Find Diagnostic Medical Sonography Schools in Maine
With a strategic health care plan in place to ensure residents have access to medical services, Maine offers various employment opportunities for diagnostic medical sonographers. If you are contemplating a career as an ultrasound technician, you need to first complete the required educational and clinical training in order to become certified in Maine. An associate or bachelor’s degree in ultrasound technology can provide you with the tools and techniques needed to perform non-invasive procedures with imaging equipment.
Whether you choose to attend an online or on-campus degree program, you should make sure it is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health, which will provide the necessary training to pass your licensing exam after graduation.
Take some time to request information from all of the programs listed below to thoroughly explore your options.
Maine’s ultrasound technician programs may require you to pass a few prerequisites before you can enroll in the program, including passing courses in anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. You may choose to obtain your associate degree in ultrasonography or a bachelor’s degree in ultrasound technology. Either way, you will need to complete a minimum of six months of clinical experience before you can earn your diploma.
Ultrasound/Sonography Licensing in Maine
After you earn your diploma in ultrasound technology, you can earn your certification through a governing body, such as The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The ARDMS allows you to hone your skills and get certified in a specific sector, increasing your marketability and chances of a higher pay grade. Testing could cover a wide range of topics, including sonography principles, obstetrics and gynecology, breast sonography, fetal echocardiography, neurosonology, and abdomen. If you attend a college that is not accredited through the CAAHEP, then you will need to fulfill certain requirements before taking the certification exam. These requirements include the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours, 12 months of work experience, and a clinical internship.
Cardiovascular Credentialing International also offers a certificate, allowing you to be employed as a non-invasive cardiovascular technologist for two years. If you have a non-accredited ultrasound technology degree, then you may need to complete 800 hours of clinical experience before being eligible for this examination. You may earn certification in a specific subfield, such as breast sonography or vascular sonography, by taking a test issued by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, which covers topics in sonography procedures, ultrasound physical principles, and patient care. Once you earn your certificate, you will need to renew it every two years by fulfilling 24 continuing education credits.
Ultrasound Programs in Nearby States
Massachusetts / New Hampshire / Vermont
Ultrasound Tech Salary in ME
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there are approximately 210 ultrasound technicians working in the state of Maine (2018). Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for diagnostic medical sonographers may increase 17% between 2016 and 2026 (2018).
Across Maine, the outlook is promising for those in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Statewide, job openings may increase 20% between 2016 and 2026 (O*Net, 2018). They report an average salary of $73,040 for ultrasound technicians in Maine (O*Net, 2018).
Specializing in a certain sector of sonography can open up various employment opportunities for you in a variety of medical facilities. With the proper education and training, you may be able to work long hours on your feet, lift disabled patients, and work in dimly lit environments. Most positions require you to work full-time hours, and you may need to work weekends, overnight, evenings, and overtime. Get on the path to becoming an ultrasound technician in Maine by enrolling in the right college today.