Sonography, also known as ultrasound, refers to the technology which uses high frequency sound waves to capture images of the inside of the human body.  The professional who performs these tasks is properly known in the health care arena as a diagnostic medical sonographer or is sometimes simply referred to as a “sonographer”.  What many are unaware of is that becoming a sonographer starts with as little as an associates degree to get an entry level position.  An associates degree is typically a two year commitment that can sometimes be completed on nights and weekends.

Most sonography programs are broken into three main phases.  In the first phase you will learn foundational knowledge from which you can build upon such as medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, patient care, medical ethics, and medical records management.

The second phase of your sonography program is the core of your studies and will introduce you specifically to the art and science of ultrasound technology.  During this phase you will learn about the science behind the technology, procedures, case studies, and applied learning with practice equipment.

Many schools allow you to choose a particular specialization such as OB/GYN which is short for obstetrics (pregnancy) and gynecology.  In this track, you will learn all about the female reproductive organs and learn how to scan all areas of the pelvic region.  Many are familiar with this aspect of the technology and have seen the images of a fetus inside of the womb.  Other specializations include cardiovascular technology, echocardiography, abdominal, neurosonology, and breast sonography.  These are the most common track options available from sonography schools.  However, there are many more uses of the technology not mentioned here and the technology continues to expand into other areas of use.

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