Ultrasound Technician Vs. Radiology Technician

Betwixt the career paths of an Ultrasound Technician and a Radiology Technician there are many similarities, which is why a lot of people who have little experience or knowledge about all things medical might get them confused. Typically the level of education is the same; an Associate’s Degree in ultrasonography and radiology place them as educationally equal but in different fields.

What exactly is an “ultrasound technician”? a “radiological technician”?

Ultrasound techs are also referred to as ultrasonographers, as the equipment they work with works differently than that of a radiological tech. As the “sono” part of this title refers to sound waves, the ultrasound equipment uses sound waves to travel through the body to get clear images of what the ultrasonographer is trying to see and record.

Radiological technicians work with X-ray waves that travel all the way through the body being scanned and create an image of the scanned part. The danger in this field is greater than that of an ultrasound tech because radiology blasts the body more harshly to get a perfectly clear image of things that are broken or damaged. Because of the higher dangers, pregnant women are not allowed to be near any radiological equipment at all. Many of them work in X-ray labs and make scans of limbs and other injuries looking for signs of impact and fractures.

What kind of schooling do you need and how much does it cost?

While an ultrasound tech only needs two years of schooling, it is possible to get a four year degree as well, as long as it’s from an acceptable college of ultrasonography or ultrasonography program. Online programs for the degree are now also available, but you would have to check the job requirements in your state to verify if an online degree would be acceptable to future employers. The educational expenses for this degree vary depending on the length of time in school and whether the candidate pursues an Associate’s or Bachelor’s, but the average cost is approximately $40,000.

A radiological technician needs a minimum of two years as well, although an advanced four year degree brings more options and higher wages, as to be expected. Again, the stipulations for education vary by state, and the average is about $45-50,000 for their education because of the safety issues involved. Specialized areas also exist for a radiosonographer, as they are sometimes called. There’s also an abbreviated education option in some states referred to as “limited scope of practice”, but that pretty much says it all right there. There are several scholarships available for Radiology Nursing students.

How much does an ultrasound technicians make?

The average salary of an ultrasound tech/ultrasonographer is a little over $57,000 annually. . Additional certifications and specializations beyond the degree and licensing add to the expense but also raise the salary. Many women are familiar with ultrasound techs as they specialize in obstetrics and abdominal ultrasound, and this is where many ultrasound techs are hired on.

How much does a radiology technicians make?

For a radiological tech/radiosonographer, the median salary is $53,000, although some with advanced skills and certifications can earn $70,000 or more. This places it in direct line with base salary being slightly more or less than an ultrasonographer, so it clearly depends on which field you would rather pursue.

Loan Forgiveness For Nurse Practitioners

Loan forgiveness for nurse practitioners is part of the loan repayment program that is offered by the U.S. Government. The program is called the Nursing Education Loan Program and is designed to help lessen the burden caused by the critical shortage of Registered Nurses. This is a selective program offers a tiered repayment of educational loans to RNs and RNs with higher advanced licenses.

How The Programs Work:

These programs work in an exchange pattern. Nurse practitioners would receive compensation equalling 60% of their total nursing educational loans. Educational loans would need to be qualified before they are considered in the compensation. The pay-off for receiving compensation for educational loans is that the practitioner would need to work full time for 2 years in a critical shortage facility. An additional 25% compensation package is available if the practitioner works an additional year. The 25% is based on the original total qualified educational loans. So for three years of service the total compensation would equal 85% of the total qualified education loans. These compensations are in addition, to whatever the salary and benefit packages that the nurses have with the facility. There is also a program that is identical to the one that is outlined here for practitioners that are faculty in a qualified, accredited school of nursing.

Eligibility:

Licensing: The main eligibility factor is being a RN or an advanced license holder such as a Nurse Practitioner, or Nurse Pratitioner working as a Nurse Faculty.

To be eligible, Nurse Practitioners must have completed their training and be in possession of a qualifying document. Qualifying documents would be a diploma, an AA degree, a BSN, etc.

Work Eligibility: The Nurse Practitioner must be employed for a minimum of 32 hours per week at a critical shortage facility. The critical shortage facility may be public, private, or non-profit. The nurse practitioner must also be qualified to work in the United State and be able to show documented proof that they are a U.S. citizen, National, or Permanent Resident.

How Facilities are Deemed Eligible:

One of the eligibility factors for being accepted into the loan repayment program is working at a qualified facility. The facility may be publically run, private facilities, non-profit, or non-profit school of nursing. These facilities are located in a designated Professional Shortage Area. The facility may be primary healthcare oriented or Mental healthcare orienet.

