Sonographer schools in Houston, TX

Mr. Cowan,

I have been lost in my career choices and need some guidance in which direction would be the most beneficial to me. I currently have an associate's degree in business and was going to finish up my bachelor's. However, I realized with my work experience in the medical field, I have grown an interest in the radiography and sonography field. I've been doing my research but just need a second opinion before I make my final decision. I would like to acquire a bachelor's but unfortunately, in the field of diagnostic medical sonography or cardiovascular sonography, there isn't necessarily one. I have a friend of mine who have attended HCC Coleman for their radiography program and now currently trying to pursue her bachelor's in imaging at UT MD Anderson. I know that some RAD techs who actually also utilize ultrasound devices. Therefore, would it be best to do radiography first (that way I can also receive a bachelor's) then approach sonography? I'm stuck in a dilemma and would like another person's perspective on how I can go about doing both. My interest in sonography is, however, greater than radiography but I would also like to complete my degree.

Also, at HCHD, I've heard some great things. But the one downfall was there is no financial aid for their very low tuition. Is there some sort of payment plan that majority of students do? Or does the tuition have to be paid up front? What is your personal opinion on the ratings of each school? I've heard there are only 5 CAAHEP accredited schools in Houston - 1)HCC Coleman 2)LoneStar Cyfair 3)Alvin Community College 4)Sanford Brown 5)HCHD

And I believe all the deadlines have passed (with the exception to Sanford Brown) so I have to wait around another year if I get accepted to any of these schools :(

-SSS

SSS,
You do not need a radiography background to get into sonography, however it will make you more competative to get in. Out of professional courtesy I will not comment on each schools.

I will say this, I think that pedi-echocardiography (kid heart ultrasound)has the best opportunity as of right now. For this, ACC in Alvin is the pioneer for the whole country. They are doing fantastic things with pedi-echo at ACC.

We do have payment plans at HCHD, but you are right we offer no tuition assistance at this time.

We are hiring experienced sonographers please email your resume to txdepot@gmail.com - Houston/Clear lake area

Be very careful with this school. They make you take ma, pt, or medical billing before you can get into program if you do not have 48 hours of college hours. M A program is 13k and sonography is 38k having said that I still need out of pocket money for M A. My goal was ultrasound but i soon found out that id be reposible for 26k of that divide that into 18 months and that is how much i have to pay. There's no chance in hell i can afford that unless i ask for private bank loans and with the economy today impossible...and also before i forget even if you do the M A program you still have to take 2 entrance exams to get into ultrasound and if you don't pass you don't get in. Yes its fast paced but with a big price tag...do your research ask the questions even if you see them get fraustrated with you its just a ploy to make you feel bad and make you sign the dotted line...sorry for spelling in a hurry :)

Be very careful with SB houston school. They make you take ma, pt, or medical billing before you can get into program if you do not have 48 hours of college hours. M A program is 13k and sonography is 38k having said that I still need out of pocket money for M A. My goal was ultrasound but i soon found out that id be reposible for 26k of that divide that into 18 months and that is how much i have to pay. There's no chance in hell i can afford that unless i ask for private bank loans and with the economy today impossible...and also before i forget even if you do the M A program you still have to take 2 entrance exams to get into ultrasound and if you don't pass you don't get in. Yes its fast paced but with a big price tag...do your research ask the questions even if you see them get fraustrated with you its just a ploy to make you feel bad and make you sign the dotted line...sorry for spelling in a hurry :)

Be very careful with this school. They make you take ma, pt, or medical billing before you can get into program if you do not have 48 hours of college hours. M A program is 13k and sonography is 38k having said that I still need out of pocket money for M A. My goal was ultrasound but i soon found out that id be reposible for 26k of that divide that into 18 months and that is how much i have to pay. There's no chance in hell i can afford that unless i ask for private bank loans and with the economy today impossible...and also before i forget even if you do the M A program you still have to take 2 entrance exams to get into ultrasound and if you don't pass you don't get in. Yes its fast paced but with a big price tag...do your research ask the questions even if you see them get fraustrated with you its just a ploy to make you feel bad and make you sign the dotted line...sorry for spelling in a hurry :)

sorry i was talking about Sanford brown houston tx

sorry i was talking Sanford brown houston

Folks before you commit to anyone for Ultrasound training please do your own research. There are a lot of folks here who pretend to be highly technical and heading Ultrasound schools. My advise is that no professional hunts online for ultrasound students. Who ever he or she may be; chose the school after careful research, please keep away from Sanford-Brown Houston. regarding other schools think about financing your studies.

Folks before you commit to anyone for Ultrasound training please do your own research. There are a lot of folks here who pretend to be highly technical and heading Ultrasound schools. My advise is that no professional hunts online for ultrasound students. Who ever he or she may be; chose the school after careful research, please keep away from Sanford-Brown Houston. regarding other schools think about financing your studies.

mollie in Spring, Texas said: got accepted into lone star college sonography program!

Mollie was it hard to get into this program at Lone Star? I am seriously considering applying. Time for a career change. I am tired of the corporate world and feel it is "time for me to what I want to do when I grow up".

Ramir in Houston, Texas said: Go to Cy-Fair College you only need $4000 - $7000 to earn your associate degree in diagnostic ultrasound. But of course, getting accepted in very competitive. You need to be an A student to get in.

