Below we connect you with the CAAHEP accredited Sonography programs in Florida in 2018. Sonography, medical imaging, and many of the related careers are in demand, and pursuing your education in Florida is a great way to get started. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida has the 3rd highest employment level in the nation for Sonogaphers, and job growth is expected to be much stronger than average.
Due to the cost of setting up a facility for ultrasound training, some communities cannot offer a program specific to diagnostic medical sonography. In those situations, students may wish to pursue a related career, which can be a good point of entry to the field of healthcare. It’s not always easy to know which direction to choose when considering a new career. Read on, and we’ll tell you about some important factors to consider, including the economic outlook in Florida, as well as certification requirements and salary data. Attend a Sonography program in Florida and become part of this growing field.
Schools
Nearby Schools
Career Resources
Florida Healthcare Career Resources
A sonography degree prepares you for a variety of job functions from introducing future parents to a first look at their developing baby, to helping physicians diagnose disease.
By The Numbers
Job growth as an ultrasound technician in Florida is at pace with the national average. Between 2014 and 2024, job openings in the field are expected to grow by 40%.
In fact, Florida has more working ultrasound technicians than any other state except California. In 2016 there were 0ver 5,100 Sonographers in the state, working primarily in hospitals and physician’s offices.
If you would like to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer or ultrasound technician, ultimately your goal is to complete and pass the ARDMS exam. While not all states require such certification, the majority of clinics and hospitals prefer candidates to hold this professional credential.
Certification
Certification Requirements in Florida
Florida does not require licensure to be an ultrasound technician. However, most employers require professional certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). The only way to earn certification is by taking and passing their exam. There are many locations throughout Florida to take the exam, and you can find them on the ARDMS website at ardms.org, or by calling the test administrator group Pearson Vue at 1-877-258-9220.
The easiest way to qualify to sit for the exam is to graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Otherwise, you’ll need 12 months of full time clinical experience, which is not easy to get when you are not ARDMS certified. A bit of a catch-22, but a reality in today’s working environment. Request information from several ultrasound technician schools in Florida, and do the research to make sure that they meet the certification requirements you’re looking for.
Additional Certification Information
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does an ultrasound technician do?
There’s much more than just imaging internal organs. Learn more at: ultrasounddchoolsinfo.com/ultrasound-technician. Get a complete job description, as well as first-hand accounts of what it’s like to be a sonographer.
How do I get started?
We’ll walk you through all of the steps, starting when you’re still in high school or before you’ve started any formal post-education program, all the way through finding a job and advancing in your career. Get Started Now.
How long do I have to go to school?
Most degree programs are completed within two years.
How do I know if it’s right for me?
In order to be successful in the field, you’ll need more than just technical knowledge. Here’s how you’ll know if you’ve got what it takes.
What other jobs can I get in healthcare?
There are many careers available within the healthcare industry, and we’ll introduce you to many of them here.
Ultrasound Technician Schools in Miami Beach
Living in Miami Beach, it is a relatively short commute by car or public transit to attend one of the accredited ultrasound technician schools in Miami. You might want to stay put after your studies too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 600 diagnostic medical sonographers were employed in the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metropolitan area (MiamiDade County) as of May 2015; their median income was $61,000/year.
Known for its gorgeous landscape, thriving entertainment scene and major nightlife, the coastal city of Miami Beach is not only an exciting place to visit—it’s a great place to stay a while. In 2014, Miami Beach ranked 6th among Livability’s “Top 100 Best Places to Live.”
“Miami Beach packs a lot of amenities into a tiny stretch of oceanfront, just seven miles long and one mile wide, including museums, art deco buildings, shopping and cuisine,” states Livability.com. “Oh, and let’s not forget the beach. It all adds up to a city striving to be more livable for the diverse communities that call it home.”
Just one of the potential medical imaging employers right in Miami Beach is the Mount Sinai Medical Center which is accredited by the American College of Radiology in at least the following medical imaging modalities: Ultrasound, Breast MRI, Breast Ultrasound and Mammography (with a “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence” designation), Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Oncology.