Qualifying facilities range from Hospice and Nursing homes to Critical Access Hospitals and Public Hospitals and include Indian health Service centers, Rural Health Facilities and Clinics, Home Health Agencies, etc.

Application Procedure:

The program is begun by submitting an application. Part of the application is a contract that spells out the details of the 2 or 3 year contract. This is a critical document that potential applicants should read over carefully. Failure to fulfill your obligation results in significant financial penalties and consequences.

Preference and Application Weights:

Preference is given to applicants with the highest financial need. Preference is also given to teachers who work at nursing school with 50% or greater enrollment of disadvantaged students. The type of facility that is listed on the application also plays a large part in determining who is approved and who is not approved for the program. When choosing a facility, understand that preference for the facility is based on need. Practitioners who work at facilities with the greatest need are more likely to be approved than those that work at facilities with marginal needs.

How To Apply:

The application process is one time per year for the following year. Each year the governement updates the criteria within the application. The application can be reviewed on the HRSA.gov website. It needs to be read carefully because the penalties for not fulfilling the contract are severe. Check this site to see the required documents, “http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/currentmembers/loanrepaymentrecipients/requireddocumentation/index.html”

Pros of The Program:

The pros of the program are great. They equate to upwards of 85% of the total qualified reimbursement of student loans. This is a significant amount of financial reimbursement. The program reimbursement works in addition, to regular wages and benefits paid by the facility.

Cons of The Program:

The cons of the program included the financial penalties for failing to fulfill the programs contract.

Unfortunately, as of August, 2012 Loan Repayment Program For Nurse Practitioners is closed as per HRSA.Gov, But will open again after January 2013.

“How to get a loan without a job and bad credit for nursing students“

How to Become an Ultrasound Technician

Steps for Ultrasound Techs: Education and Certification

As an ultrasound technician you will be responsible for running sonography equipment that takes a clear image of various organs and potential abnormalities. You will also be responsible for taking measurements and providing physicians with calculations in addition to images for accurately diagnosing illness.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Ultrasound Tech?

To become an ultrasound technician you will want to prepare for a minimum of one year of vocational training and up to four years for a bachelor’s degree. The most common degree level for ultrasound technicians is an associate’s degree.

Ultrasound Technician Associate’s Degree and Licensing Steps 

It is important to select a community college or online school that is accredited for ultrasound technicians. Completing your degree at an accredited school will aid you in gaining employment with reputable medical facilities including hospitals.  Ultrasound technicians must have knowledge of the functions of the body including those of individual organs in order to be complete job duties.

Step One: Prerequisites/Requirements To Become Ultrasound Tech

Prerequisite courses may vary from school to school.

Complete prerequisite courses including:

  • English: Technical Writing, Professional Report Writing or The Research Paper
  • Math: Precalculus or higher.
  • Physics: Basic Concepts or higher.
  • Sociology: Introduction to Sociology
  • Biology: Human Anatomy I and II
  • Medical Terminology

Step Two: Entering an Ultrasound Technician Program – Requirements

After completing prerequisite courses you will be ready to enter into an ultrasound technician program. Two full years, including summer quarters, are required to complete your associate’s degree. In this program you will develop your knowledge of the ultrasound equipment and the technology behind sonography. You will take courses in the following subjects:

  • Physics
  • Anatomy
  • Biology
  • Medical Ethics
  • Pathopsysiology
  • Obstetrics
  • Ultrasound Equipment

Step Three: Clinical Education

Included in your schooling will be an internship or clinical training, which may take place at a hospital. During your clinical education you will learn in an environment similar to the one in which you will work upon graduation.

Step Four: Certification with ARDMS

Not all states require that ultrasound technicians become licensed or certified, however, employers do seek out techs that have completed ARDMS certification. ARDMS can offer you opportunities to become certified in specialty areas (normally requiring additional education):

  • Breast
  • Abdomen
  • Vascular
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology

Step Five: Continuing Education

Continuing education is a vital part of your career as an ultrasound technician. In order to maintain certification in specialty areas, you will be required to take courses that relate to your current certification. These courses may include education regarding advancements in medicine and research. Given that sonography is a technological field, you may also take courses that will focus on new equipment that you will use in your work.

The investment you make in your education will help you to advance in your career with a solid knowledge of the human body and ultrasound technology. Taking the time to complete your associate’s degree may equal greater career opportunities with stable medical organizations. Likewise your education will provide you with the skills necessary to provide excellent patient care and reliable diagnostics that save lives.

How many years does it take to become a radiologist?

