College program for an ultrasound tech at a reasonable cost?

[soliloquy]

I'm looking for a good school to become an ultrasound tech at a reasonable cost. I have no clue what that industry requires but the person requesting the information does have a B.S. in Business Administration.

Can you help?

[UptonSinclair]

This is the first thing that comes to mind when you say reasonable cost.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program - Fort Hays State University

[bluebooger]

This is the first thing that comes to mind when you say reasonable cost.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program - Fort Hays State University

I don't see them listed here
Accredited Program Search - CAAHEP

Accredited Ultrasound Technician Programs

[Johann]

I don't see them listed here
Accredited Program Search - CAAHEP

Accredited Ultrasound Technician Programs

This might help - from the CAAHEP site:

"While it currently accredits over 200 sonography programs, a handful of states do not have CAAHEP-accredited schools, and only a few accredited institutions offer online ultrasound programs. Thus, it is important to find out if ultrasound schools in your geographic location of choice are accredited, if not by the CAAHEP, by another accreditation organization."

FHSU is RA and their program prospectus says:

"The student will have the opportunity to obtain the Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Diagnostic Imaging with emphasis in ultrasound or award of certificate upon completion. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, the student will be eligible for registry examinations with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers to earn the credentials RDMS and/or RVT."

As I see it, anyway, that should pretty well take care of any accreditation issue. FHSU is a well-known, good school.

Johann

[cookderosa]

I've had a hard time with this one, we have a close friend looking at this field. Thanks blue for sharing that link, I'm going to forward it to her.

[Hunter91]

I'm actually curious about this field as well. I even applied to a CAAHEP accredited program in my area, but it was a very expensive for-profit school so I declined. If there's any information about accredited schools in this field that anyone finds, I would very much appreciate an update in this thread about it.

Thanks!

[bluebooger]

FHSU is RA and their program prospectus says:

"... Upon successful completion of the curriculum, the student will be eligible for registry examinations with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers to earn the credentials RDMS and/or RVT."

As I see it, anyway, that should pretty well take care of any accreditation issue. FHSU is a well-known, good school.

you're probably right

I know there are nursing schools that are regionally accredited but not accredited by the ACEN or the CCNE ( Nursing School Accreditation | Why Accreditation Matters )

but you're still eligible to take the NCLEX exam once you graduate and become an RN

and I guess passing the NCLEX and being an RN is all that matters to hospitals

but if you had two applicants and one went to an accredited school and one didn't (and all other things being equal) I would think the one graduating from an accredited school might get the nod

I don't know how well known fort hays is in the medical community, I don't know what kind of reputation they have for putting out well trained, knowledgeable sonographers

maybe their reputation in that specific field is indeed so great that being unaccredited doesn't matter

but all things being equal, I'd rather go to an accredited school

(of course in this case, all things may not be equal, you may not find an accredited school in that price range)

I always like the bls site - its not relevant to this discussion, but I just like it
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

[Johann]

you're probably right..

Thanks - I could be, but it wasn't really about being right. (Don't people always say that? )
I thought I detected some misgivings - since it wasn't accredited by CAAHEP, was the FHSU program legitimate?

All I wanted to show was that the FHSU program was legit. CAAHEP itself says check for other accreditation, in the absence of theirs - and FHSU is RA, even if this course is without further programmatic accreditation.

Legit? Yes. Absolutely.
Best choice in the circumstances? I have no idea. Can't even guess.

Sonography? I know nothing. But hey, FHSU has conferred swarms of quite well-regarded, reasonably low-cost distance MBAs! Look! It's fall again! They're swarming now!

Johann

[soliloquy]

I found this:

The non-invasive cardiology technologist is an allied health professional who utilizes ultrasound images for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases. The non-invasive technologist, often referred to as a cardiac ultrasound sonographer, performs an ultrasonic examination for specific disease states ordered by a referring physician. The technologist will systemically assess the anatomical and physiological data with evaluation of the pathology, during the exam, resulting in a diagnostic echocardiogram for the interpreting physician.

Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist

I suppose this is a specialized field?

It's 5,600 if you are a resident of NC and about 20K if you are not.

Cardiovascular Technology

Info about accreditation. This might work for her since she's local.

I'll show her your other suggestions as well.

Maybe this will help others find accredited programs?

CAAHEP - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

[lawqueen04]

You should check out BOCES on Long Island. This isnt a college program but it is Fully/dual accredited by the COE and CAAHEP. It is a 2 year full time program that costs 39,000 but it covers all 5 aspects....vascular, echocardiography, ob/gyn, breast and abdomen. The success rate is extremely high. You have to have college level english, anatomy and physiology 1 and 2, general physics amd intermediate algebra or statistics. Also, you have to take a TEAS test and go for an interview. This is an excellent program. Although it is pricey, you can apply for financial aide. Give it a look! Western Suffolk BOCES - Full Time Licenses