Ultrasound Technician Schools in Florida (Become a Sonographer)

Ultrasound technicians are medical professionals who are both educated and well trained to operate imaging equipment and computers with the aim to assist in diagnosing patients with illnesses or injuries.

It is a fact that sonography and medical imaging are careers are in high demand, and if you believe that pursuing this kind of education in Florida is your perfect choice, we are here to tell you that you will not regret your decision.

The first reason is that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Florida has the 3rd highest employment level in the nation for sonographers, and job growth is expected to strongly increase, causing new job opportunities for novice sonographers.

However, before you get to this point, you will need to get the proper education and in the text below, you will get acquainted with details about some important factors to consider when pursuing your sonography career, including Florida’s economic outlook, as well as certification requirements and salary data.

Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Florida

Being that accreditation is the most important factor to be taken into consideration when choosing a program to attend, we provide you with all of the CAAHEP accredited sonography programs in Florida to make your research easier.

The main accrediting body for sonography programs is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

In order for a school to become accredited, it has to meet the DMS Accreditation Standards and Guidelines set forth by CAAHEP.

This can, actually, be accomplished by passing a series of program reviews, including a self-study review and a site visit so as to prove the quality of education provided and Florida boasts numerous accredited programs:

• AdventHealth University
• Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside
• Broward College
• Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology
• Cambridge Institute of Allied Health and Technology
• Eastern Florida State College
• Hillsborough Community College
• Keiser University– various locations
• Miami Dade College
• Nova Southeastern University
• Palm Beach State College
• Polk State College
• Santa Fe College
• Southeastern College
• Southern Technical College
• Valencia College

There are two main reasons why you should enroll in an accredited program.

First, if you manage to successfully complete a program, you can earn eligibility to sit for the ARDMS​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) exam and receive professional certification in diagnostic medical sonography.

Furthermore, if you are currently enrolled in or have been accepted to a CAAHEP accredited program, you become eligible to apply for the UltrasoundSchoolsInfo semi-annual $1,000 scholarship to use it for your tuition payments.

Paying for school is one of the most stressful aspects of attending college and getting any help available would be really beneficial.

There is a variety of financial aid provided for aspiring sonographers, from federal aid, grants, student loans, and scholarships and some of the financial aid resources are:

• UltrasoundSchoolsInfo scholarship
• Financial Aid and Scholarships for Sonographers
• Overview of financial aid and government grants and loans
• Financial aid for undocumented students

When it comes to the length of the education, most programs are designed to be completed in one to two years if you wish to get an associate degree or a certificate.

Further education is available through bachelor’s degree options which require more time and effort.

Ultrasound Tech Certification Requirements in Florida

Florida does not currently require ultrasound technicians to possess licensure or certification, but you are highly suggested to obtain it, as employers prefer to hire professionals with certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

The ARDMS has a set of prerequisites that each applicant must meet in order to take their exam.

One of them is already mentioned, and that is graduating from a CAAHEP accredited school.

The second easiest way to qualify for this exam is 12 months of full-time clinical experience.

It is amazing on how many locations in Florida you can take and pass these exams, as that is the only way to earn certification by the ARDMS:

• 7800 Southland Blvd Ste 215, Orlando, FL 32809
• 2240 Woolbright Rd, Boynton Beach, FL 33426
• 4012 Gunn Hwy UNIT 110, Tampa, FL 33618
• 12220 Towne Lake Dr #40, Fort Myers, FL 33913
• 3317 NW 10th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
• 508 Capital Cir SE d, Tallahassee, FL 32301
• 8380 Baymeadows Rd #11, Jacksonville, FL 32256
• 5300 NW 33rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
• 2176 Sarno Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935
• 10010 Park Pl Ave, Riverview, FL 33578
• Atrium Office Park, 3900 NW 79th Ave #543, Miami, FL 33166
• 9400 4th St N #211, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
• 1707 Orlando Central Pkwy #300, Orlando, FL 32809
• 305 Clyde Morris Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
• 8615 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33143
• 212 E Highland Dr, Lakeland, FL 33813
• 5000 NW 34th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605
• 2201 Cantu Ct STE 210, Sarasota, FL 34232
• 3475 Sheridan St, Hollywood, FL 33021
• 1777 Tamiami Trail # 508, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
• 2286 Wednesday St # 2, Tallahassee, FL 32308
• 1000 S Pine Island Rd, Plantation, FL 33324
• 725 Primera Blvd Ste 210, Lake Mary, FL 32746

Ultrasound Techs Salary And Job Outlook In Florida

Once you meet your education and certification requirements, with a large number of career opportunities and a faster than average growth in this profession, you can find great satisfaction working and living in Florida as a sonographer.

Ultrasound techs in Florida have an average annual wage of $75186.

The salary that you earn can range from $68092 to $82482 and it can depend on a variety of factors, including your level of education and expertise and your geographic location and type of employer.

When looking for a facility that offers better salaries, you should have in mind that hospitals offer the highest wages to their sonographers.

Also, your specific qualifications will affect your salary which is shown below:

• Ultrasound Technician – 31 percent expected job growth, $64,020 median per year
• Echo Tech – 17 percent expected job growth by 2024, $49,750 per year
• Vascular Sonographer  – 17 percent expected job growth, $49,750 median per year
• MRI Technologist  -20 percent expected job growth, $63,860 median per year
• Cardiac Sonographer – 17 percent expected job growth, $49,750 per year
• Radiology Tech – 20 percent expected job growth, $55,160 median per year

Job growth is expected to be strong in the years to come, with an increase of 31.2% predicted by 2026.

We would like to mention one of the potential medical imaging employers in Miami Beach and that is the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

It is accredited by the American College of Radiology in the following medical imaging modalities: Ultrasound, Breast MRI, Breast Ultrasound and Mammography, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Oncology.

Annual Salary Range:

Regional Salary in Florida