Job outlook!????

I just got accepted into a dms program and start in the fall, but I'm sooo nervous because I keep coming across forums with people stating there are no jobs in the field right now. I've wanted to do this for sooo long now, and have been doing prereq's for over 2 years to get into the program and do not want to change my career. any input would be much appreciated! thanks.

futuredms in Orlando, Florida said: I just got accepted into a dms program and start in the fall, but I'm sooo nervous because I keep coming across forums with people stating there are no jobs in the field right now. I've wanted to do this for sooo long now, and have been doing prereq's for over 2 years to get into the program and do not want to change my career. any input would be much appreciated! thanks.

hi there, have you been able to find any information? I am also supposed to be starting in the fall and I have the same concerns!

I graduated 1 year ago and I am still looking for a job! Out of our class, only one person got a full time position and 3 others have PRN jobs--the rest of us are still looking. I think that the days of sonographers being hired before they even graduated are gone. If you do decide to continue with sonography I would advise you to go to a school that is CAAHEP or if you have a 2-year allied health degree or a bachelor's it would not matter; otherwise you must work for 1 year before you can sit for a registry exam and it is hard enough to get a job even being registered much less without it.

I went to college for 4 years in sonogram and still no effin job. i aplied to all my local hospitals and small dr offices. now days u have to sleep with someone to get a damn job!

April in Farmington, New Mexico said: I went to college for 4 years in sonogram and still no effin job. i aplied to all my local hospitals and small dr offices. now days u have to sleep with someone to get a damn job!

Maybe your middle school level of grammar and sentence structure is to blame?

The school I am going to does not a have a class on vascular ultrasound in the program...does that mean I would need additional schooling to become an RVT? I have no clue how to specialize in vascular, but would really like to.

futuredms - If your school does not offer a vascular program, then you will have to obtain additional instruction to become an RVT. If you want to specialize in vascular, you have two options:

1) Go to another (ALWAYS CAAHEP ACCREDITED) school that offers the vascular specialty

or

2) Continue with your education, obtain your ARDMS (physics + one specialty), and find a job that is willing to train you into vascular. You'll also have to learn the information for the registry, either on your own or through additional schooling.

I did option #2 personally, but that was several years ago when ultrasound jobs were much more plentiful. Everyone in my graduating class had a job lined up before we graduated. That is no longer the case anymore. With today's economy and the saturation of the ultrasound field, it may be very difficult to find a job that is willing to cross-train you into vascular.

Kyle in Tacoma, Washington said: Maybe your middle school level of grammar and sentence structure is to blame?

Wow...I needed a good laugh. Thanks Kyle!

where is the hotspot for us tech jobs? I lost my job in Dec. and have yet to find another. I live in western NC.

April in Farmington, New Mexico said: I went to college for 4 years in sonogram and still no job. i aplied to all my local hospitals and small dr offices.

I so need an ultrsound tech in portales nm, help!!

Thanks
Rocky Houston
Director of Radiology
Portales, NM 88130

I desparatley need an U/S tech

April in Farmington, New Mexico said: I went to college for 4 years in sonogram and still no job. i aplied to all my local hospitals and small dr offices.

I need a U/s tech ASAP
radcomander1@hotmail.com

I don't know what to do...I would love to go back to school for sonography specializing in vascular and echo. Community College of Rhode Island is CAAHEP I believe. I graduated from Tulane University in 1988 having a BA that had nothing to do with Science, however I just sold a personal training / Physical Therapy gym I started ten years ago and got into the idea. I have three kids to raise and money and job opportunity is important...Does radiology make more sence? I'm fascinating with MRI and CT scans too. Rhode Island's economy is in the toilet..Is there more of a demand for radiology? Do they tend to make less money? Any help would be helpful

P.S...What's the base pay for ultrasound and radiology techs? How many years experience until the base rises?

