Some of the reasons why sonography is becoming a more popular career choice are the availability of jobs, high salary, and a relatively short educational period.
However, not everyone is born to become a sonographer.
Actually, it is worth getting acquainted with skills and duties, prior to deciding whether this profession is the right one for you.
The most well-known task of an ultrasound technician is to obtain images of patient’s bodies, but good communication and documentation skills are necessary because they will also be responsible for keeping patient records, documenting procedure results, and effectively providing information to the treatment team, patient and families.
In the article below, you will find out more about the job outlook in Wyoming, certification requirements, and salaries for ultrasound technicians, as well as get acquainted with accredited sonography schools and programs.
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Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Wyoming
The first thing that you need to think about is the accreditation of the program.
The accreditation of the program you plan to attend is important, due to the fact that its completion makes you eligible to sit for a certificate, makes you eligible for a scholarship and you can be sure that you attend the best possible educational institution, as for a program to become accredited, there are numerous requirements that have to be met and that are determined by an outside agency.
A site visit and an assessment are just some of the requirements that were set by the primary accrediting body – the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Unfortunately, in the state of Wyoming, only the following program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), as of June 2020:
- Laramie County Community College
1400 East College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82007
(307) 778-4338
Program Director: Adrienne Wade MS, RDMS, RVT
Email: awade@lccc.wy.edu
LCCC offers an Associate of Applied Science in General Diagnostic Medical Sonography, with an optional Vascular sonography track.
ARDMS pass rate: 100% for the class of 2018
By the successful completion of this Wyoming DMS program, students can earn your eligibility to sit for the ARDMS Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination.
Ultrasound Tech Certification Requirements in Wyoming
Wyoming is yet another state that has no specific licensure or certification requirements for ultrasound technicians.
You can start working immediately after gaining a degree, but only if your employer does not prefer or even require professional certification.
Our advice is that it is a wise decision to consider obtaining a license with the aim to make yourself competitive in the job market.
This would be an easy task if you have graduated from a CAAHEP accredited program, as you will automatically be qualified to sit for the exam.
The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is the most well-known and regarded certification organization and you must pass one of the tests to be awarded their certification.
Testing for the exam may be coordinated by your school, or you can use the tool to find an exam location near you on its official website.
The ARDMS has identified several different prerequisites that each applicant must fulfill prior to taking their test, but you only need to meet one of them.
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
Wyoming Sonography Scholarships
Merrell Family Radiography/ Sonography Scholarship – Amount varies – Applicant must be currently attending LCCC and enrolled in the radiography or sonography program. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required.
Laramie County Community College online Foundation Donor Scholarship Application.
Hathaway Scholarship – Up to $1,600 per year – Four separate merit scholarships, each with specific eligibility requirements, and a need-based scholarship for eligible students that supplements the merit awards.
Wyoming Department of Education. JENNIFER PETERSON Hathaway Scholarship Consultant 307.777.6840 jennifer.peterson@wyo.gov
SDMS Foundation Sonography Student Scholarship Program – $2,500 – Designed for a deserving sonography student who has been accepted or is currently enrolled in an educational program in diagnostic medical sonography or cardiovascular technology that is accredited by CAAHEP.
Contact the SDMS Foundation at +1-214-473-8057 or scholarship@sdmsfoundation.org
Siemens Clinical Advancement Scholarship – $5,000 – Financial support for medical imaging professionals who are earning their Bachelor’s Degree Graduate Degree, and seeking to enhance their clinical practice skills and provide excellent patient care.
American Society of Radiologic Technologists Education and Research
15000 Central Ave. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123-3909
foundation@asrt.org
Medical Imaging Organizations for Wyoming Sonographers
Joining a Medical Imaging Organizations for Wyoming Sonographers can make you eligible for many benefits that come with belonging to an organization within your specialized field.
Some of them are continued education, networking, and staying current with changes in the field.
Below you will find some of the organizations for the medical imaging professionals:
- Wyoming Society of Radiologic Technologists
- Wyoming Medical Society
- Wyoming Health Resources Network
- Wyoming Board of Nursing
Ultrasound Techs Salary And Job Outlook In Wyoming
Even though the population of Wyoming is small, the demand for ultrasound technicians still exists.
It is true that it is not as high as it may be in other states, but Wyoming sonography techs should not worry about getting a satisfying salary once they find a job.
Job growth for sonographers and others in medical imaging is strong and it is expected to be 31% more jobs for sonographers by 2026.
According to the data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of Wyoming sonographers is $82481.
However, you need to have in mind that these rates can always change and that they can depend on your employment location, setting, specialty, certifications, and education.
You can notice in the table below that salaries are different in some of the major cities in Wyoming.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Ultrasound Technicians in Wyoming
City Name Salary Cheyenne $84,075 Casper $86,336 Laramie $85,076 Gillette $81,994 Rock Springs $85,052 Sheridan $87,363 Green River $85,052 Evanston $85,757 Riverton $84,946 Cody $87,363