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The fields of sonography and medical imaging are very helpful when doctors want to see the internal organs of their patients.
The demand for technicians in this field is expected to still grow in Hawaii.
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Salary Expectations
The salaries of these technicians are generally pretty high, but they depend on the specialty of the technician.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Honolulu | $79,620 |
| Pearl City | $79,620 |
| Hilo | $79,086 |
| Waipahu | $79,584 |
| Kailua | $79,620 |
| Kaneohe | $79,620 |
| Kahului | $79,086 |
| Mililani | $79,477 |
| Kihei | $79,086 |
| Kapolei | $79,442 |
Regional Salary in Hawaii
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | 30 | $111,980 | $53.84 | $127,210 | $92,870 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 230 | $111,900 | $53.8 | $126,050 | $101,490 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Holding a Certification in Hawaii
At a state level, these technicians don’t need to hold a license to carry out their duties.
Employers, on the other hand, will prefer certified candidates.
The best certification to get is the one by ARDMS, or American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography because it’s also nationally recognized.
Those interested in taking this exam need to graduate from an accredited training program.
The accreditation needs to come from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (or CAAHEP).
The training programs for these future professionals are generally shorter than for other medical personnel.
They also include about 1400 hours of clinical hours.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Kapiʻolani Community College | 4303 Diamond Head Road Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96816 |
| Remington College | 1111 Bishop St #400, Honolulu, HI 96813 |
Ultrasound Classes
This specialty might be the easiest to enter.
Students will need to learn about how to use the equipment on various body parts.
Classes include:
- Duplex Abdominal Sonography
- Ultrasound Principles and Instrumentation
- Research in Sonography
- Basic Sonography
Sonography Courses
This specialty and the previous one are usually confused, but they’re pretty different.
The machines used are also pretty different.
Students will have classes such as:
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- OB/GYN Ultrasound
- Biomedical Ethics
- Seminar in Sonography
Echo Tech Classes
As this field focuses on the heart of the patient, the students will become very familiar with it and its structures.
Some of the classes are:
- Cardiac Hemodynamics
- Cardiac Sonography Instrumentation and Physics
- Patient Care in Echocardiography
Radiology Tech Coursework
Taking Xrays is quite dangerous, and as such the personnel needs to know how to minimize the risks for themselves and their patients.
Some of the classes are:
- Special Imaging
- Pathophysiology
- Imaging Obstacles and Solutions
- Radiologic Procedures
Vascular Sonography Programs
Technicians need to take pictures of blood vessels and surrounding structures, and this involves a high degree of training.
These are some of the classes:
- Conceptual Physics
- Sonographic Physics
- Sonographic Terminology
- Doppler Sonography Topics
MRI Tech Training Courses
Technicians need to create 3D images of the organs they scan.
The classes might focus on:
- Radiographic Exposure
- Radiologic Leadership Skills
- Physics of MRI Technology
- Clinical Rotations
More Details
Physiology, anatomy, and medical terminology might be other classes included in the coursework of those who choose to obtain a certification.
These classes are common across the specialties as the future technicians need to know the human body well.
Some professionals might want to seek a license through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
This is a separate license from the ultrasound certification.
This license, however, needs to be renewed every 2 years, and this can be done only by completing 24 hours of continuing education courses.
Read the full guide: How to Become an Ultrasound Technician
Ultrasound Technicians by State