Ultrasound Technician Schools in California (Top Sonography Programs)

Ultrasound Technician Schools in California

There are many specialties that ultrasound technicians can work in, and the demand for these professionals is strong in California.

They play a very important role in diagnosing patients, and this means that the ideal candidate should know how to communicate.

Ultrasound Technician Salary

There are a series of factors influencing the salary of this technician, with experience and type of certification being the most important.

Additionally, the best places to work for are the general medical and surgical facilities, if you want a better income.

Speaking another language can also increase your chances of getting hired and your paycheck.

Annual Salary Range:
$70K
$85K
$10K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Los Angeles $85,966
San Diego $82,107
San Jose $95,840
San Francisco $95,688
Fresno $76,520
Sacramento $82,545
Long Beach $85,149
Oakland $90,495
Bakersfield $82,018
Anaheim $85,340

Regional Salary in California

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Bakersfield, CA170$92,170$44.31$128,610$61,940
Chico, CA60$101,460$48.78$121,820$76,470
Fresno, CA250$101,340$48.72$138,770$67,290
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA2,890$107,890$51.87$138,720$79,160
Merced, CA30$111,660$53.68$137,410$97,300
Modesto, CA130$115,550$55.55$179,470$71,760
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA160$94,090$45.24$139,160$66,560
Redding, CA40$105,050$50.51$135,840$77,300
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA720$98,430$47.32$134,110$65,130
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA570$128,930$61.98$173,970$82,110
Salinas, CA60$105,350$50.65$132,690$81,520
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA620$114,640$55.11$139,320$79,960
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA920$140,910$67.75$180,270$92,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA470$139,090$66.87$176,440$98,480
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA40$109,140$52.47$137,230$64,250
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA50$124,180$59.7$183,940$77,680
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA130$110,810$53.27$132,510$81,330
Santa Rosa, CA80$127,710$61.4$174,030$69,050
Stockton-Lodi, CA130$115,340$55.45$172,590$71,450
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA100$144,870$69.65$178,580$83,870
Visalia-Porterville, CA70$91,090$43.79$128,200$70,180
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, OCC Code 29-2032, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Certification Requirements

At a state level, ultrasound technicians don’t need a certification to carry out their duties, however, employers are likely to prefer those who received a diploma from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

The easiest way of receiving certification is by enrolling in an accredited training program.

These vary in duration, and they can also award different credentials: certificates, diplomas, associate’s and even bachelor’s degrees.

Most training programs also include clinical practice, between 500 and 1,600 hours.

These programs are not free of charge, but student loans and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

At the end of any of the programs, students are expected to take an exam and to pass it, and after that, they receive their credentials.

The test can be modified for the following specialties:

  • Abdomen
  • Breast
  • Fetal Echocardiography
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatric Sonography

Those who can’t enroll in any program can also accumulate 12 months of actual work experience and then sit through the exam.

