OB/GYN sonographers look for medical problems in both the mother and her baby.
Sonographers use sound wave imaging technology in order to see internal organs or other parts of the body. There are many specializations in this field, including cardiac sonography and neurosonography. One of the most well-known uses of sonography is baby ultrasounds. Although states do not require licensure for sonographers, training and certification will provide more career opportunities.
Instructions
1. Enroll in an accredited diagnostic medical sonography program. Most sonographers earn an associate degree offered from a community college's allied health department. You will take courses in sonography principles, physics, anatomy and medical ethics, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2. Apply for certification from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). To be eligible for the sonography principles and instrumentation exam, you must submit transcripts from your college showing that you earned at least a grade of C in a physics course. As an alternative to the college requirement, you can also provide documentation that you completed at least 12 continuing education credits that included a physics course or seminar.
3. Apply for an Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) specialty certification from ARDMS. In addition to the sonography principles exam requirement, you will have to meet both education and experience prerequisites to qualify for certification in a sonography specialization. There are a number of ways to meet these ARDMS eligibility requirements, but for all of them you must provide the following:
1) Official college transcripts showing your completion of a sonography program
2) A letter from your sonography supervisor or educational program director that documents your clinical experience
3) Clinical experience verification forms documenting your OB/GYN ultrasound experience
4. Take the ARDMS certification exams. You will be tested on general sonography principles and the proper use of sonography equipment. The OB/GYN specialty exam will cover the anatomy of both the female reproductive system and the fetus. You will also be tested on your ability to identify medical abnormalities in the baby or within the female patient.
Tags: sonography principles, certification from, from your, physics course, sonography program
