratories.

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Sonography

Bachelor’s degree programs in diagnostic (medical) sonography cover the technology and methodology used in noninvasive medical diagnostics. Students learn to use ultrasound and echocardiography equipment to generate images showing the interior of patients’ bodies to check for diseases. Programs teach students to identify various ailments that can appear on echocardiography and sonography images. Most diagnostic sonography programs provide students with the opportunity to use echocardiography technology firsthand.

Education prerequisites

Applicants to a diagnostic sonography degree program need to have strong skills in physical sciences and mathematics. Taking any available high school classes in mechanics helps students learn to operate ultrasound equipment similar to that used in diagnostic sonography programs.

Program coursework

Students learn to create internal pictures of medical patients by using ultrasound and sonographic imaging equipment. Students also learn to analyze the images, looking for signs and symptoms of various diseases. Echocardiography courses lay emphasis on imaging methods and cardiovascular diagnostics. Courses in the following subjects are usually offered:

• Sonography physics
• Vascular technology
• Abdominal sonography
• Echocardiography technology
• Comparative imaging
• Sonography ethics
• High-resolution imaging
• Pelvic imaging

Employment outlook and salary information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a job growth of 18% for all types of cardiovascular technicians between 2008 and 2018. Payscale.com, in June 2010, reported that half of all echocardiographers with less than a year of experience earned between $30,521 and $50,868.

Certification and continuing education information

While certification isn’t required by law, many diagnostic medical sonographers earn credentials through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). These organizations recognize people who’ve graduated from an accredited program and passed an exam. Credentials are available for several sonographic specialties, such as cardiovascular or abdominal imaging.

Taking a echocardiography course is likely an astute move for an aspiring healthcare worker as it is identified as a rapidly expanding area. Lifestyle changes and the aging baby boomer generation have brought about a considerable increase in cardiac patients and this trend is projected to stay for at least a few years. A corresponding expansion of the professions specializing in this field is therefore logical. Those with the right credentials and a commitment to keeping their skills and knowledge updated through echocardiography continuing education will be well positioned for a highly successful career.

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