Georgia is a lovely place to live and work in, especially if you’re thinking about a career in the medical field.
A career as a sonographer is a fantastic choice if you’re searching for a job that pays well and just requires a two-year associate’s degree. Fortunately, there is a big need for sonographers all around the state.
You can find a list of the best sonography programs in Georgia below. In order to get started, you will need to select a school where you can receive the education you require. You should be better able to decide now what to study and how to proceed with your career in medicine.
Sonography is a medical procedure where ultrasound images are taken of internal organs or structures within the body. Sonographers use special equipment called transducers to transmit sound waves into the patient’s body. The echoes from these waves are then converted into images using specialized software.
Sonography is a vital diagnostic tool in medicine. It provides doctors with valuable information about the condition of their patient’s bodies. This helps them plan treatment strategies and monitor the effectiveness of treatments.
Sonography is a critical part of modern healthcare. Doctors rely on sonograms to diagnose conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and other diseases. They also use sonograms to determine the size of fetuses during pregnancy.
Georgia Sonography Program
Sonographers are essential in giving doctors the internal body imaging they need to diagnose and treat patients in clinics and hospitals.
Because of the possibility of high compensation, the relatively short education and training requirements, and the high job availability in Georgia and across the country, the field of diagnostic medical sonography is expanding quickly.
Classes in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program often have fewer students and smaller class sizes. Consider your degree alternatives carefully and make an advance plan.
Visit and interview at as many schools as you can. You might discover that you relate to one program or place more strongly than another. Apply early and find out more about sonographer financial help and scholarships.
Starting a Sonography Career in Georgia
- Pick a School with Accreditation
- Obtain a degree
- Pass the certification test
Pick a School with Accreditation
In the entire state, 10 have received Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accreditation.
Obtain a degree
Sonographers must possess at least an Associate of Science degree. For individuals who meet the requirements, certificate programs and bachelor’s degrees are also available.
Pass the certification test
The Board of Health in Georgia might not demand certification, but your potential employer probably will. You can take the exam if you have a degree from a program that has received Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accreditation.
Program Length & Cost of Sonography in Georgia
The Georgia institution you select to study sonography, along with the kind of degree you desire, will determine the overall cost and length of your program.
A bachelor’s degree can cost up to $86,400 and take four years, but an associate degree can cost up to $39,500 and take two years.
If you already have a degree in the allied health field, you can enroll in a certificate program, which lasts 10 to 18 months and costs between $2720 and $25,070.
Why Select a Diagnostic Sonography Program with CAAHEP Accreditation in Georgia?
A program or school must have undergone a thorough evaluation by a respected outside entity to be accredited. This guarantees that the educational criteria the schools adhere to are met. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is the main accreditation body for sonography (CAAHEP).
The most thorough and straightforward route for students to qualify to take the ARDMS Sonography Principles & Instrumentation exam as well as a specialty exam is to successfully complete one of these recognized Georgia ultrasound schools.
You can get professionally certified in diagnostic medical sonography by passing both of their tests.
Accredited Sonography Programs In Georgia
As of 2022, the universities listed below were accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and provided certificates or degrees in diagnostic medical sonography.
1. Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology provides you with the instruction and experience you need to succeed as a sonographer, often known as an ultrasound technician.
The school’s program includes a clinical externship at nearby healthcare facilities, and it lasts about 90 weeks to finish. Accordingly, it will take you about two years to be prepared to begin your profession. You’ll be awarded an Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography upon graduation.
In addition, the college lecturers are knowledgeable experts with years of relevant expertise. The university continues to be there for you even after you graduate. After program completion, the Career Services section provides the assistance you need to land an entry-level job.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate (Partial Online)
2. Georgia Southern University
The prescribed courses and educational activities of this academic program, according to the Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences at Georgia Southern University, will prepare a program graduate to sit for the ARDMS Sonography Assessments for RDMS certification.
The government has not assessed whether this program complies with all state and territorial standards for the RDMS certification and state licensure.
Courses in clinical education must be completed by students at two or more dispersed clinical education sites. The costs of getting to and staying at these centers are the responsibility of the students.
