Ultrasound Technician Schools in Missouri (Become a Sonographer)

Missouri is the state that does its best to provide quality health care to its entire population.

Sonographers are an important part of the healthcare team which provides quality health care to Missouri residents.

Having qualified diagnostic medical sonographers who are capable of working in various settings is the aim of every employer and to succeed as an ultrasound technician in Missouri, you will need to earn a degree in ultrasound technology.

Usually, ultrasound technician programs last from two to four years, and this depends on whether you wish to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree.

There are even a few colleges that offer master’s degree programs for vascular sonography and general sonography.

No matter which one of these degrees you want to enroll in, before signing up for a college program, you need to make sure the program has received accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health.

Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Missouri

We would like to mention that it is important that a school has met the CAAHEP DMS Accreditation Standards and Guidelines by passing a series of program reviews, including a self-study review and a site visit, and achieved accreditation, due to the fact that the successful completion of one of these Missouri DMS programs can earn students eligibility to sit for the ARDMS​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination.

The schools on this list have sonography programs that have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP):

• Cox College – 1423 North Jefferson Avenue Springfield, MO 65802
• Hillyard Technical Center – 3434 Faraon Street St. Joseph, MO 64506
• St Louis Community College – 5600 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110
• St Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City – 4401 Wornall Road Kansas City, MO 64111
• State Fair Community College – 3201 W 16th Street Sedalia, MO 65301
• University of Missouri-Columbia – 409 Lewis Hall Columbia, MO 65211

Future students, both online and on-site,  will have to complete certain coursework before they can graduate, including ultrasound physics, anatomy, and medical terminology, and they will have to pass classroom instruction combined with clinical training.

Ultrasound Tech Certification Requirements in Missouri

It is true that Missouri does not require its diagnostic medical sonographers to have a specific certification or licensure, but still, people tend to get it.

The reasons for obtaining a certificate is to be competitive in the job market and improve the chances of higher wages.

According to our opinion, obtaining certification is highly recommended, due to the fact that most employers will prefer or even require that you possess it so as to get the job.

Furthermore, many states plan to begin to require a license to practice sonography, so if you begin your education it is advisable to think about obtaining a license.

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is the primary organization offering certification for sonographers.

You can earn their certification is by taking and passing their exam at one of the six locations in Missouri:

You can find the locations and contact information on the ARDMS website at ardms.org, or by calling the testing company Pearson Vue at 1-877-258-9220.

Before you even get in touch with then, have in mind that the ARDMS has a list of prerequisites that it requires in order to take their test and you need to fulfill them.

Those are either graduation from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or 12 months of clinical experience.

Once you are ready to apply for an ARDMS examination, you should log in to MY ARDMS and choose Apply Online.

Then, you need to complete the online application form and submit payment.

The required supporting documentation must be submitted within 21 days of applying online by uploading it into your MY ARDMS account.

Documentation required with the application is:

• Copy of an official transcript from a two-year allied health education program with a state-specific number of credits.
• Copy of education program certificate, certification, or license.
• Letter from a supervising physician, ARDMS-Registered sonographer/technologist, or the educational program director indicating a minimum of 12 months of full-time clinical/ vascular experience.
• Signed and completed clinical verification (CV) form for each appropriate specialty area(s)
• Copy of non-expired government-issued photo identification (ID) with signature

If your degree is non-accredited, then the ARDMS requires you to fulfill other requirements before you are eligible for a certification credential.

These requirements include an internship, at least 60 hours of formal education, and a minimum of 12 months of work experience.

Gaining a license is not the last step in your education.

For license renewal, the ARDMS requires you to continue your sonography training by taking 24 credits every two years.

This is the only way to ensure that licenses sonographers are up to date with all current ultrasound techniques and equipment.

You can apply for additional sonography credentials through The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or Cardiovascular Credentialing International and these licenses can help you obtain a higher paying position at a medical facility in Missouri.

Ultrasound Techs Salary And Job Outlook In Missouri

According to the statistics, diagnostic medical sonographers in Missouri earn a median salary of $88319.

However, due to the fact that significant growth in the industry is expected, with a 21% increase in employment forecasted by 2024, you can expect to get higher salaries.

Future sonographers can look for a job in surgical and general medical hospitals, in physicians’ offices and diagnostic imaging centers.

How much money they will earn depends on their level of education as those who have higher formal education and training will be more eligible for the competitive positions which entail higher salaries, as the following numbers show:

• Ultrasound Technician Salary in New Hampshire – 17% national job growth expected between 2016 and 2026, $78,630 per year in New Hampshire
• Vascular Sonographer Salary in New Hampshire – expected growth of 8% between 2016 and 2026, $63,240 per year in New Hampshire
• MRI Technologist Salary in New Hampshire—expected growth of 12% between 2016 and 2026, $72,260 per year
• Cardiac Sonographer Salary in New Hampshire – expected growth of 8%, $63,240 per year
• Radiology Tech Salary in New Hampshire—expected growth of 8%, $60,720 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018)

Salaries may vary from among the cities which are shown in the table below.

Annual Salary Range:

Regional Salary in Missouri