Sonographer
Sonographers use ultrasound equipment to screen and diagnose medical conditions.
Also known as: Ultrasound practitioner
- Starter salary£40,000 a year
- Experienced£65,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a sonographer you'll:
- use ultrasound equipment to carry out examinations
- deal sensitively with patients
- produce and interpret images
- train healthcare staff to use specialist equipment
- make referrals to other healthcare professionals
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital or in a therapy clinic.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work on your own
- knowledge of medicine and healthcare
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- excellent verbal communication skills
- concentration skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a sonographer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You will need a degree in a relevant subject like:
- radiography
- midwifery
- nursing
- science
- health science
You must also complete a postgraduate certificate or a postgraduate diploma in medical or clinical ultrasound, recognised by the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE) .
The course is a mix of study and practice, so you will need to have an agreed placement in an approved setting.
Some universities offer a master's course in medical ultrasound as part of a medicine degree.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You could do a sonographer degree apprenticeship.
There may be apprenticeship opportunities with the NHS, or with independent and private providers of healthcare services.
The apprenticeship takes a minimum of 36 months to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
Work
If you're a health professional like a nurse, midwife, radiographer, doctor or a healthcare scientist, you may be able to take in-service training for medical ultrasound. This will add sonography to your skills.
Courses vary in length and are run by experienced healthcare professionals.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
There are opportunities to move into specialist sonography areas like:
- obstetrics and gynaecology
- vascular
- cancer services
You could work with specific patient groups such as children or pregnant women.
With experience, there are opportunities to go into teaching sonography or to do clinical research.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the voluntary register of sonographers run by the Register of Clinical Technologists .
If you're already qualified in another healthcare profession you may find it useful to continue your registration with your previous professional body, as employers often require this for entry to jobs.
Guides for this industry
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