Cardiovascular Technologist Programs in Texas
An aging population and the Affordable Care Act have created a significant need for well-trained medical professionals. A recent article from Dallas News indicates that the economy is growing so quickly that the area is running out of workers, a trend that is particularly strong in the healthcare industry (2018).
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a cardiac ultrasound technician in Texas, simply request more information from the schools below.
Students who enter a program in Texas to become a cardiac ultrasound technician can potentially reach thousands of patients in Texas as a result. For example, Texas Children’s Hospital reveals that they perform around 20,000 echocardiographs each year for infants and children. That number includes just the procedures handled at a single medical facility, which employs a team of nearly forty health care professionals who maintain the hospital’s echocardiography lab.
For students who want to work with cutting-edge technology that also provides an essential service for patients, studying to become an echo tech in Texas is a great path to consider. You can generally choose between a sonography certificate program or an associate degree program in sonography, and your educational and career goals may influence which educational route you take. If you’re a current health professional, additional training through a sonography certificate may be your best choice. If you’re entering college for the first time, you may want to consider the ample knowledge given in an associate degree program.
Echo Tech/Cardiac Ultrasound Education in Texas
As you investigate different ultrasound education programs, you’ll want to look at programs with valuable accreditations from organizations like the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Additionally, a curriculum designed to adhere to the recommendations of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCEDMS) is also a valuable consideration.
Cardiac sonography programs for associate degrees routinely take around two years to complete and may include a variety of general core programs in addition to clinical training during the second year.
General health classes you may see in your program include Anatomy and Physiology, Basic Health Profession Skills, and General Health Professions Management. Degree-specific courses for future echo techs may include Principles of Echocardiography and Advanced Ultrasound Principles and Instrumentation. Additionally, credits dedicated to a practicum or field experience will also likely be part of your cardiac ultrasound education.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals entry-level education for diagnostic medical sonographers is an associate degree, so you can begin searching for a job upon completion of your program.
To help pay for your education, you may want to tap into the resources of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS). Additionally, Texas Adventures in Education offers a helpful search tool for finding a scholarship to help you pay for school.
Echo Tech Careers in Texas
The overall health care industry in Texas is in good shape, but employment figures from the BLS also paint a positive picture for future echo techs. For example, Texas is second in the nation for total echo tech jobs. The large urban areas around Dallas and Houston offer some of the highest employment levels in the nation for this occupation. Nationwide, echo techs see a mean annual wage of $73,200, which is slightly lower than the $78,250 mean annual wage in Texas (BLS, 2018).
After completing your training, you’ll have a choice of working in a hospital, which is where most diagnostic imaging employment is found. Additional facilities that hire echo techs include medical laboratories and physician’s offices. As you begin your job search, you may find membership in professional organizations like the SDMS helpful, as well as membership in the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).
You’ll also want to explore becoming an RDCS, which is a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, as well as valuable examinations and credentials available through Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Training to become a cardiac ultrasound technician is a sound choice for future job opportunities. It’s also a great way to use your interest in technology and medical imaging to help a variety of patients that range from infants and children to adults and the elderly. Reach out to the Texas ultrasound schools listed on our site to learn more.