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In Alabama, there are more and more job openings in the healthcare industry, and the demand for ultrasound technicians is also on the rise.
Article Table of Contents
Ultrasound Technician License Requirements
Alabama doesn’t yet require its ultrasound technicians to hold a license, however, the situation might change, and many employers do prefer licensed or certified candidates.
The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) offers the certification that is most in demand, and candidates obtain it by passing the exam organized by this organization.
There are 2 ways to qualify to take this exam:
- Accumulate 12 months of clinical work experience
- Complete a training program, that received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Ultrasound Technician Salary
The accumulated experience and possible certifications earned will have a say in how much a professional will earn.
Additionally, each specialty will also influence how much the technician will earn.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | $72,304 |
| Montgomery | $68,486 |
| Huntsville | $72,242 |
| Mobile | $70,691 |
| Tuscaloosa | $71,597 |
| Dothan | $67,569 |
| Auburn | $68,460 |
| Decatur | $70,035 |
| Madison | $72,242 |
| Florence | $65,855 |
Regional Salary in Alabama
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 350 | $69,900 | $33.61 | $85,220 | $50,410 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 30 | $61,490 | $29.56 | $75,640 | $33,910 |
| Dothan, AL | 60 | $58,110 | $27.94 | $75,930 | $49,560 |
| Huntsville, AL | 100 | $66,930 | $32.18 | $79,830 | $52,100 |
| Mobile, AL | 110 | $62,170 | $29.89 | $81,960 | $33,260 |
| Montgomery, AL | 80 | $69,500 | $33.41 | $99,140 | $53,690 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 60 | $70,350 | $33.82 | $84,610 | $58,550 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Most jobs are available in hospitals, while the University of Alabama in Birmingham is the state’s largest employer.
Ultrasound Technician Training Programs
The sonography field has many specialties and as a result, there are several types of training programs available as well.
This influences their duration, usually between 1 and 2 years and the type of diploma the student will obtain upon completion.
The programs will teach about how specific inner organs work as well as how to operate the machines.
Clinical practice usually lasts between 100 and 500 hours.
The ultrasound programs should cover:
- Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation
- Foundations of Sonography
- Sonographic Anatomy
- Obstetrical Sonography
Sonographer courses should include:
- Gynecological Sonography
- Abdominal Pathology
- Superficial Sonography
- Introduction to Advanced Sonography
The images taken by this professional are used either to diagnose a patient or to see how their body responds to treatment.
These images are more clear than the ultrasound ones.
The MRI classes need to include:
- Radiographic Procedures
- Clinical Education
- Imaging Equipment
- Exposure Principles
- Patient Care
The MRI machine takes multiple pictures of the body of a person, to create a 3D image.
Candidates should study the following for a vascular sonography career:
- Vascular Sonography Principles and Procedures
- Registry Review
- Clinical Sonography
Here, the professionals will take images of the patient’s blood vessels.
It’s important for the training for this field to have plenty of practice hours.
As a future echo technician, you should study the following:
- Ultrasound Physics
- Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology
- Cardiovascular Hemodynamics
- Vascular Clinic
- Echocardiography Clinic
In this field, the technician will work with cardiovascular specialists and use the machinery to take pictures of a person’s heart.
Future radiology technicians would have to learn about:
- Radiographic Procedures
- Imaging Equipment
- Radiation Protection and Biology
- Image Evaluation and Pathology
In this field, the professional will help patients who undergo radiation therapy treatments.
Training Schools
All the programs will also include important knowledge on how to document patient records, as well as aspects related to patient privacy and medical ethics.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Cardiac & Vascular Institute of Ultrasound | 2936 N. McVay Drive Mobile, AL 36606 |
| Fortis College | 100 London Parkway Suite 150,Birmingham,AL,35211 |
| Fortis College | 3736 Atlanta Highway Mongtomery,AL,36109 |
| Fortis College | 200 Vulcan Way Dothan,AL,36303 |
| Fortis College | 7033 Airport Blvd. Mobile,AL,36608 |
| Fortis College | 200 East Laurel Avenue Foley,AL,36535 |
| Fortis College | 3470 Eastdale Circle Montgomery, AL 36117 |
| H. Council Trenholm State Technical College | Diagnostic Medical Sonography 1225 Air Base Blvd PO Box 10048 Montgomery , AL 36108 |
| Institute of Ultrasound Diagnostics | Institute of Ultrasound Diagnostics One Timber Way, Ste 102 Spanish Fort, AL 36527 |
| Lurleen B Wallace Community College | 1708 North Main Street PO Box 910 Opp, AL 36467 |
| Remington College | 828 Downtowner Loop W, Mobile, AL 36609 |
| Trenholm State | Trenholm Campus: 1225 Air Base Blvd Montgomery, Alabama 36108 |
| Trenholm State | Patterson Campus: 3920 Troy Highway Montgomery, Alabama 36116 |
| Virginia College | 488 Palisades Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35209 |
| Wallace State Community College | 801 Main Street NW PO Box 2000 Hanceville, AL 35077 |
Future technicians in this field should know that there are a handful of aspects these programs won’t cover and they will have to be learned on-the-job, such as how to interact with the doctors and nurses.
Read the full guide: How to Become an Ultrasound Technician
Ultrasound Technicians by State