Thanks,
Allison

Hi everyone, I am 33 year old female with AAS, BFA and MS degrees in unrelated fields. I have be unemployed for almost 2 years now and I am considering going into vascular sonography program in NY, the program is a full-time 1 year program that costs 22.5k. It is my understanding that upon graduation I will have approximately 1200 clinical hours. I will be able to take registry exam after I complete the program. What I would like to know is the following; with no prior clinical experience except for the one I will get while in the program how difficult would it be to get a job at a hospital? Is this field saturated how realistic is it to find a full-time job at a hospital I heard many say that most places want sonographers who specialize not only in vascular but also in echo. If that's true is there a chance I will be able to get cardiac training at the hospital and then take the registry or will I be required to go back to school?
I am also considering going into either dental hygiene or becoming a dental lab technician I've heard dental hygiene is a saturated field and lab techs make very low salaries. My preferences would be as follows, sonography, lab tech, hygiene. If anyone knows anything about those fields please advice. THank you.

atm64@cox.net in Barrington, Rhode Island said: I don't know what to do...I would love to go back to school for sonography specializing in vascular and echo. Community College of Rhode Island is CAAHEP I believe. I graduated from Tulane University in 1988 having a BA that had nothing to do with Science, however I just sold a personal training / Physical Therapy gym I started ten years ago and got into the idea. I have three kids to raise and money and job opportunity is important...Does radiology make more sence? I'm fascinating with MRI and CT scans too. Rhode Island's economy is in the toilet..Is there more of a demand for radiology? Do they tend to make less money? Any help would be helpful

P.S...What's the base pay for ultrasound and radiology techs? How many years experience until the base rises?

Thanks,

Allison

Hi Allison,
Community College of Rhode Island is definitely CAAHEP. I am also thinking of applying for the program...despite the long waiting list. I have applied a couple of times (since it has become performance-based) but they were still accepting people on the waitlist. ugh. Ultrasound techs generally make more money in RI. However, if you get certified as a Rad. tech, you have more possibilities since you can then go into MRI and CT. RI Hospital has a rad tech program, in addition to the CCRI program. It is a bachelor's program but you can probably transfer most of your credits from your degree. A really good place to find out about salaries, demand, etc. is the occupational handbook (on the BLS government website). very helpful. i have to say that it is confusing though since it appears that there is going to be a lot of job growth in both fields but it doesn't seem to reflect what i have seen as far as job postings go. maybe it is really going to grow with the baby boomers retiring and the increased need there will be for techs. I hope this helps! please let me know if you find out anything! amy

russkayadusha in New York, New York said: Hi everyone, I am 33 year old female with AAS, BFA and MS degrees in unrelated fields. I have be unemployed for almost 2 years now and I am considering going into vascular sonography program in NY, the program is a full-time 1 year program that costs 22.5k. It is my understanding that upon graduation I will have approximately 1200 clinical hours. I will be able to take registry exam after I complete the program. What I would like to know is the following; with no prior clinical experience except for the one I will get while in the program how difficult would it be to get a job at a hospital? Is this field saturated how realistic is it to find a full-time job at a hospital I heard many say that most places want sonographers who specialize not only in vascular but also in echo. If that's true is there a chance I will be able to get cardiac training at the hospital and then take the registry or will I be required to go back to school?
I am also considering going into either dental hygiene or becoming a dental lab technician I've heard dental hygiene is a saturated field and lab techs make very low salaries. My preferences would be as follows, sonography, lab tech, hygiene. If anyone knows anything about those fields please advice. THank you.

Of all the ultrasound modalities vascular is probably the one with the most job openings. Many physicians are performing ultrasound-guided venous closures in their offices/clinics so the demand for well-trained vascular sonographers is better than echo and general. Get good training in how to perform comprehensive venous reflux studies during your education. If you can somehow talk to George Berdejo at Montefiore Medical Center and get his opinion you would find it helpful. I don't know him personally, but have listened to him at several conferences and have been impressed with his work.

Eric Cadiente RDCS RVT in Altamonte Springs, Florida said: Of all the ultrasound modalities vascular is probably the one with the most job openings. Many physicians are performing ultrasound-guided venous closures in their offices/clinics so the demand for well-trained vascular sonographers is better than echo and general. Get good training in how to perform comprehensive venous reflux studies during your education. If you can somehow talk to George Berdejo at Montefiore Medical Center and get his opinion you would find it helpful. I don't know him personally, but have listened to him at several conferences and have been impressed with his work.