How Long Does It Take to Become a Radiology Technician

Approximately two and one half years is the least education a radiologist technician can expect to complete. Many hospitals, clinics, and states require a four year degree in radiological science because the demands for this position are so competitive. The extra half year in the minimum requirement of education applies to fields of specialization, for which the candidate may apply for more than one, but it increases the length of time required to complete each specialty. Radiologist techs work under the supervision of the radiological assistants and radiologist, but can do the requirements of their job and specializations independently of their supervisors. This career path essentially parallels the job duties of an LPN in nursing.

Most Related Articles:

1). How many years does it take to become a radiologist assistant?
2). How Long Does It Take To Become a Radiologist

How Long Does It Take To Become a Radiologist Assistant

There are slight variations in requirements from state to state but the average is about six years. This is because radiologist assistants must first earn a two year degree as a radiographer and then work two to three years in that field before applying to an accredited school for radiology to work on and receive a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in radiology science/radiologist’s assistant. Specific exams follow the successful achievement of the Bachelor’s or Master’s and then the candidate must complete the certification process on top of that before being granted licensure. Virtually all the states require licensure to practice in each state. Radiologist Assistants are then able to perform a majority of the job functions that a radiologist would normally perform.

Apply for radiology scholarships today?

How Long Does It Take To Become a Radiologist

How many years does it take to become a radiologist? Is a radiologist a medical doctor?

A minimum of thirteen years is required before the very final examination and licensing occur to become a radiologist. This is because a radiologist is a doctor who practices in the field of radiology, so most of the course work and internship expectations follow the general physician or surgeon career path to a point. Then the educational and internship requirements break off and head into a specialized area of radiology for which the student has already established the previous platform of work. Four years of pre-med and the successful completion of a B.S. with a focus on biology or chemistry is followed by four years of med school, either in osteopathics or diagnostics, and then a one year internship in three specific areas followed by four years of radiological residency.

How long does it take to become a radiologist doctor?

This is the same thing as a radiologist with the same number of years of education, internships, etc. A radiologist may go beyond these requirements another one to three years in an optional fellowship program that branches out into a sub-specialty. The radiologist has many choices then; from pediatric radiology to CT’s and MRI’s, the radiologist may continue his education and career advancement for as long as he or she chooses. This highly competitive field almost requires additional specialties in order to find, keep and maintain a lifelong career. The phrase, “radiologist doctor”, is a generalized one used to distinguish this career path from those with closely related titles and job descriptions/duties.

Are there enough scholarships in radiology available?

Family Nurse Practitioner vs Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

The definition of a Nurse Practitioner is: a Registered Nurse who has advanced his or her education to the point where he or she has a Master’s in Nursing and additional certification and training that allows them to do many of the duties a physician can and often works in place of a physician in clinical settings.

Therefore, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is someone who is certified beyond their Master’s degree to work in a pediatrics office with children on a daily basis. When a regular pediatrician has a caseload that is bigger than that pediatrician can handle and his or her schedule is booked solid, a majority of their infant and children patients can be seen by the NP. A lot of people tend to think that the NP is a doctor because they are able to prescribe medication and order specific medical exams, but again, their title gives it away. They are Advanced Nurse Practitioners. They may even consult with the pediatricians on the care of their little patients or be supervised by the pediatricians in some states.

A Family Nurse Practitioner has earned the title and certification to treat members of the entire family, not just the children. The scope of their skills is broader, serving infants to the elderly, women and men. They are able to order more diagnostic tests and prescribe a larger list of medications than a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. It doesn’t stop there; from gynecological exams to prostate exams and even sports physicals and annual wellness checkups, the Family NP does a lot more for entire families and multiple generations within the same family than the Pediatric NP does.

Essentially then, their educational paths are the same. They will start out by first earning their bachelor’s degree in nursing and working as Registered Nurses. From there, they return to school to earn a Master’s and possibly even a doctorate in nursing. To finally reach the point where they are titled Family or Pediatric NP or Advanced NP, they have to take additional training and testing and pay for the licensing for each specific career path. Some NP’s, if they choose, may opt to become more than one class of NP. Family NP’s also, on average, earn more per year than Pediatric NPs because of their broader knowledge base and skills with working with patients of all ages.

Both are able to work in hospitals, public clinics, private clinics, and even open their own clinics working for themselves to serve the public. The last option is especially advantageous because an NP with his or her own clinic can see hundreds of patients in a year and not have to depend on a company or medical corporation for their paycheck. They might have to hire additional help for reception and billing so as to focus more on their patients, but a lot of NP’s report it’s worth it and a lot of patients like being able to see the same medical professional consistently. The laws in each state governing what an NP can and can’t do are located at the individual state’s board of nursing website.

Also find out, “Family Nurse Practitioner vs Adult Nurse Practitioner“.