How To Become an Ultrasound Technician in Florida 2025

Becoming an ultrasound technician, or medical sonographer, in Florida is a great way to start a rewarding healthcare career. Perhaps you're wondering how to become an ultrasound tech in your state. What are the steps you should take and the ultrasound tech requirements you need to meet?

Keep reading as we explore these questions and more in detail. We'll also talk about the different sonography career paths you could pursue and answer some questions you may have.

What Is an Ultrasound Technician?

Ultrasound technicians, also known as sonographers, use medical imaging equipment to take pictures of the inside of the human body. These images, known as sonograms or ultrasounds, are used to help doctors and other healthcare professionals diagnose various medical conditions. Typical job duties include:

• explaining procedures to patients and answering questions
• positioning patients for optimal image capture
• operating sonography equipment
• cleaning and performing basic maintenance on equipment
• updating patient records

Both advanced and entry-level sonographers work in various settings like imaging centers, hospitals, physicians' offices, and diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) facilities. They often specialize in a particular type of diagnostic imaging, such as OB/GYN sonography, vascular sonography, or abdominal sonography.

How To Become an Ultrasound Tech in Florida

If you're ready to learn more about the specific ultrasound tech requirements in Florida, keep reading. Below, we'll discuss each step you'll need to take to become an ultrasound tech in your state.

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Training Program

The first step to becoming an ultrasound tech is to complete schooling. Aspiring ultrasound techs typically enroll in a diagnostic medical sonography program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Associate, bachelor's, and certificate programs are all available. These programs typically provide a blend of general education courses, core coursework, and clinical experiences.

Most students enroll in associate degree programs. Bachelor's degrees can provide extra training and credentials but also cost more time and money to complete. Certificate programs are great options that can be completed in short timeframes, but they commonly require students to have previous degrees or allied healthcare experience.

Step 2: Complete Clinical Training

If you are enrolled in a CAAHEP-accredited DMS program, you will complete clinical rotations as part of your training and will not need to pursue additional clinical experience. If your education program is not CAAHEP-accredited, you must complete an additional 12 months of full-time clinical training through internships outside of your degree or certificate program.

Regardless of how you complete your clinical rotations, the hands-on experience you gain through them is an essential part of your training. It allows you to practice the skills you learn in the classroom in a real-world setting under the supervision of experienced sonographers and other healthcare professionals.

Step 3: Get Certified

Upon completing the education and clinical requirements, you should pursue certification through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). This is not a state requirement in Florida but the majority of employers prefer or require candidates who are certified.

Passing the foundational Sonography Principles and Instrumentation exam, along with a specialty exam in one of five concentrations, grants you the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification. State licensure is not required for ultrasound techs in Florida, so you can begin looking for jobs as soon as you have earned your RDMS certification.

Step 4: Gain Experience

You can find employment as an ultrasound tech at hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, and clinics throughout Florida. Consider applying to jobs directly or locating them on the ARDMS job board.

Gaining on-the-job experience is the best way to stay in practice and use the skills you learned in your training program. It also gives you a great opportunity to network with others in the healthcare industry and improve your skills over time.

Step 5: Complete Continuing Education

You'll need to keep your ARDMS certification active by completing continuing education every three years. The exact amount and type of continuing education necessary will vary depending on your specialized certification.

You'll also need to pay an annual fee for your certification and provide confirmation that you are following ARDMS standards and policies each year. Maintaining your certification requires commitment but demonstrates your willingness to do what it takes to remain in good standing.

Types of Ultrasound Technician Careers in Florida

Ultrasound techs can pursue different specialties depending on their interests and career goals. Some of the types of ultrasound technician careers include:

• Diagnostic medical sonographer (DMS): These professionals are generalist ultrasound techs. They commonly work in hospitals and imaging centers, taking ultrasound images of many different parts of the body.
• Obstetric sonographer: These ultrasound techs for pregnancy specialize in obstetrics and gynecology. They work in maternity wards, private practices, and outpatient clinics, acting as ultrasound techs for babies by taking images of unborn fetuses.
• Abdominal sonographer: Abdominal sonographers take ultrasounds of internal organs located within the abdomen. They typically undergo extensive training on the various systems and complex organ functions present in the abdominal region.
• Diagnostic cardiovascular sonographer: Also known as echocardiographers, these professionals specialize in taking sonograms of the heart and cardiovascular system. They typically work in hospitals but may also work in clinics and private practices.
• Breast sonographer: Breast sonographers take sonograms of breasts and surrounding tissues and lymph nodes to look for signs of cancer or other medical issues. These professionals often work at women's health centers, oncology centers, and hospitals.

FAQs About How To Become an Ultrasound Technician in Florida

If you still have questions about what it takes to become an ultrasound tech in Florida, you're not alone. Read on as we answer some commonly asked questions you may be wondering about.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Ultrasound Tech in Florida?

The length of time it takes to finish your training and begin your career depends on the type of training program you enroll in. Most students earn an associate or bachelor's degree, completing their classes and clinical experiences within two to four years. Students with a health sciences background can complete a certificate program instead of a degree, typically graduating within 12 to 18 months.

How Long Does It Take To Become an Ultrasound Tech After High School?

It takes the same amount of time for recent high school graduates to become ultrasound techs as it does for those who have been out of school for a while. The same training options are available to both traditional college-age students and nontraditional adult learners.

How Much Does It Cost to Become an Ultrasound Technician in Florida?

Education program costs for aspiring sonographers vary widely in Florida. They are also strongly dependent on the level of education you pursue.

Those earning a certificate typically pay around $3,000 but may pay up to $27,000 or more. Associate degrees may cost anywhere from around $5,700 to more than $42,000, and bachelor's degrees range from around $25,000 to more than $93,000 in total tuition costs.

How Much Does an Ultrasound Tech Make in Florida?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median sonography tech salary in Florida is $78,210. The lowest 10% of earners make less than $62,100 per year, while the highest 10% make more than $97,150.

Become an Ultrasound Technician

If you're ready to find a sonography program, explore the colleges featured here on Learn.org. Reach out to any of the schools to find out more about their available certificate and degree programs and to find the right one for you.