Thanks Eric. I set in one of the classes today and got to participate with some current sonography students. I have to say I had a great time, I liked the staff and the students who are at that school. It seems to be a solid program. I just have to figure out the financial part, which is always the problem :(
I am still doing some research about which career is the most marketable vascular tech, dental hygienist or dental lab tech. The lab tech salary seems super low but I like the job description. Hygiene and vascular seem to be in good salary range but I hear many Hygiene professionals have difficult time getting full-time jobs which offer benefits. Sonography seems to be the one I am leaning towards the most but I still have time to do some research :)

russkayadusha in New York, New York said: Thanks Eric. I set in one of the classes today and got to participate with some current sonography students. I have to say I had a great time, I liked the staff and the students who are at that school. It seems to be a solid program. I just have to figure out the financial part, which is always the problem :(
I am still doing some research about which career is the most marketable vascular tech, dental hygienist or dental lab tech. The lab tech salary seems super low but I like the job description. Hygiene and vascular seem to be in good salary range but I hear many Hygiene professionals have difficult time getting full-time jobs which offer benefits. Sonography seems to be the one I am leaning towards the most but I still have time to do some research :)

Good luck with your decision. The job market is tough out there right now in ultrasound too. Although I do see quite a few u/s jobs posted here on myindeed. Eight of the nine students that graduated from my class in May are employed in the field. Some are only per diem or part time, but most have full-time work.

Thanks Amy! Very helpful...I'll keep you posted....Good luck!

Allison

Quit now while you're ahead! At least you haven't spent a fortune and countless hours in the program studying, working in clinical for free, graduating and paying hundreds of dollars to take the registry and then find out there are wayy too many sonographers along with the gov't drastically reducing payment for it. Be a college professor! That is where the money is. Rip off, all the morons that spend tens of thousands of dollars and years for a degree that isn't worth any more than the paper it is printed on.

you can say that again. I think the only places to get an ut job is out west. There is nothing in western NC where I live. I have been out of work for a year.

Hello!

I am a Dental Hygienist. I have been a hygienist for 3 years now. The pay is good. but is very very difficult to find a full time job. I work only 16 hours a week havent being able to find a full time job or another part time. Only one of the girls that graduated with me has a full time job. If you want benefits , forget it!!! Hygienists most of the time dont get benefits. The ones tha do get it is because they work full time and have been a hygienist for ten years. Im very disappoited with this carreer. I was thinking in going back to school ato become a vascular sonographer..
Hygienist usually work the most 30 hours. Should I switch to V. sonography? or should I go for healthcare management

lll in Genoa City, Wisconsin said: Hello!

I am a Dental Hygienist. I have been a hygienist for 3 years now. The pay is good. but is very very difficult to find a full time job. I work only 16 hours a week havent being able to find a full time job or another part time. Only one of the girls that graduated with me has a full time job. If you want benefits , forget it!!! Hygienists most of the time dont get benefits. The ones tha do get it is because they work full time and have been a hygienist for ten years. Im very disappoited with this carreer. I was thinking in going back to school ato become a vascular sonographer..
Hygienist usually work the most 30 hours. Should I switch to V. sonography? or should I go for healthcare management

Healthcare management makes much mess according to my counselors. I also wanted to be a hygienist but did the assisting first and quickly learned it was a crappy field for benefits and such. Im doing general u/s when I get in. Im on a waitlist. Then I am debating to do the vascular they also offer after. I still may do the management just to get a BA if I am waiting around to get in u/s anyways.

Ultrasound is definitly not the field to get into. Each state has anywhere between 2-12 CAAHEP/JRC-DMS approved programs, that each are pushing out 12-24 students a year. You do the math after searching for jobs... On top of that, you have 6 year programs, like in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that offer B.S. degrees with a 2 year inernship in Sonography. Do you ralize how proficent those students with a 2 years internship become before graduating? Those of us with AAS degrees and 7 months internships can't compete with them, even if we are multi specialized, because we aren't as proficient in a wide range of exams. You have to have all 3: CAAHEP/JRC-DMS accredited program, ARDMS cetified, and be very proficient, to land a job in ultrasound at the moment. You can't just have one of those criteria; your competition is too great around the entire country.

And we all have great referencs, so don't think to yourself that your program director or radiology department manager, will get you a job. A lot of us, including myself, are exceptional sonographers for the little bit of experience we have from our 7 months internships, but we get overlooked because we are a 'dime a dozen'.

I have applied ALL OVER the country (150 applications in 7 months), but the competition is to thick, EVERYWHERE. I have had inerviews where they told me I had great answers and would hear back from them, but when I did, it was in the form of a reject e-mail.

Unless you are planning to attend a 4 year, CAAHEP approved ultrasound program that offers a 1 year internship at the least, you are wasting your time. Just think, that 1 year internship with a B.S. degree in ultrasound, will eliminate more than 25% of you competition. Then you will have the 2 year internship students with B.S. ultrasound degrees and the experienced techs to worry about. You would have eliminated 99% of the 2 year programs, the greater majority of graduates, from your competition, "so to speak

I am currently working in a small rural hospital, we are ACR accredited. All of our Sonographers have to be registered within 2 years of hire. We have had 2 PRN jobs open for 2 years. We also have a full-time job opening and currently have a contract tech here. We are in great need of a Ultrasound tech to work 2nd shift.

