Maybe its time to start looking for Ultrasound Technician schools in Tennessee?  Although overall job growth has been on a steady decline, healthcare jobs continue to grow by about 2.5% in Tennessee.  That percentage accounts for about 8000 new healthcare jobs each year.  Sonography continues be one of the fastest growing fields in medical diagnostics because of the ever expanding technology available.  According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, medical and educational employment is likely to continue to grow along with the aging and growing population.  These factors make Tennessee a great place to begin your career as an Ultrasound Technician.

The population of Tennessee grows by about 80,000 people each year, which for those in medical fields means an ever growing number of patients.  The per capita income in Tennessee is approxiamately $30,000 whereas the average salary of an ultrasound tech in the state is $54,000.  This translates into an upper middle class lifestyle in an area where the cost of living is less than many other states in the U.S.  So if you’re looking for a career change, you should definitely consider attending an Ultrasound Technician school.  Here is a list of CAAHEP accredited schools in Tennessee:

Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Tennessee

• Baptist Memorial College of Health Science – Memphis, TN

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
1003 Monroe Avenue
Memphis , TN – 38104

• Chattanooga State Community College – Chattanooga, TN

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
4501 Amnicola HIghway
HPF-177
Chattanooga , TN – 37406

• Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare – Memphis, TN

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
Department of Radiology
1265 Union Avenue
Memphis , TN – 38104

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center – Nashville, TN

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
1161 21st Avenue S
MCN-CCC1121
Nashville , TN – 37232

• Volunteer State Community College – Gallatin, TN

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
1480 Nashville Pike
Gallatin , TN – 37066-3188

It is of the utmost importance that the school you attend is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, in the health science fields they are the largest accreditor.  This accreditation is important because it means you will likely get all of the clinical training necessary to be eligible to take the ARDMS exam.  Non-accredited schools can provide you the classroom knowledge, but in most cases, they do not offer you nearly enough hands on experience.  You will need 1000 hours of work experience before you can take the exam.

ARMDS Exam

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography exam is important because most hospitals or clinics will not hire you without having passed the exam.  In some cases insurance companies will not pay for ultrasound services if they were provided by a non-certified technician.   It creates a little bit of a catch-22 situation where you need 1000 hours to be eligible to take the exam, but without having passed the exam it is very difficult to achieve the 1000 hours of clinical experience.  This is the main reason to avoid Sonography Technician schools that are not accredited.  You will spend a ton of money and still be far away from starting your career as an Ultrasound Technician.