Sonographers conduct everything from obstetrics imaging to cardiac imaging using sound waves to study organs, muscles, and vascular structures. Everything from clinical contexts, scanning techniques, invasive procedures, and sonography specialty will be covered in your study.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Baccalaureate degree
3. Ogeechee Technical College
On the advice of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Ogeechee Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Courses are designed to make it easier to attain academic and professional objectives. Sonographers are highly trained individuals that utilize specialized equipment to produce images of inside body structures that doctors can use to diagnose patients. Sonographers work closely with patients and may even undertake some invasive procedures.
The following specializations will be available for students to train in abdominal, obstetrics, gynecology, and peripheral vascular.
Graduates who complete the program successfully are qualified to apply to sit for the national certification tests offered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and abdomen (AB).
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate
4. Augusta Technical College
The field of diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) at Augusta Technical College is very competitive. The necessary courses for this program can be taken at the College by students who meet the requirements for admission to the College.
To be considered for program acceptance, prerequisite courses must be finished by the specified deadline with a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, students are required to take the TEAS Test and get a competent score of at least 58.7%.
The DMS Program prepares students to enter the industry as entry-level Diagnostic Medical Sonographers by offering high-quality didactic and clinical education experiences. Graduates of this program will be qualified to work in a range of environments after graduation.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate
5. Georgia Northwestern Technical College
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate Degree program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a collection of courses that offers students the didactic and clinical learning experiences they need to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to graduate and find success as entry-level employees in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography industry.
The capacity to deliver proper health care services, judgment and critical thinking are all necessary for the profession. High-frequency sound waves are used by sonographers to create dynamic visual images of inside body components.
Medical professionals review the photographs to determine a diagnosis. On the advice of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (JRC-DMS).
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate
6. Grady Health System
Grady Health System opened the School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography in 1991. 170 students have completed the program to date.
The School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography features a number of affiliated clinical facilities where students receive increased training by being exposed to a wide range of patients, equipment, and exam types.
This specialized degree equips the graduate for a satisfying career in OB/GYN and abdominal diagnostic medical sonography.
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography reviewed and approved the School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography as an accredited program in the General Concentration by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Students are guaranteed to get the information, skills, and professional values necessary for job success upon successful completion of a program that has received CAAHEP accreditation.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Undergraduate Certificate
7. South College
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has granted South College accreditation to grant certificates and degrees at the doctoral, educational specialist, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate levels.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Health Science is intended to make it easier for imaging professionals with associate degrees to transition to the bachelor’s level.
The curriculum enhances the fundamental undergraduate courses in diagnostic medical sonography to broaden student understanding in areas including advanced patient care, digital imaging, and specialized themes.
Students are also taught about leadership, healthcare administration, healthcare legislation and ethics, and current trends and concerns in the field of health.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Baccalaureate degree
8. Gwinnett Technical College
Sonography for Medical Diagnosis Students learns how to use specialized equipment that directs high-frequency sound waves to produce dynamic images of organs, tissues, blood flow, and fetal anatomy for interpretation by a doctor, as a tool to help in the diagnosis and treatment of pathological conditions, in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Gwinnett Technical College.
The diagnostic medical sonography associate degree program at Gwinnett Technical College lasts for 22 months and is a full-time course of study.
Classes are held during the day, and there are typically twelve students per session, allowing for individualized attention.
You will finish 19 credits in general education courses and then 61 credits in major courses as part of this 80-credit sequential coursework split over five semesters.
Your clinical training sessions, which are planned at various GST-partnered medical facilities in the area, will help you develop essential workforce-ready skills as part of your coursework.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate
9. Albany State University
Students studying sonography at Albany State University have many possibilities to interact with students studying other health-related fields thanks to the university’s stimulating multidisciplinary learning environment.
This equips graduates to function effectively as team members in the medical field. Additionally, the college’s numerous partnerships with important local medical facilities offer students first-rate chances for hands-on study.
