Find Florida’s Top Sonography Programs for 2020
Sonographers play an important role in the healthcare of Floridians, and the medical imaging field is seeing strong job growth. Below we connect you with all of the CAAHEP accredited Sonography programs in Florida in 2020.
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.
Is Sonography a Good Career Choice in Florida?
Florida is one of the highest paying states in the nation for ultrasound techs, and it’s also in the top 10 in terms of job growth. But it’s important to consider whether sonography might be a good choice for you. You’ll need to learn the requirements, both technical and interpersonal, and also the benefits of this career path.
Becoming an ultrasound tech is a great career choice for many reasons, including:
- Education: Most sonographers hold an Associate’s Degree, which typically takes 2 years to complete.
- Income: Average salary for ultrasound techs is among the highest available for associate degree holders, and Florida is one of the highest paying states.
- Jobs: Double digit job growth is expected over the next ten years.
Connect with Educational Programs near You
CAAHEP Accredited Diagnostic Sonography Programs
There are many factors to consider when researching sonography programs. Cost, proximity, job placement, and faculty to student ratio are all important, but it’s essential to learn about the accreditation of the program. Each of the schools listed below has met the DMS Accreditation Standards and Guidelines set forth by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) by passing a series of program reviews, including a self-study review and a site visit.
The successful completion of one of these recognized Florida DMS programs is the most comprehensive and direct way students can earn eligibility to sit for the ARDMS Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination.
Accredited Sonography Schools in Florida in 2020
The following ultrasound technician schools in Florida all have degree and/or certificate programs that have been accredited by the CAAHEP, as of April 3, 2020:
| Institution Name | Location | Program Director | Initial Accreditation Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdventHealth University | 671 Winyah Drive Orlando, FL 32803 |
Deziree Rada MHSc, RDMS, RVT | 10/21/1995 |
| Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside | 1 Shircliff Way Jacksonville, FL 32204 |
Chemene Wilson MHSc, RDMS, RT(R), RVT | 1/23/2004 |
| Broward College | 1000 Conconut Creek Blvd North Campus, Building 41 Coconut Creek, FL 33066 |
Karen Hoban MEd, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, RT(R) | 10/17/1990 |
| Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology | 5150 Linton Boulevard Suite 340 Delray Beach, FL 33484 |
Bianca Hamm BS, RDCS | 11/21/2008 |
| Cambridge Institute of Allied Health and Technology | 460 E Altamonte Dr 3rd Floor Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 |
Jesse Frauenhofer MS, RDMS, RVT | 1/16/2020 |
| Eastern Florida State College | 3865 North Wickham Rd Melbourne, FL 32935 |
Harry Holdorf PhD, MPA, RDMS, RVT | 5/19/2017 |
| Hillsborough Community College | 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd. Tampa, FL 33614 |
Louis Gomez BS, RDMS, RVT | 7/17/1986 |
| Keiser University – various locations | Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Melbourne, New Port Richey | Marianne Peiffer BS, RDMS | 4/19/2002 |
| Miami Dade College | 950 NW 20th Street Miami, FL 33127 |
Dahlia Sanchez-Suarez BS, RDMS, RDCS | 10/24/1985 |
| Nova Southeastern University | 3200 South University Drive Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328 |
Jorge Han MD, RDMS, RDCS, RVT | 9/15/2006 |
| Palm Beach State College | 3160 PGA Blvd Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 |
Patty Braga MS, RT(R), RDMS, RVT, RDCS | 3/17/2006 |
| Polk State College | 999 Avenue H NE Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299 |
Merrybeth Etherton BS, RDMS | 11/18/2011 |
| Santa Fe College | 3000 NW 83rd Street Bldg W, Room 201 Gainesville, FL 32606 |
Christina Edwards BS, RDMS, RVT, RT(S) | 11/18/2011 |
| Southeastern College | 17395 NW 59th Avenue Miami Lakes, FL 33015 |
Yolanda Acebo PhD, RDMS | 11/20/2015 |
| Southern Technical College | 3910 Riga Blvd Tampa, FL 33619 |
Sharon Toler DHSc, RDMS, RVT | 5/20/2016 |
| Valencia College | 1800 S. Kirkman Road Orlando, FL 32811 |
Carolyn DeLeo MAEd, RDMS, RVT, RT(R) | 4/23/1992 |
Ultrasound Tech Certification Requirements in Florida
Florida does not currently mandate licensure or certification to be an ultrasound technician. However, most employers prefer or require professional certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).
