Ultrasound School in California: Why Clinical Internship is Vital to Your Success

If you want to become an ultrasound technologist in California, you probably already know there are more than a few options out there. When it comes to finding the best ultrasound school in California, there are several things to look out for. One of big things to remember is that different sonography programs will offer different clinical internship hours. This is really important for ultrasound students because your internship is where you apply the skills you’ve learned. Furthermore, since scanning requires you to be able to “create” a clear image for the physician, you’ll want as much practice as possible!

That said, we wanted to take some time to walk you through what makes each ultrasound school in California unique. We also wanted to discuss some of the major selling points of any ultrasound / vascular technology program. We’ll explore what a Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound / Vascular Technologist does. Furthermore, we’ll discuss what you need in order to begin your journey and enroll in an ultrasound school in California.

What Does an Ultrasound / Vascular Technologist Do in California?

Here in California, an Ultrasound / Vascular Technologist or Ultrasound Tech is responsible for creating the images which physicians depend on, in order to diagnose a patient’s condition. While scanning is the main part of the job of an ultrasound technologist, there is also quite a bit more to the occupation, especially here in California. Professional patient care is a big part of the job as well, and a good ultrasound school in California will prepare you from this angle as well.

Ultrasound Technologists prepare patients for scans, and learn about their medical history. They explain the scanning procedure before they begin and ensure the patient feels comfortable. Ultrasound Techs also gather patient histories, archive the scanned images on their systems, and provide the physician in charge with a detailed summary of their findings. Over the course of time, Ultrasound Technicians are also responsible for archiving ultrasound images to their database and keeping detailed patient records in order to track progress.

An Ultrasound / Vascular Technologist may find work in the following places:

  • Independent or Branded Imaging Centers
  • Corporate Medical Facilities
  • OB/GYN Clinics
  • Private Practice
  • Large Hospitals
  • Ultrasound Registry
  • Sports Medicine Clinics

What You Need in Order to Enroll in Ultrasound School in California

If you want to become an ultrasound technologist here in California, you’ll want to find an all-inclusive program. We’ve discussed this in the past, but let’s talk about what all-inclusive usually means. An all-inclusive ultrasound program will usually provide you with all your pre-requisite classes, as well as professional patient care training. That said, all-inclusive ultrasound programs will differ from school to school. Your job as a prospective student is to find the best ultrasound school in California for your own specific needs.

While prerequisite classes are important, especially if you’re brand new to studying Diagnostic Healthcare, you also want to find an ultrasound school in California which teaches their students hands-on. Again, coming back to scanning — it’s all about putting in your time as a ultrasound tech! Hands-on ultrasound classes differ from online learning and can make or break your sonography career. It’s important to remember that each patient will have different ailments, and that each patient’s body will be different. That said, it’s important to get as much hands-on ultrasound training as possible.

The last thing you’ll want to keep an eye out for at any ultrasound school in California, is clinical internship. Moreover, looking at exactly how many hours of clinical internship the ultrasound course provides. Let’s take a look at what clinical internship is, and how it differs from program to program.

Getting the Most Out of Ultrasound School in California: Clinical Internship Hours Explained

During the latter portion of your ultrasound training, your program will likely send you off to your clinical internship. This is where you’re placed in an offsite clinic to work alongside other experience ultrasound techs. You’ll also be working along a real clinical staff, physician(s), as well as live patients! This is where every bit of your sonography education has led you up until this point! Remember, that becoming an ultrasound technologist in California is extremely hands-on!

It takes hours of practice and study in order to perfect your craft of creating a great image! That said, remember that there’s no one-size fits all when it comes to how long it may take you to ‘get it’ right. For that reason, we recommend finding an ultrasound school in California which offers the most hours of your clinical internship! Sure, some ultrasound programs may advertise a longer length of time — but your job is to compare apples to apples. That means finding out which ultrasound school offers the most hours of internship.

Performing Live Scans Before Getting Hired as an Ultrasound Technologist

We usually don’t stress things this much, but when it comes down to it, you want the experience. You’ll thank us when it comes time to get out in the field and begin showing them what you’re made of. Remember that when you go to find a job as an ultrasound technologist, you’ll likely be asked to create an image for the hiring team at the clinic. Furthermore, you may be asked to create several images — scans they most likely see on a regular basis. If you’re unable to create a clear scan for the physician, you probably won’t be considered. So yes, clinical internship hours definitely matter when picking the best ultrasound school in California for your needs.

Looking for the Best Ultrasound School in California? Check Out Modern Technology School’s Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound / Vascular Technology Program

Modern Technology School has been here in Orange County since 1981. We’ve trained thousands of Ultrasound Technology students in that time at our accredited Healthcare school. Our Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound / Vascular Technology program offers an unparalleled 1,000+ hours of clinical internship! That means you get more value for your tuition! Pre-requisite ultrasound and sonography courses are all packed into the program. You also don’t pay extra for textbooks or scrubs in our all-inclusive ultrasound program.

If you need financial aid for ultrasound school in California, don’t worry — you’re not alone. We can help you determine if you qualify. We’ll also walk you through your goals and help you understand if our ultrasound program is right for your needs. Our Admissions Advisor is friendly, answers questions and works hard to ensure you understand the sonography curriculum. Furthermore, we have in-house Job Placement Assistance and proudly accept the GI Bill from our beloved veterans.

As a final note, remember that every ultrasound school in California is not built alike. Sonography programs will differ from school to school, and each program will offer different recipes of ultrasound training. Your goal is to find an ultrasound school where you fit in — one that fits most all of your needs. If you like the idea of hands-on training, small class sizes where everyone has the opportunity to learn, ask questions and operate the ultrasound equipment, give us a call!

Orange County Ultrasound Classes Start Every Other Month, But Fill-Up Quickly!

Our Orange County Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound / Vascular program is extremely popular, and for good reason. Not only are students crazy about the amount of clinical internship hours we offer, but let’s face it — you want to learn hands-on and in small classroom environments. Nobody likes crowded ultrasound classes, just as they don’t like fighting for equipment at the gym.

Our ultrasound courses start every other month here in Orange County, but they do fill up fast! We’d love to meet with you, learn about your goals, and see if there’s a great fit on both ends. Remember that you’re just 18 months away from becoming an ultrasound technologist! That said, we look forward to meeting you and helping answer all of your questions about ultrasound school in California!

Modern Technology School

All-Inclusive Sonography Training Since 1981

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Next Ultrasound Class Starts October 22, 2018

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