I have been a us tech for almost 10 years in specialized field infertility..I am seeking to learn in other areas.

I have been an u/s tech (not registered) for almost 10 years in a specialized area infertility.. I have lost experience in other areas..I am looking to learn in other areas of u/s breast, OB, etc. How can I find a facility that will take me on to learn. Should I offer to volunteer.I have been out of school to long to be considered as an externship? Please advise. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Blessed1 in Joliet, Illinois said: I have been an u/s tech (not registered) for almost 10 years in a specialized area infertility.. I have lost experience in other areas..I am looking to learn in other areas of u/s breast, OB, etc. How can I find a facility that will take me on to learn. Should I offer to volunteer.I have been out of school to long to be considered as an externship? Please advise. Thanks in advance for your responses.

I am in a similar situation....

Blessed1 in Joliet, Illinois said: I have been an u/s tech (not registered) for almost 10 years in a specialized area infertility.. I have lost experience in other areas..I am looking to learn in other areas of u/s breast, OB, etc. How can I find a facility that will take me on to learn. Should I offer to volunteer.I have been out of school to long to be considered as an externship? Please advise. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Hello,

I would suggest you contact ARDMS and ask them. You'll get plenty of advice on these forums, but what is more important is can you take the registry exams which is what will keep you employed or employable these days. If you've already graduated from an accredited school, your transcripts should still be on file. Without the transcript, which indicates you've had the appropriate number of clinical hours, you may not be able to take the exams. Also, although you've been in the field for over a decade, if you have no documentation of the exams you performed, you will not be able to take the exams. So again, check with ARDMS FIRST and see what steps they recommend you take.

Good luck to you,
Amah

I_c_with_sound in Northern, New Jersey said: Hello,

I would suggest you contact ARDMS and ask them. You'll get plenty of advice on these forums, but what is more important is can you take the registry exams which is what will keep you employed or employable these days. If you've already graduated from an accredited school, your transcripts should still be on file. Without the transcript, which indicates you've had the appropriate number of clinical hours, you may not be able to take the exams. Also, although you've been in the field for over a decade, if you have no documentation of the exams you performed, you will not be able to take the exams. So again, check with ARDMS FIRST and see what steps they recommend you take.

Good luck to you,
Amah

Amah, good advice, but I'd like to know what the ARDMS is doing to help improve the job market. I have 20 years experience in OB and ARDMS and can't find a job....

I am currently working in the field now in doing generic ultrasound ... but I am looking to learn in other areas of ultrasound even if it is free! Possibly volunteering. Just to gain the experience and the knowledge.

Lyn in Chicago, Illinois said: I am in a similar situation....

I see you are located in chicago.. have you had any luck looking anywhere

blessed1 in Joliet, Illinois said: I see you are located in chicago.. have you had any luck looking anywhere

No. Thanks for asking.

Lyn in Chicago, Illinois said: Amah, good advice, but I'd like to know what the ARDMS is doing to help improve the job market. I have 20 years experience in OB and ARDMS and can't find a job....

I don't think ARDMS is doing anything about the job situation. The country is suffering an employment crisis in every industry, not just in sonography. Personally I think the crack down with making sure all sonographers become registered is a good thing. For one, it may encourage those individuals who are interested in going to school for ultrasound to seek attendance in an accredited program. Knowing that they will not be able to sit for the exams for a full year might force them to look at the big picture instead of getting out of school as soon as possible. Ten years ago there weren't so many schools just pushing students out of their doors who don't have the ability to become registered and the schools didn't care then, and they don't care now. Lyn if you are not registered then get registered. The exams are passable. If you've been doing ultrasound for 20 years, you are someone who the industry NEEDS. You obviously know what you are doing and would be an asset. If you are not working then not only do you lose out but so does any doctor that won't hire you due to lack of credentials. I am sorry you are in this position and I hope things turn around for you in the very near future

Amah

is there a time limit they have for people to get certified or they are trying to crackdown on people becoming certified. Yes the exams may be passable but when you have been working in the field for a long while with out certification being a requirement, its difficult to study again esp. physics.

blessed1 in Joliet, Illinois said: I am currently working in the field now in doing generic ultrasound ... but I am looking to learn in other areas of ultrasound even if it is free! Possibly volunteering. Just to gain the experience and the knowledge.

What do you mean by generic ultrasound? General as in abdomen or OB? If you attended a school that did not include echo or vascular in the program, then you must return to school and attend a program that offers either of those modalities. Unfortunately those days of being cross trained informally are gone and everyone must attend a program, preferably an accredited program. Insurance companies are starting to deny payment for exams that are performed by sonographers that are not registered. If you are not registered, then get registered as soon as possible. Even those sonographers who have been working for years are losing their jobs because they are not registered and are not passing the exams within the alloted time frame their employers are giving them. Good luck to you and I wish you well.

Amah

I_c_with_sound in Northern, New Jersey said: I don't think ARDMS is doing anything about the job situation. The country is suffering an employment crisis in every industry, not just in sonography. Personally I think the crack down with making sure all sonographers become registered is a good thing. For one, it may encourage those individuals who are interested in going to school for ultrasound to seek attendance in an accredited program. Knowing that they will not be able to sit for the exams for a full year might force them to look at the big picture instead of getting out of school as soon as possible. Ten years ago there weren't so many schools just pushing students out of their doors who don't have the ability to become registered and the schools didn't care then, and they don't care now. Lyn if you are not registered then get registered. The exams are passable. If you've been doing ultrasound for 20 years, you are someone who the industry NEEDS. You obviously know what you are doing and would be an asset. If you are not working then not only do you lose out but so does any doctor that won't hire you due to lack of credentials. I am sorry you are in this position and I hope things turn around for you in the very near future

Amah

Lc, I am registered, but have not worked since last Summer. People have told me that if I don't find a job soon, that my career as a sonographer is done.

Lyn in Chicago, Illinois said: Lc, I am registered, but have not worked since last Summer. People have told me that if I don't find a job soon, that my career as a sonographer is done.

Lyn,

The job market is really tough right now. Are you seeking only full time work or whatever you can get? Are you only able to do OB or are you able to do general, vascular or echo? Perhaps you could apply as a lab instructor in order to remain in the scanning arena. I don't know why your career would be over but try a different approach, even if it means joining the staff of an unaccredited school. Don't give up and don't get discouraged.

I_c_with_sound in Northern, New Jersey said: Lyn,

The job market is really tough right now. Are you seeking only full time work or whatever you can get? Are you only able to do OB or are you able to do general, vascular or echo? Perhaps you could apply as a lab instructor in order to remain in the scanning arena. I don't know why your career would be over but try a different approach, even if it means joining the staff of an unaccredited school. Don't give up and don't get discouraged.

I only do OB/GYN and infertility (and think I am very good at it) I would take part time or full time....

Lyn in Evanston, Illinois said: I only do OB/GYN and infertility (and think I am very good at it) I would take part time or full time....

Why do you think it is so difficult for someone with your experience to find work and what does the amount of time you've been out of work have to do with anything? If I were looking for an OB sonographer, I would prefer you over a new graduate because your hands and eyes already know how to work together to pick up abnormalities that someone less trained would miss. Is it because of the amount of new graduates that are saturating the field? Are you willing and able to relocate? There has to be something that is being missed, especially since you are registered AND experienced.

Lyn in Evanston, Illinois said: I only do OB/GYN and infertility (and think I am very good at it) I would take part time or full time....

Hey there! I was just checking to see if your luck has changed. Were you able to find work? I sure hope so. :-)