Below you find all of the accredited Sonography schools in Pennsylvania that offer degree or certificate programs for 2018. Pennsylvania is expecting very strong job growth in the healthcare industry. Our directory, which you find listed below, starts with providing you with the resources you’ll need to research the field, as well as connecting you with programs in your area.
If you’ve been considering a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer, now is a great time to get started. Pursuing an education from a Sonography school in PA will set you on the path to a career in a growing field. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are the state’s largest cities, and are home to many colleges and universities offering programs in ultrasonography. Open positions for sonographers are expected to increase by 19% between 2014 and 2024.
If you don’t see a medical sonography program listed in your area, you may want to consider one of the many other fields within healthcare. Nation-wide, job growth is expected across the industry.
Schools
Nearby Schools
Career Resources
Pennsylvania Healthcare Career Resources
According to the 2010 Census, Pennsylvania’s population is growing slowly and becoming older and more diverse. It has one of the oldest populations in the US, and its working age population has decreased 6.7%. An aging population presents unique opportunities in the medical field, and healthcare has been identified as one of their growing industries.
By The Numbers
There are currently over 2400 individuals employed as medical sonographers in Pennsylvania (2015 data), and that number is expected to grow by 19% by the year 2024.
In 2015, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics declared that Pennsylvania had the 5th highest employment level in this occupation. The median annual salary for ultrasound techs was $63,300 as of May, 2015.
Certification
Certification Requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, 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.
Here’s What the Experts Have to Say
Jessica Carlino (left) & PA College graduate Lauren Miller (2008) on the right.
Jessica Carlino, RDMS, RVT, is a diagnostic medical sonographer and registered vascular technician in Lancaster Pennsylvania. She graduated from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (PA College) in 2011 and is currently pursuing her Health Sciences Bachelor Degree.
In an interview, Jessica Carlino, RDMS, RVT, shares her experiences with us studying sonography at PA College and working in the field at Lancaster General Health Physicians Surgical Group. She offers some helpful advice on how to be a successful student and sonographer.
Accredited Sonography Schools in Pennsylvania in 2018
There are many factors to consider when choosing a sonography program, from cost and proximity to job placement scores, but one of the most important is accreditation. The following ultrasound technician schools in Pennsylvania have been accredited for diagnostic medical imaging by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), as of March 2018:
Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce Campus – Monroeville, PA
Website: www.ccac.edu
Crozer-Chester Medical Center (Keystone) – Upland, PA
Website: www.crozer.org
Great Lakes Institute of Technology – Erie, PA
Website: www.glit.edu
Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg Campus – Harrisburg, PA
Website: www.hacc.edu
Lackawanna College – Towanda, PA
Website: www.lackawanna.edu
Misericordia University – Dallas, PA
Website: www.misericordia.edu
Mount Aloysius College – Cresson, PA
Website: www.mtaloy.edu
Northampton Community College – Bethlehem, PA
Website: www.northampton.edu
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences – Lancaster, PA
(See guest article below)
Website: www.pacollege.edu
Pittsburgh Career Institute – Pittsburgh, PA
Website: www.pci.edu
South Hills School of Business and Technology – State College, PA
Website: www.southhills.edu
Thomas Jefferson University – Philadelphia, PA
Website: www.jefferson.edu
Westmoreland County Community College – Youngwood, PA
Website: www.wccc.edu
Jessica Carlino, RDMS, RVT, graduate of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
Advice From the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
Emily Long, part of the communications team at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences in Lancaster, PA, enjoys writing about current trends in health care and helping students get the information they need to land a job in their desired career field.
“Applying for your first job as a sonographer can seem daunting. But there are lots of great ways to start enhancing your resume before you even graduate. Applying a few of the suggestions discussed here can help you get ahead of the curve.” In this article she talks about how to build your resume while still in school to help you land your dream job upon graduation.
Ultrasound Technician Schools in Philadelphia
In 2014, Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Radiologic Sciences won “Best Radiologic Technologist Training Program” as part of the Minnies awards (AuntMinnie.com). The Jefferson School of Health Professions Department offers a bachelor degree in radiologic sciences where students can choose from a variety of modalities to specialize in, from nuclear medicine to cardiac or general sonography. Thomas Jefferson University is just one of several schools in Philadelphia that offers training to aspiring ultrasound technicians and other medical imagers.
As far as occupational prospects goes, diagnostic medical sonographer employment is projected to increase by 33.3% between 2012 and 2022 in the Philadelphia-Camden Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area (according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Center for Workforce Information & Analysis). Additionally, in the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Area, the median annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers was $73,20 in May 2015.
The City of Brotherly Love has much to offer, and there’s good reason why The New York Times placed “the urban outdoor oasis” near the very top of its list of “52 Places to Go in 2015.” From the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted to the place where the first American flag was sewn, from the Mummers Museum to the Mütter Museum of “medical oddities,” from the 76rs to the Flyers, from the extensive pedestrian-friendly and outdoor spaces to delicious cheesesteaks, soft pretzels and extreme Happy Hours, Philadelphia appeals to a variety of tastes!
How Much do Ultrasound Techs in Pennsylvania Earn?
The following table gives you the median annual salary for sonographer in the major metropolitan areas of Pennsylvania:
| Metropolitan Area | 2015 Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $64,300 |
| Newark-Union, NJ-PA | $68,800 |
| Philadelphia | $69,500 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $59,400 |
| Erie, PA | $50,000 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $62,800 |
Career One Stop, sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. http://www.careerinfonet.org/compare_wages.asp?next=compare_get_msa&level=Overall&optstatus=111111111&id=1&nodeid=209&soccode=292032&stfips=42&jobfam=29&menuMode=&MSA=34-21-010900&MSA=42-21-021500&MSA=42-21-025420&MSA=42-21-029540&MSA=34-23-035084&MSA=42-23-037964&MSA=42-21-038300&MSA=42-21-042540&MSA=42-21-049620&MSA=39-21-049660&x=42&y=8