Accredited Sonography Schools in Florida in 2018
There are many factors to consider when choosing your sonography program, but one of the most important is the accreditation of the institution. The following ultrasound technician schools in Florida have all been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), as of March, 2018:
Adventist University of Health Sciences
General and Vascular Accreditation
– Orlando, FL
Broward College
General and Cardiac Accreditation
– Ft Lauderdale, FL
Cambridge Institute of Allied Health
Cardiac and General Accreditation
– Delray Beach, FL
Eastern Florida State College
General Accreditation
-Melbourne, FL
Hillsborough Community College
General Accreditation
– Tampa, FL
Keiser University
General and Vascular Accreditation
– Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, New Port Richey, Fort Myers, FL
Miami Dade College
General and Cardiac Accreditation
– Miami, FL
Nova Southeastern University
Vascular and General Accreditation
– Ft Lauderdale, FL
Palm Beach State College
General Accreditation
– Lake Worth, FL
Polk State College
General Accreditation
– Winter Haven, FL
Santa Fe College
General Accreditation
– Gainesville, FL (see advice, below)
Southeastern College
General Accreditation
– Miami Lakes, FL
Southern Technical College
General Accreditation
-Tampa, FL
St Vincents Medical Center
General and Vascular Accreditation
– Jacksonville, FL
Valencia College
General Accreditation
– Orlando, FL
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has ranked Florida in the top 5 states for highest levels of employment and highest concentration of jobs for sonographers.
Here’s What the Experts Have to Say
Do you love to travel? The career of a traveling sonographer lets you combine your desire to see the country with strong employment opportunities. In this 2-part article by Stephanie Eisler, RDMS, she shares with us the ins and outs, ups and downs of traveling sonograpy.
“For the adventurous personality, the easily bored, the eager to try something new, the free spirit, that someone with a strong desire for a ‘nice’ income; being a ‘McPhee of Ultrasound’ is perfect!” Stephanie currently specializes in high-risk OB sonography at a Maternal Fetal Medicine practice in Orlando, Florida.
How Much Do Sonographers in Florida Make?
The following table compares median annual salaries for Sonographers across the major metropolitan areas of Florida, as of May 2015.
| Median salary state wide | $61,850 |
| Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL | $66,500 |
| Gainesville, FL | $54,800 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $60,500 |
| Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL | $61,000 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,700 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $67,300 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $63,400 |
| West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL | $59,800 |
All Salary and Job Growth Statistics provided by:
*Career OneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Dept of Labor, http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=Overall&optstatus=111111111&jobfam=29&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=292032&stfips=12&x=30&y=12; http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292032.htm
And if you’re thinking of working in ultrasound, check out a list of 10 skills/traits an “invaluable sonographer” should have, according to Lila DeCubellis, a Cardiovascular Technology Professor at Santa Fe College in Florida:
1. Provides excellent patient care before, during and after the exam.
2. Understands the indications for the exam and how it applies to the patient.
3. Gathers and understands the needed pertinent information from the patient’s medical record.
4. Is thoroughly knowledgeable about the anatomy and physiology he/she is imaging.
5. Applies the principles of ultrasound physics to optimize images and adjusts for artifact.
6. Is knowledgeable about the pathophysiology of the disease state being evaluated.
7. Provides thorough answers to exam indication for the reading physician.
8. Thinks critically: During the exam there is a single opportunity to obtain the images –critical thinking steers the educated sonographer to seek the needed images and information to answer the question at hand.
9. Consistently maintains professionalism by setting examples for others.
10. Remains current by broadening his/her knowledge base via continuing education.
~ Lila DeCubellis
Limited English Proficient (LEP) Individuals
According to the US Department of Education, limited English proficient (LEP) learners were the fastest growing population in the country. A significant number of Florida residents cannot read or write English. The healthcare industry is concerned that, as a result, people who struggle with English may not be receiving optimal health care.
Bilingual or multilingual health care professionals are in increasing demand, and are therefore seeing higher employment opportunities.