Alabama schools

Hi everyone. I am looking for some help from other professionals in this field. I am considering attending Virginia College in Birmingham, AL and joining their Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. I would be getting my Associates degree from there and then hopefully finding a job immediately after completing. Is an associates enough to begin in this field? How hard is it to find a job in Alabama in this field? What do I need to make sure I have and have done to be qualified for this job?
Also, I was hoping to find a hospital or clinic that offers tuition reimbursement. I am not sure if that is exactly what it is called but it's a program where the hospital/clinic would pay for my education as long as I plan work for them for a period of time. Anyone know how I could find out about those programs and possibly what places might offer them?

Any help you may have is appreciated. I am extremely excited about this potential career and what to find out as much as I can about it. The best way to do that is ask professionals about their experiences and opinions.
Thanks!

Stephanie in Dothan, Alabama said: Hi everyone. I am looking for some help from other professionals in this field. I am considering attending Virginia College in Birmingham, AL and joining their Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. I would be getting my Associates degree from there and then hopefully finding a job immediately after completing. Is an associates enough to begin in this field? How hard is it to find a job in Alabama in this field? What do I need to make sure I have and have done to be qualified for this job?
Also, I was hoping to find a hospital or clinic that offers tuition reimbursement. I am not sure if that is exactly what it is called but it's a program where the hospital/clinic would pay for my education as long as I plan work for them for a period of time. Anyone know how I could find out about those programs and possibly what places might offer them?

Any help you may have is appreciated. I am extremely excited about this potential career and what to find out as much as I can about it. The best way to do that is ask professionals about their experiences and opinions.
Thanks!

Sorry, but I would not look at Virginia College. They may offer an associates, but you don't need one. You only need to be registered ARDMS and Virginia College can't offer you a chance to take the registries until one year after graduation as long as you are able to work in the field that entire time. You will also come out inexperienced, because you have very little hands on training. I would look into Montgomery, AL. Glenn E. Vickery school of Diagnostic Ultrasound. It is associated with Baptist Health in Montgomery.

Look into Wallace State Community College in Hanceville AL. I'm graduating from there in December from the Ultrasound program. It's a good one and clinicals start right away.

The problem with Virginia College is that you are not eligible to take your Registry unless you work for a year first. If you graduate from Wallace it will take you longer, but you should get a job faster because you can take your registry the day after you graduate. Also Wallace is literally TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars cheaper than Virginia College. This is a great career, but it does take some time to learn properly.

Shawn in Huntsville, Alabama said: The problem with Virginia College is that you are not eligible to take your Registry unless you work for a year first. If you graduate from Wallace it will take you longer, but you should get a job faster because you can take your registry the day after you graduate. Also Wallace is literally TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars cheaper than Virginia College. This is a great career, but it does take some time to learn properly.

Virginia College may not be accredited but at least we know how to do vascular and alot of sites will hire a Virginia College student over a Wallace student just of that fact. We have two scanning labs over your few machines. When we go to clincials we are put on our own faster than wallace students because we already know all the scanning techinques.

I agree Dorothy! I just recently graduated from VA college and we have more than enough hands on training and we learn how to scan PROPERLY! We learn general, OB, and vascular. VA college may be expensive but its well worth it. As a matter of fact, you can sit for the science portion of your CCI registry right out of graduation.

Stephanie in Dothan, Alabama said: Hi everyone. I am looking for some help from other professionals in this field. I am considering attending Virginia College in Birmingham, AL and joining their Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. I would be getting my Associates degree from there and then hopefully finding a job immediately after completing. Is an associates enough to begin in this field? How hard is it to find a job in Alabama in this field? What do I need to make sure I have and have done to be qualified for this job?
Also, I was hoping to find a hospital or clinic that offers tuition reimbursement. I am not sure if that is exactly what it is called but it's a program where the hospital/clinic would pay for my education as long as I plan work for them for a period of time. Anyone know how I could find out about those programs and possibly what places might offer them?

Any help you may have is appreciated. I am extremely excited about this potential career and what to find out as much as I can about it. The best way to do that is ask professionals about their experiences and opinions.
Thanks!

I would not suggest Virgina College in B'ham the tution is way too expensive and the school is not accrediated, and alot of students who come from there has said its hard to find a job afterwards...I once even applied but the tution in 2005 was 33,000 for two yrs. but there are other school in Alabama...Wallace State in Hanceville and one in Mobile,Ala. and Montgomery,Ala.

dont go to school in montgomery, al

is Glenn E. Vickery school of Diagnostic Ultrasound a good school?

Friendlysonographer, what is wrong with the school in Montgomery, Al? I was actually thinking about going there.

i was wondering if there are any diagnostic ultrasound programs that can be taken in Huntsville?

Shawn in Huntsville, Alabama said: The problem with Virginia College is that you are not eligible to take your Registry unless you work for a year first. If you graduate from Wallace it will take you longer, but you should get a job faster because you can take your registry the day after you graduate. Also Wallace is literally TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars cheaper than Virginia College. This is a great career, but it does take some time to learn properly.

What is the program length at Wallace vs VA?

Have you considered an online program? Take a look at www.academyofultrasound.com. Before graduating from this program, you will have taken the CCI registry, and passed, then you are IMMEDIATELY eligible to sit for ARDMS registry.

I hope this helps. Good Luck and God Bless!