Hi Ramir! Mama Simp. Lonestar college ultrasound program is a very competitive program. If you are mainly an A' student in your prerequistes you have a good chance of getting in, but if your more of a B student it will be difficult. go to their website and you can pull up the sheet those use on the selection process and score your self based on that.

MamaSimp in Katy, Texas said: Mollie was it hard to get into this program at Lone Star? I am seriously considering applying. Time for a career change. I am tired of the corporate world and feel it is "time for me to what I want to do when I grow up".

The program is very competitive. So getting in is rather difficult. However, if you are passionate about it and work hard, I am sure anyone can do it. I chose Lone Star because its not nearly as expensive as any other sonography school, its close to home, and to me, the education is superior. As a start, I recommend going to an information session, check online for the dates, this will give you an enormous amount of information that will help orient you in what you need to do to get started. From there, become very familiar with the selection process worksheet and get as MANY points as possible. I suggest you start as soon as possible, the next application is Fall 2012, so you have some time to prepare. Good luck :) Feel free to ask me further questions.

ok, so i was thinking about going back to school and i wanted to do like ultrasound tech or rad tech, can some one explain to me the difference between and which one takes more school and what would be a better career.
for example obviously a cn would be under a ma and both would be under rn.
how would that work for ultra sound tech and rad tech??

its me... Ultrasound you would be under a radiologist basically. You would scan the patient, see
normal from abnormal anatomy and report that to the radiologist and the radiologist diagnosis. Which is better would be really up to what you are wanting. A rad tech takes Xrays and the radiologists reads them. Ultrasound is not just pushing a button on a machine. It is a challenging skill to learn of how to manipulate the probe, physics of the machine etc to get the best images. Its a continual learning process! Good Luck to you!

Any houstonians who know the roads well? I was assigned my clinical site in the Woodlands TX. I am closer to jersey village. Mapquest estimates 35-40 minutes, depending on the route. If I were to take I45 to the Woodlands, is there a whole lot of traffic at 7-8am? thanks, really appreciate any help.

Hey mollie. Are you at Memorial Herman or St. Lukes.? Coming up North the traffic shouldnt be bad,but going home may be another story.

pammynelle in Magnolia, Texas said: Hey mollie. Are you at Memorial Herman or St. Lukes.? Coming up North the traffic shouldnt be bad,but going home may be another story.

St Lukes. I should be off at about 3:30pm.
Thanks!

Cool. That's where I work. I should see you there on Tuesdays some.

Shaun in Baytown, Texas said: I am registered in Abdomen and OB/Gyn. I'm an entry level tech and I may require some training but I am a hardworker and a fast learner. I would love to learn vascular and become registered in it soon. I really need to get my foot in the door. Any suggestions??

any techs with at least a years experience looking for a job near baytown?

anyone with at least a year of experience interested in working in a clinic in baytown, texas.

I begin an ultrasound program in Atlanta, GA very soon and I am not sure which area of sonograhy to major in: abdomen/obgyn, vascular, or cardiac. Can anyone give me advice on which one of these areas has the highest job demand or best pay in the Atlanta area?

GW in New England in Bedford, Massachusetts said: I have worked in the Healthcare field for 35 years. I started as an orderly and most recent position is Vice President of Clinical Services in a hospital. One of the departments I managed was Radiology, and Ultrasound was part of that department. An Ultrasonographer is typically a two year college program. I believe it is a great career for anyone. There is a tremendous need for more ultrasonographers around the country....you can pick where you want to live, because there will always be a job for you where you want to go.

In New England, the starting salary range is around $50,000 and if you take call (which you will have to do in most hospitals) you will make even more.

There is a different type of Sonographer which is used in Cardiology and Cardiologist offices, which is what you might be referring to as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. That is also a great job with similar pay. The difference is that it has a main focus of the heart, while the other is more generalized, looking at the entire abdominal cavity organs and arterial/venous system.

Which brings up another speciality within the ultrasound field, which is a Vascual Ultrasound Technologist, which specializes in the study of the arterial/venous system.

Bottomline - any sonographer school is a great investment in your future. Best of luck and if you have any more questions, just email me at gwstexan@comcast.net. (I grew up in La Grange, Texas but now live in Massachussettes.)

Take care and God Bless.

GW

Which school would you recommend for sonography tech?
BTW LaGrange,TX is great!! i have lots of family there

I heard UT MD Anderson School offers bachelor's in diagnostic imaging. Anyone have any further info on this by chance? Either you can start off on a sophomore level and finish in 3 years. Or I think if you already have experience and associate's in sonography or radiography then you just need another year if I'm not mistaken. Please let me know if anyone has any info! Thanks!

MamaSimp in Katy, Texas said: Mollie was it hard to get into this program at Lone Star? I am seriously considering applying. Time for a career change. I am tired of the corporate world and feel it is "time for me to what I want to do when I grow up".

I too am thinking about the Sonography program at Cy-Fair. I am also interested in HCC, HCHD and San Jac. I am having trouble finding information about how to apply to San Jac. Anyone out there attend San Jac or know where I can get more information? Their website is very vague and does not give any application instructions. I have my Bachelor's so I'm looking for a shorter length program.

thnk god i didnt go there.. i was thinking too..
i still need help finding a college for sonography..!!
right now m taking my associates in arts at HCC..

Hi M. Cowan,

Do you know what the demand for Vascular techs are in Houston, in the US in general, and if having this certification is truly worth it?

Thank you for your help.