Ultrasound Technician Schools in North Carolina (Top Sonography Programs)

Ultrasound Technician Schools in North Carolina

If you want to become an ultrasound technician in North Carolina, you need to meet some specific criteria.

Read below to learn mow on how to start a flourishing career in the field.

Training Requirements

In North Carolina, certification is not required by law, but it is required by the employing companies.

Certifications in this state are available through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Before you can get licensed, you need to choose a training program.

The ultrasound training programs are available through community colleges or trade schools.

You can take a course online or in-person and the requirements are:

  • A year, over 100 clinical hours, and 30 credits for a certification diploma
  • Two years, over 300 clinical hours, and 60 credits for an Associate’s degree
  • Four years, over 500 clinical hours, and 120 credits for a Bachelor’s degree

Although the fastest way to get a license is the one year program, getting a higher degree opens more career opportunities.

School Name Address
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College 340 Victoria Road Asheville, NC 28801
Caldwell Community College 2855 Hickory Blvd Hudson, NC 28638
Cape Fear Community College 411 North Front Street Wilmington, NC 28401
Forsyth Technical Community College 2100 Silas Creek Pky Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Johnston Community College PO Box 2350 245 College Road Smithfield, NC 27577
Pitt Community College PO Drawer 7007 Greenville, NC 27835
South College Asheville 140 Sweeten Creek Road Asheville, NC 28803-1526
South Piedmont Community College 4209 Old Charlotte Highway Monroe, NC 28110
Southwestern Community College – Sylva 447 College Drive Sylva, NC 28779

The training programs are available full time or part-time.

After finishing the program, you can apply for certifications managed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

Specialization Options

Ultrasound technicians have the option to specialize in a field.

Below are the fields and some of the classes needed to enter them.

Ultrasound Technology Classes

You can choose a specialization for extra credentials.

The classes available during your training are:

  • Introduction to Ultrasound Technology
  • Abdominal and Small Parts Ultrasound
  • Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation
  • Clinical Sonography

Sonography courses

In North Carolina, you will attend the below classes:

  • Introduction to Sonography
  • Scanning Techniques
  • Sonographic Sectional Anatomy
  • Sonographic Physics

MRI technology courses

This course covers topics as:

  • Seminar in Radiography
  • Principles of Imaging
  • Radiation Protection
  • Radiographic Physics

Vascular Sonography courses

The classes in vascular sonography are listed below:

  • Patient Care for Imaging Professionals
  • Acoustical Physics
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Physics Concepts

Radiology Tech courses

Radiology deals with using radiographic imaging in diagnostics.

Classes are as follows:

  • Radiation Protection
  • Patient Care
  • Radiographic Image Critique
  • Principles of Imaging

Echo Tech courses

This specialization deals with heart issues and teaches you how to use the imagery in diagnostics of heart disease.

The classes include:

  • Cardiographic Methods
  • Patient Management Practices
  • Invasive Cardiology
  • Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation

Regardless of the specialization your pursues, your courses will include topics like:

  • physiology
  • anatomy
  • medical psychology
  • medical terminology
  • patient care
  • medical record keeping
  • medical ethics

In order to get a license, you will also have to attend practice hours, that will teach you how to effectively use the devices.

Job prospects in North Carolina

The salary depends on the specialization and skills, but not only.

Annual Salary Range:
$60K
$72K
$86K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Charlotte $74,808
Raleigh $73,266
Greensboro $72,982
Durham $72,860
Winston-Salem $73,160
Fayetteville $70,074
Cary $73,266
Wilmington $69,654
High Point $73,419
Concord $73,319

Regional Salary in North Carolina

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Asheville, NC140$74,730$35.93$92,390$58,830
Burlington, NC40$79,810$38.37$91,720$53,050
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC830$79,980$38.45$93,670$62,830
Fayetteville, NC90$70,740$34.01$93,680$55,330
Greensboro-High Point, NC190$78,010$37.51$97,220$60,330
Greenville, NC160$68,390$32.88$82,440$53,650
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC90$66,290$31.87$79,920$53,380
Raleigh, NC420$74,370$35.75$94,020$53,320
Rocky Mount, NC40$70,040$33.68$81,680$62,220
Wilmington, NC160$71,750$34.49$90,820$59,110
Winston-Salem, NC280$77,590$37.3$97,770$61,510
* 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.

As the ultrasound field is growing in North Carolina, you can get employed in various clinics and hospitals across the state.

Jobs are expected to see a 27% growth until 2026, which makes this state a good choice for an ultrasound career.

USA Ultrasound Technicians by State


One Comment
  1. Avatar for Sonal S Shodhan Sonal S Shodhan

    Hi, I work for a refugee resettlement organization in Durham, NC called Church World Service. We have a refugee woman client from Afghanistan who has an MD and a medical sonoghraphy degree as well as 11 years of sonography experience. We were wondering if she needs certification here in the US to work at a local women’s clinic to help with pregnancy support services and doing ultrasounds there.
    I would greatly appreciate some information from you.
    Many thanks
    Sonal

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