USGirl in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina said: I am currently working in a small rural hospital, we are ACR accredited. All of our Sonographers have to be registered within 2 years of hire. We have had 2 PRN jobs open for 2 years. We also have a full-time job opening and currently have a contract tech here. We are in great need of a Ultrasound tech to work 2nd shift.

Lol

Lauren in Mandeville, Louisiana said: Lol

Yea thats usually the response we get from the applicants applying for the job once we tell them the hours and call that are required....Lol

Heck a jobs a job. I'd take it if I was done with school. Gotta start somewhere.

Echo in Concord, North Carolina said: Quit now while you're ahead! At least you haven't spent a fortune and countless hours in the program studying, working in clinical for free, graduating and paying hundreds of dollars to take the registry and then find out there are wayy too many sonographers along with the gov't drastically reducing payment for it. Be a college professor! That is where the money is. Rip off, all the morons that spend tens of thousands of dollars and years for a degree that isn't worth any more than the paper it is printed on.

Amen!

Job opening at Brownwood Regional Medical Center located in Brownwood TX. Looking for a trained Sonographer that is registered (RDMS or RVT). Our facility preforms both general and vascular exam. Thus, we prefer a individual that has experience in both or at least one. Its a full time position with call every third rotation. Great small town living. Please apply at www.brmc-cares.com/Pages/home.aspx if interested.

futuredms in Orlando, Florida said: I just got accepted into a dms program and start in the fall, but I'm sooo nervous because I keep coming across forums with people stating there are no jobs in the field right now. I've wanted to do this for sooo long now, and have been doing prereq's for over 2 years to get into the program and do not want to change my career. any input would be much appreciated! thanks.

Igraduated two yeaRS AGO AND HAVE NOT FOUND A JOB. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS FIELD IS SATURATED. PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME TO MOVE AWAY TO FIND A JOB, BUT IT IS TOO HARD FOR ME AT THIS TIME. I AM CONSIDERING GOING TO SOMETHING ELSE AFTER HAVING A BA ON MEDICAL IMAGING.

Tech needed:
chs.taleo.net/careersection/10001/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=730538&src=JB-12080

futuredms in Orlando, Florida said: I just got accepted into a dms program and start in the fall, but I'm sooo nervous because I keep coming across forums with people stating there are no jobs in the field right now. I've wanted to do this for sooo long now, and have been doing prereq's for over 2 years to get into the program and do not want to change my career. any input would be much appreciated! thanks.

Because there aren't any jobs. The field is over saturated just like every other field/career out there

Ryan in Northridge, California said: Amen!

I second that Amen!

If you are considering going into the ultrasound profession I would tell you, please do not do this, you will be sorry!! I have only 25 years experience in this field and I am registered RDMS, RVT. The quality of life in ultrasound is horrible. You are forced to work a day shift and take call at night after working a difficult work load all day. When you are called out at 2 am you will find stuff like a patient needs a gallbladder ultrasound and upon scanning the patient you find there is no gallbladder because the patient tells you it was removed 5 years ago!! The charge nurse will tell you they are sorry only for the same occurance to happen the following week. The nurse, by the way, after her shift, will go home and get none molested sleep. No one gives a rat's ass about the sonographers life or sleep, believe me. You will also be responsible for the interpretation of the exam. Why don't you young people open your eyes when you look into this prostatuted profession. You will see that sonographers are the ONLY imaging modality that is forced to write down measurements that are already seen on the images you have already taken to now have to write down on what we call a cheat sheet, which is writing down your impression of the exam. This all takes time to do in addition to performing the actual exam. If you are a male in sonography you are truely a screwed individual. Hospitals will not hire you because they do not want to use another hospital employee to chaperone you will you do these gender sensitive exams.
I have just landed a job in which I will be doing nerve conductivity exams, eye exams looking for diabetic retinopathy and simple ABI'S. Monday through friday, no call, no holidays, a real job. I hope to never hold an ultrasound probe in my hand again and could care less. This so called profession is a waist of time and if you don't believe someone with 25 yrs experience and many hours of abuse, go ahead, find out the hard way, go ahead.