Requirements for Ultrasound Technician Certification in Florida
The only way to earn certification by the ARDMS is by taking and passing their exam. There are many locations throughout Florida to take the exam, and you can find them on the website for the testing administrator, Pearson Vue.
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), though there are several other ways to meet the prerequisites. 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
Certification overview
About the ARDMS
Lila DeCubellis, a Cardiovascular Technology Professor at Santa Fe College in Florida, shares 10 skills/traits that are invaluable to a successful sonographer:
- Provides excellent patient care before, during and after the exam.
- Understands the indications for the exam and how it applies to the patient.
- Gathers and understands the needed pertinent information from the patient’s medical record.
- Is thoroughly knowledgeable about the anatomy and physiology he/she is imaging.
- Applies the principles of ultrasound physics to optimize images and adjusts for artifact.
- Is knowledgeable about the pathophysiology of the disease state being evaluated.
- Provides thorough answers to exam indication for the reading physician.
- 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.
- Consistently maintains professionalism by setting examples for others.
- Remains current by broadening his/her knowledge base via continuing education.
How Much do Sonographers Make in Florida?
Ultrasound techs in Florida earned a mean annual wage of $66,310 in 2019. The salary that you earn depends on a variety of factors, from your level of education and expertise, to your geographic location and type of employer. Typically, hospitals offer the highest wages to their sonographers.
Job growth is expected to be strong, with 31% growth predicted by 2026, in comparison with the 23% growth expected nation-wide.
Job Growth and Salary for Ultrasound Technologist in Florida
- Median annual salary was $66,310 in 2019.
- The Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach area had the 4th highest concentration of sonography jobs in the country.
- Job growth is expected to be 31% between 2016 and 2026
- In 2016 there were over 5500 working sonographers in the state
Highest Paying Areas for Ultrasound Techs in Florida
| Location | Salary Data |
|---|---|
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | $84,560 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $75,890 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $71,180 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $70,920 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $69,730 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $69,060 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $65,030 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,560 |
Salary data provided by Career OneStop
Ultrasound Programs in Nearby States
Job Opportunities for Sonographers in Florida
Stephanie Eisler, RDMS – Orlando, FL
The career of a traveling sonographer lets you combine your desire to see the country with strong employment opportunities. In this 2-part article, Stephanie 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.
Financial Aid for Ultrasound Technician School in Florida
Paying for school is one of the most stressful aspects of attending for college, both for the student and for their family. There is a variety of financial aid available, from federal aid and grants, to student loans and scholarships.
A great resource for students in Florida is the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Their website walks you through the scholarships and grants available, and is a trusted resource so that the user can trust the information they are receiving.
Explore the subject further…
Financial Aid and Scholarships for Sonographers
Overview of financial aid and government grants and loans
Ultrasound Schools Info’s very own scholarship!
Financial aid for undocumented students
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, 1670 diagnostic medical sonographers were employed in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area as of May 2019; their median income was $63,290/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.
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
What does an ultrasound technician do?
A sonographer is a highly skilled technician that uses diagnostic equipment to aid in the treatment of their patients. A combination of academic and clinical learning will prepare the sonographer to obtain and evaluate critical information that is relayed to the medical team. Our ultrasound technician guide will present you with a complete overview of what is required to become an ultrasound tech.
How Long Does it Take to Become an Ultrasound Tech in Florida?
Most of the sonographers in Florida have two-year Associate’s in Science degrees. There are also 12-18 month certificate programs for those already holding a health sciences degree, as well as 4-year Bachelor’s degree programs. Visit our degree center to learn more and help you decide which program is best for you.
How do I know if a career in medical imaging is right for me?
In order to be successful in the field, you’ll need more than just technical knowledge. So called soft-skills, where you are able to show compassion and make a connection with your patient, are equally as important. Here’s how you’ll know if you’ve got what it takes.
What other jobs are available in healthcare in Florida?
There are a wide variety of careers available across the healthcare industry, and most are expecting to see strong growth in Florida. Within the medical technician and technologist fields, most are available with a one-year certificate or two-year associate’s degree. Explore some of the careers in Allied Health…