Ultrasound Technician Schools in Pennsylvania (Top Sonography Programs)

Ultrasound Technician Schools in Pennsylvania

Ultrasound technicians in Pennsylvania have an increased number of job opportunities as the field is growing.

You should know that ultrasound jobs are reported to see a growth of 18% until 2026.

If you think this is the right career path for you, read on to get more info on how to start it.

Training Requirements

In order to get hired as an ultrasound tech, you need to enroll in a training school first.

During your training, you will learn how to take pictures of the human body using some specific technology.

You will also be taught the following skills:

  • Record keeping
  • Effective communication
  • How to operate the ultrasound devices
  • Physiology and medical ethics

You don’t need a specific license to work as an ultrasound tech in this state.

However, getting a certification increases your chances of getting hired.

Most companies in Pennsylvania require a degree and certification.

You can choose between a simple diploma, an associate’s degree program or a bachelor’s degree.

The first can be completed in a year, while the others require 2 to 4 years of education.

To get a diploma, you also need a couple of hundreds of hours of education.

To get a higher degree, you need 500 hours of practice.

The program is followed by a certification exam managed by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

School Name Address
Community College of Allegheny County 800 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233
Community College of Allegheny County 595 Beatty Road Monroeville, PA 15146
Crozer-Chester Medical Center One Medical Center Blvd Pearl Hall Upland, PA 19013
Great Lakes Institute of Technology 5100 Peach Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16509
Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg 1 HACC Dr., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
Lackawanna College 501 Vine St, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18509
Misericordia University 301 Lake St, Dallas, Pennsylvania 18612
Mount Aloysius College 7373 Admiral Peary Highway Cresson, PA 16630
Northampton County Area Community College 3835 Green Pond Rd, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences 410 N Lime Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602
Pittsburgh Career Institute 421 Seventh Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219
South Hills School of Business & Technology 480 Waupelani Dr, State College, Pennsylvania 16801
Thomas Jefferson University 1020 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
Westmoreland County Community College 145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood, Pennsylvania 15697

In order to get improved career opportunities, consider getting a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.

The easiest way of getting certified is by taking a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Specialization Options

You can also get hired easier if you take a specialization.

Sonography Training classes

During a sonography program, you will take classes on:

  • Sonographic Pathophysiology
  • Basic Ultrasound Physics
  • Fundamentals of Diagnostic Sonography
  • Medical Terminology

MRI Tech Courses

The classes in MRI technology are as follows:

  • MRI Clinical Techniques
  • MRI Anatomy and Physiology
  • MRI Instrumentation and Principles
  • Safety in MRI Technology

Vascular Sonography Courses

During your course, you will learn about:

  • Vascular Technology Fundamentals
  • Electrophysiology and Anatomy
  • Sonographic Physics and Instrumentation
  • Cross-Sectional Anatomy

Radiology Tech Courses

This program features classes such as:

  • Radiation Physics
  • Imaging Modalities
  • Radiographic Procedures
  • Principles of Radiographic Imaging

Echo Tech Courses

This specialization allows you to run heart tests and help in diagnostics.

The class subjects include:

  • Clinical Pharmacology for Health Professionals
  • Vascular Testing
  • Echocardiography Laboratory Procedures
  • Cardiographic Methods

Extra Information

To have a good chance of getting employed is to ask at a medical facility such as a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office.

However, the first step in starting your career is getting the appropriate training to develop your skills.

With improved skills, you can also earn more.

Annual Salary Range:
$63K
$76K
$91K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Philadelphia $82,183
Pittsburgh $75,358
Allentown $76,276
Erie $70,668
Reading $75,886
Upper Darby $82,183
Scranton $70,615
Bensalem $86,400
Lancaster $74,953
Bethlehem $76,276

Regional Salary in Pennsylvania

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Altoona, PA40$65,300$31.4$78,470$47,650
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA50$69,480$33.4$82,480$62,200
Erie, PA70$66,920$32.17$83,230$51,500
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA190$72,130$34.68$88,890$61,930
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD1,730$81,250$39.06$98,790$63,080
Pittsburgh, PA510$70,370$33.83$87,460$55,430
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA120$70,080$33.69$82,640$60,290
York-Hanover, PA110$71,240$34.25$84,520$60,620
* 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.

For instance, you can further specialize in a particular niche in any of the fields mentioned above.

USA Ultrasound Technicians by State


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