Every year in the autumn semester, the Georgia Diagnostic Medical Sonography program begins its two-year course of study. Before being admitted to this program, you must earn 26 credits in general education courses.
Anatomy and physiology, general psychology, statistics, algebra, English, appreciation of the arts, and the American government are just a few of the areas covered in the general education prerequisite coursework.
After being accepted into the program, you will enroll in important classes such in vascular ultrasonography, abdominal ultrasound, obstetrical ultrasound, superficial structures, and ultrasound physics. Additionally, you will be required to finish your clinical training in a variety of local healthcare facilities.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate
10. Columbus Technical College
Since its founding in 1961, Columbus Technical College has come a long way. It provides intensive didactic instruction, lab practice, and clinical rotations at several local sites as part of its sonography training program about 40 to 50 students apply to this program yearly, but only 10 to 12 are chosen due to competition.
Sonography graduates are employed as entry-level ultrasound technologists in a variety of clinical settings, including private imaging facilities, hospitals, and clinics.
A 78-credit hour comprehensive curriculum must be finished in order to graduate from CTC’s 16-month associate degree program in diagnostic medical sonography.
You must finish 27 credits of pre-occupational study as part of the program, then 51 credits of occupational/core coursework. Abdominal, pelvic, OB/GYN and vascular sonography are mostly covered in the fundamental sonography courses.
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate
Georgia’s Certification Requirements
Sonographers are not yet required to be licensed or certified in Georgia. It’s almost guaranteed that any prospective employer will want professional certification by the American Registry for
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS), and many states are considering implementing licensure (ARDMS).
You are immediately eligible to take the exam if you are earning your diploma or degree from a CAAHEP-accredited institution. The exam will probably be scheduled by your school to coincide with the last quarter or semester of your program.
There are alternative ways to fulfill one of their requirements if you did not complete a CAAHEP program. Let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions on the best sonography programs in Georgia.
What does an ultrasound Technician make in Georgia?
What is the typical ultrasound technician’s salary in Georgia? The average yearly wage for an ultrasound technologist in Georgia is $61,100, or $29.38 per hour.
Is Georgia a Suitable Location for Sonography Studies?
As the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta region is one of the top ten metropolitan areas in the nation for employing diagnostic medical sonographers, attending one of Georgia’s ultrasound training programs could result in future employment in the region.
How Much Money Do Sonographers Make in Georgia?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sonographers in Georgia made a mean annual pay of $70,200 in 2021, or $33.75 per hour (BLS). Your local conditions could be different.
Your pay and potential earning ability might be directly impacted by your level of schooling. Most entry-level sonographer jobs require an Associate of Science degree, although those with a bachelor’s degree have additional chances.
The prospective wages of persons who hold ARDMS certification are higher than those who do not. By 2028, there will be a 31 percent rise in the number of jobs available.
What kind of Sonography is the Most Lucrative?
The Ultrasound Technician’s Highest-Paying Specialties:
- Sonography of the brain (neuro): $112,000
- Sonography of the heart in children: $80,000
- $79,000 for cardiac sonography.
- $68k for vascular sonography.
- Sonography for OB/GYN: $68,000.
What are the Work Environments for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?
Wherever it is necessary to use ultrasound imaging, diagnostic medical sonographers are employed. For instance, sonographers can frequently be found in medical facilities such as clinics, hospitals, women’s health centers, and pediatric care facilities.
The majority of Georgia’s hospitals employ ultrasound technicians, who work in a variety of locations around the state. In addition, they might work in hospitals, research facilities, and medical practices, including those of specialists.
No matter where you work, your primary duty will always be to use a transducer wand to acquire images that can be used to assist a doctor in making a diagnosis of a patient’s disease or injury.
Conclusion
Studying Sonography in Georgia is a fantastic career choice..there are various colleges to attend and most of them give graduates a wide range of job opportunities when they conclude their program
Master’s, bachelor and associate degrees can be rewarded to deserving students. Sonography has so many aspects to virtue into. This article gives you all that you are looking for. What are your thoughts about these sonography programs in Georgia? Please leave a comment below.
Best of luck!