School Name Address
American Career College 4021 Rosewood Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004,
American Career College 1200 North Magnolia Ave. Anaheim, CA 92801
American Career College 3130 East Sedona Court Ontario, CA 91764
American Medical Sciences Center 225 West Broadway, Suite 115, Glendale, California 91204
ATI College 12440 Firestone Blvd Ste 2001, Norwalk, California 90650
ATI College 15141 Whittier Blvd., Suite 420, Whittier, CA, 90603
California College of Vocational Careers 1901 Chester Ave #201, Bakersfield, California 93301
Casa Loma College-Van Nuys 6725 Kester Ave, Van Nuys, California 91405
CBD College 3699 Wilshire Blvd 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90010
Central California School 3195 McMillan Ste F, San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science 1731 E 120th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059,
Charter College 2000 Outlet Center Dr., Suite 150 Oxnard, CA 93036
Charter College 19034 Soledad Canyon Road Canyon Country, CA 91351
Charter College 43141 Business Center Pkwy, Suite 109 Lancaster, CA 93535
Coast Career Institute 1250 E. Cooley Drive, Colton, California 92324
Coast Career Institute 1354 S Hill St, Los Angeles, California 90015
Community Regional Medical Center 2823 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721
Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, CA 95823
Cypress College 9200 Valley View Street Cypress, CA 90630
Foothill College 12345 El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts 2121 S El Camino Real Bldg C 200, San Mateo, California 94403
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences 938 Marina Way South Richmond, CA 94804
Kaplan College-North Hollywood 6180 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Suite 101, North Hollywood, California 91606
Laurus College 421 East Betteravia Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454,
Lincoln University 401 15th Street, Oakland, California 94612
Loma Linda University 11234 Anderson St Room 2455 Loma Linda, CA 92354
Merced College 3600 M Street Mailstop 37 Merced, CA 95348
Modern Technology School 16560 Harbor Blvd., Units K-Q, Fountain Valley, California 92708
Mt. San Jacinto College 28237 La Piedra Road Menifee, CA 92584
Mt San Jacinto Community College District 1499 N. State St., San Jacinto, California 92583
National Polytechnic College 6630 Telegraph Road, Commerce, California 90040
Newbridge College 3799 E Burnett St, Long Beach, CA 90815
Orange Coast College 2701 Fairview Road Costa Mesa, CA 92628
PCI College 7215 Studebaker Rd #310, Cerritos, CA 90703,
Platt College 1000 South Fremont Avenue, A10, Alhambra, California 91803
Platt College 3700 Inland Empire Boulevard, Ontario, California 91764
Platt College 6465 Sycamore Canyon Blvd Ste 100, Riverside, California 92507
Santa Barbara City College 721 Cliff Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93109-2394
San Joaquin Valley College 201 New Stine Rd., Bakersfield, California 93309
University of California San Diego 200 West Arbor Drive San Diego, CA 92103
West Coast Ultrasound Institute 3700 E. Inland Empire Blvd, Suite 235 Ontario, CA 91764
West Coast Ultrasound Institute 3580 Wilshire Blvd, 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90010
West Coast Ultrasound Institute 291 S La Cienega Blvd Ste 500, Beverly Hills, California 90211
WestMed College 3031 Tisch Way, 1st Floor, Ste 3PW, San Jose, California 95128

Course Requirements

There are certain topics that sonographers need to study, depending on the field they want to operate in.

Ultrasound Tech Training

The ultrasound, or sonographer, technicians can monitor various parts of the body.

They need to study:

  • Introduction to Ultrasound Physics
  • Pelvic Sonography
  • Neonatal Sonography
  • Obstetrical Sonography
  • Sonography Physics
  • Abdomen Scanning
  • Cross-Sectional Imaging
  • Ethical Choices in Healthcare

MRI Tech Training

MRI techs work with the latest technologies and machines created to investigate body parts.

The purpose is to take as many pictures as possible and recreate a 3D image of the patient’s organ.

Future professionals need to learn about:

  • Applied Radiographic Technology
  • Principles of MRI Technology
  • Introduction to Radiation Science Technologies

Radiology Tech Training

Radiology is closest related to MRI.

For this specialty, students need to learn about:

  • Venipuncture
  • Radiographic Pathology
  • Fundamentals of Radiographic Imaging
  • Ethics in Medical Imaging

Echo Tech Training

Echocardiographers need to take good images of the patient’s heart, and they need to study among others:

  • Patient Preparation for an EKG
  • Cardiovascular Anatomy
  • EKG Interpretation
  • Echocardiography

Vascular Sonography Training

This specialty is more precise than the previous ones, as the technician needs to take pictures of the blood vessels.

Students have to learn about:

  • Vascular Technology
  • Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation
  • Topics in Medical Sonography
  • Ethics and Healthcare

Extra Information

Depending on their previous education, not all candidates may be accepted in all specialties.

The educational programs above will also include subjects like math, science, medical terminology, and anatomy.

It could be a good idea to start with a shorter program, to enter the field faster, and then later to choose a specialty.

USA Ultrasound Technicians by State


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