How To Become an Ultrasound Technician in Georgia 2025

Becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer (DMS), also known as an ultrasound technician, can help you start a well-paying and rewarding allied healthcare career. If you live in Georgia, you may be wondering about the ultrasound tech requirements in your state. What steps will you need to follow to pursue this career path?

Keep reading as we talk about how to become an ultrasound tech. We'll also explore some common ultrasound tech specializations and answer various questions you may have.

What Is an Ultrasound Technician?

An ultrasound technician or technologist is a healthcare professional who uses ultrasound technology and diagnostic imaging equipment to take pictures of the inside of the human body. These images can help doctors diagnose medical conditions such as cancer. Common ultrasound tech job duties include:

• preparing patients for imaging procedures
• operating ultrasound equipment
• maintaining and cleaning ultrasound equipment

Ultrasound techs can work in various settings like hospitals, physicians' offices, and imaging centers. They often specialize in areas like OB/GYN sonography, abdominal sonography, and echocardiography.

How To Become an Ultrasound Tech in Georgia

You'll need to follow a few steps to meet ultrasound tech requirements and become a sonographer in Georgia. Let's take a closer look at each of those steps.

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Training Program

The schooling to become an ultrasound tech may vary from school to school and student to student. Most learners earn an associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography, radiology, or a related field.

Some schools also offer DMS programs at the bachelor's degree level, while others offer ultrasound tech certificate programs. Degree programs are most common for new college students; those holding a degree in another field (especially another healthcare field) are the most common candidates for certificate programs.

Step 2: Complete Clinical Training

If your degree or certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), you will complete all required clinical hours as part of your training. If your program is not accredited, you will need to complete an additional year of full-time clinical experiences outside of your diagnostic medical sonography program.

The clinical rotations you work on are a critical part of your training. They provide in-person experience in patient care and equipment operation, preparing you for your future career by developing the skills you learn in the classroom.

Step 3: Get Certified

The state of Georgia doesn't require certification or licensure to work as an ultrasound tech. However, most employers in the state prefer or require candidates to be nationally certified through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

To earn ARDMS credentials, you'll need to pass two certification tests: the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation exam a specialized exam in one of five main areas of sonography. Once you have successfully completed these exams, you'll be considered a registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS).

Step 4: Gain Experience

The vast majority of ultrasound techs work in hospitals, but they may also find jobs in a variety of other healthcare facilities. As a Georgia resident, top employers to consider include Emory Healthcare and the WellStar Health System.

You can apply for jobs directly or search for options using the ARDMS job board. Gaining experience through entry-level sonography jobs is the best way to improve your skills, learn more about the healthcare field, and discover specializations you might want to pursue.

Step 5: Complete Continuing Education

Maintaining your ARDMS certification requires ongoing effort and commitment. Again, this is not required by the state of Georgia but is strongly recommended because most employers prefer to hire candidates with active RDMS credentials.

To maintain your certification, you'll need to complete continuing education every three years. You'll also need to renew your certification annually for a fee of $95 and demonstrate your compliance with ARDMS policies and procedures.

Types of Ultrasound Technician Careers in Georgia

If you're considering a career as an ultrasound technician, you have several different paths you can choose from. Below, we outline the main types of ultrasound techs:

• Obstetric sonographer: Obstetric sonographers are ultrasound techs for babies. These professionals use ultrasound equipment to create images of growing fetuses. If you want to become an ultrasound tech for pregnancy, this is the career path for you.
• Diagnostic medical sonographer: Diagnostic medical sonographers are generalist ultrasound techs. They work in a variety of settings and may take ultrasound images of various parts of the body.
• Diagnostic cardiovascular sonographer: Diagnostic cardiovascular sonographers specialize in vascular sonography, taking images of the heart and blood vessels. They commonly work in cardiac wards and imaging centers.
• Musculoskeletal sonographer: Musculoskeletal sonographers specialize in taking ultrasounds of muscles and bones. These images are used to spot irregularities in the musculoskeletal system that can point to various medical conditions.
• Neurosonology sonographer: These healthcare professionals specialize in taking images of the brain. They use special types of equipment called transcranial Doppler machines to diagnose brain and nervous system conditions like cerebral palsy, brain tumors, and encephalitis.

FAQs About How To Become an Ultrasound Technician in Georgia

If you still have questions about how to become an ultrasound tech, keep reading. Below, we'll answer some commonly asked questions you may be wondering about.

How Long Does It Take To Become an Ultrasound Tech in Georgia?

The length of time it takes to complete your ultrasound tech training depends on the type of training program you pursue. For full-time students enrolled in a certificate program, it takes about 10 to 18 months to graduate. Students enrolled in associate degree programs typically need about two years to finish, while those in bachelor's degree programs typically graduate in about four years.

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

Most students who pursue ultrasound tech training right after high school must enroll in an associate or bachelor's degree program. As long as they are studying full-time, they will graduate and be able to pursue certification within two to four years. Those studying on a part-time basis may take longer to graduate.

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

Tuition costs can vary widely depending on whether you attend a public or private school and the level of degree you pursue. Sonography students in certificate programs pay anywhere from about $2,700 to more than $25,000. Those in associate degree programs may pay anywhere from around $5,600 to nearly $40,000. Bachelor's degree students can expect to pay significantly more, with average costs ranging from around $23,400 to more than $86,000.

How Much Does an Ultrasound Tech Make in Georgia?

The average sonography tech salary in Georgia is $79,520, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest 10% of earners make less than $57,950, while the highest 10% earn more than $99,680.

Become an Ultrasound Technician

If you're ready to begin your ultrasound tech training program, explore the schools featured on Learn.org. Reach out to any of the schools today to learn more about their programs and admission requirements and to choose the best option for you.