Any Ultrasound techs / sonographers reading? Please help. (San Antonio, Austin: credit, schools)

[fierce_flawless]

I have San Antonio-specific questions about becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. It seems the only options here are not accredited by the accreditation body that is needed to get a job and/or sit for the registry (CAAsomething?) I am not sure if I understand it all but it seems the only other option is if you have a Bachelor's degree (which I don't).

I'm bummed and wondering what the real deal is on getting hired as a new graduate. I thought I'd finally figured out what I wanna do, but after reading that you should NOT go to an unaccredited school if you want a job... well now I don't know. The only accredited one near is in Austin! Thinking of St. Philip's.

TIA

[sapphire]

Have you contacted Baptist Medical Centers? I believe they have a training program--they'll train you and get you licensed, then you agree to work for them X number of years--they forgive the tuition costs. Check it out--not sure if they are still doing it, and I'm sure if they are the competition is tight, but it's worth a try. Otherwise, yeah, St. Philips can get you what you need.

Baptist School of Health Professions

When I say get you licensed--I mean they will get you prepared to test for your license--they don't just give it to you....in case I get flamed.

[fierce_flawless]

Well the Babtist Med Center pre-reqs are that you have one of the following:

Graduation from an accredited Radiography Program
Graduation from an accredited Nursing Program (RN)
Medical Doctorate
B.S./B.A. in Biology

Even the first 2 are 2 years, turning what would be a 2 year thing at St. Philip's into a 4 year thing.. and if it's going to take me 4 years I'll just get my degree in something else. Make that 5 years for me, because no matter what I do I'll have to take a million remedial math classes just to get UP TO college algebra. :P


So St. Philip's seems like the obvious answer but I am still concerned about the lack of accrediation by the CAA whatever. They have other accreditation but not the "one" that "everyone" says is necessary to get hired. Then again I'm getting that info from boards and online sources that are not SA specific so I was wondering if the hiring practices were different here. After all, if St. Philip's is the main option for the career field then local hospitals will have to hire them or find graduates from houston, austin, etc... right?

[sapphire]

These are the prerequisites for the Radiologic Tech program:
Anatomy & Physiology ..................6-8 credit hours
College Math ..............................3 credit hours - Recommended (not required)

Then their course is 2 years, which can get you up and running as an RT.
You can then move on and go the ultrasound route from there. But at least you'd be making a fair wage as an RT.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by fierce_flawless

Well the Babtist Med Center pre-reqs are that you have one of the following:

Graduation from an accredited Radiography Program
Graduation from an accredited Nursing Program (RN)
Medical Doctorate
B.S./B.A. in Biology

Even the first 2 are 2 years, turning what would be a 2 year thing at St. Philip's into a 4 year thing.. and if it's going to take me 4 years I'll just get my degree in something else. Make that 5 years for me, because no matter what I do I'll have to take a million remedial math classes just to get UP TO college algebra. :P


So St. Philip's seems like the obvious answer but I am still concerned about the lack of accrediation by the CAA whatever. They have other accreditation but not the "one" that "everyone" says is necessary to get hired. Then again I'm getting that info from boards and online sources that are not SA specific so I was wondering if the hiring practices were different here. After all, if St. Philip's is the main option for the career field then local hospitals will have to hire them or find graduates from houston, austin, etc... right?

This is correct. Most accredited schools will require you to be an RN or RT to get into the program. They want you to be able to jump right in as ultrasound is a specialty (advanced).

[jarson04]

Dont go to an unacredited school;One you will not get the training and struggle when you get.Ultrasound can be so challengiing and the pts deserve a tech that has the knowledge to find what they're looking for,

I worked for years struggling I work with techs that went to better schools and they make me feel stupid..
I was top of my class did great...But had a great awakening when I came out of school.
I think those schools should be banned,,honeslty ,,
If you really want to be a tech go to a accredited program..