Ontario ultrasound technicians work in hospitals, clinics, research and sales.
Ultrasound technicians--also called ultrasound technologists or diagnostic medical sonographers--are valued and in-demand health professionals. They take real-time pictures of internal organs, soft tissue and developing fetuses using sound waves and assist physicians in interpreting the results. Employers look for ultrasound technicians who have excellent interpersonal communication skills, work experience, a degree or diploma from an accredited diagnostic sonography program and registration with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and/or the Canadian Association for Registered Diagnostic Ultrasound Professionals (CARDUP).
Instructions
1. Successfully complete an accredited program in diagnostic medical sonography. To apply to a postgraduate program you must be a health professional with a minimum three-year degree or diploma in your field, have a Bachelor of Science or a kinesiology degree, and have taken human anatomy and human physiology courses. To apply to a diploma-degree program, such as the one offered through the Mohawk-McMaster Institute of Applied Health Sciences, you must have completed your Ontario secondary school diploma with the following U-level courses: English, biology, chemistry, advanced functions and either physics or vectors. A grade 12 calculus course is also required.
2. Register with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). You must pass two exams to be registered. One is a general principles and instrumentation exam and the other is a speciality exam. The exams can be taken in any order. You can apply for the exams and pay the processing fee online. Exams are written in person in Toronto and Ottawa, as of 2010.
3. Register with the Canadian Association of Registered Diagnostic Ultrasound Professionals (CARDUP). You must pass two exams to register: the core sonographic skills exam and either a generalist sonographer exam or a specialist exam for those who want to work as cardiac or vascular sonographers. Exams are held at a number of schools offering accredited diagnostic medical ultrasound programs.
4. Complete other continuing education courses and certification as needed. Some employers look for ultrasound technicians who have an Integrated Prenatal Screening (IPS) certificate or experience with picture archiving and communications systems (PACS). Others are looking for ultrasound technologists who have specialized in vascular and cardiac sonography.
Tags: ultrasound technicians, accredited diagnostic, American Registry, American Registry Diagnostic, Association Registered, Association Registered Diagnostic
