How To Become an Ultrasound Technician in Wisconsin 2025

Ultrasound technicians, or medical sonographers, are important parts of the healthcare system. They provide vital information about a body's health below the surface. Using highly specialized equipment, an ultrasound tech creates noninvasive images that show things medical professionals can't see with the naked eye, like internal bleeding, organ damage, and bone fractures.

If you're wondering how to become an ultrasound tech, read on to learn about the educational and career paths to get into the field and start your career.

What Is an Ultrasound Technician?

Ultrasound technicians are healthcare professionals who use intricate, technical equipment to generate images of a body's internal organs, systems, and structures. These highly trained technicians are trained to operate ultrasound machines, which use sound waves to create images of everything beneath the skin.

Ultrasound techs work closely with physicians who use diagnostic medical sonography to diagnose and treat medical conditions. They also interact with patients to explain procedures and provide comfort during exams, requiring soft skills that include both professionalism and empathy.

How To Become an Ultrasound Tech in Wisconsin

Though medical school isn't required to become an ultrasound technician, an in-depth knowledge of health science and biology is required. Schooling to become an ultrasound tech can take anywhere from two to six years, depending on the type of degree pursued.

Below, we'll walk through each step, from graduating high school to finding a diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) program and maintaining your credentials.

Step 1: Get Educated

Education is a key requirement in becoming an ultrasound technician, or diagnostic medical sonographer. Many colleges, universities, and technical schools offer degrees in diagnostic medical sonography, but to be accepted into one of those, you'll first need to complete high school or obtain your General Educational Development (GED).

After finishing a high school diploma or GED, those interested in becoming ultrasound technicians should find an accredited ultrasound technology program. Typically, a diagnostic medical sonography program is two years long and results in an associate degree, but some are four-year bachelor's programs. Others offer the program as a master's degree.

Notable programs in Wisconsin include Chippewa Valley Technical School, Concordia University Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Area Technical College. Most programs in Wisconsin take two years to complete, including classroom learning and clinical work. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in diagnostic medical sonography for those who are interested in pursuing a four-year degree.

Step 2: Complete Clinical Training

Most accredited ultrasound technician programs require clinical training in addition to coursework. Hands-on training in real-world conditions like hospitals and clinics allows students to apply their knowledge in situations that often can't be replicated in a classroom.

While the state of Wisconsin does not have a set number of clinical hours required for ultrasound techs, an accredited program can demand hundreds of clinical hours for graduation. Concordia College Wisconsin, for instance, requires 960 clinical hours and an additional 300 lab hours to graduate with a diagnostic medical sonography degree.

Step 3: Complete ARDMS Certification

Though the state of Wisconsin does not require licensure as a prerequisite to employment as an ultrasound technician, many employers do require certain certifications.

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) offers the most common certification for ultrasound technicians. The good news is that graduating from any Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)-certified program will require passing the ARDMS exams in sonography principles and instrumentation (SPI) and specialty exams.

If your program doesn't include ARDMS certification, you can take the exams independently online, as long as you do it within five years of graduation. If you fail, you must wait 60 days to take the exams again. More information and practice exams are available at ardms.org.

Step 4: Continue Your Education

To maintain that certification, the ARDMS requires an additional 30 continuing medical education (CME) credits every three years. These CME credits can be earned in a number of ways, from taking actual courses through an accredited program to attending approved seminars and conferences. Requirements vary depending on the specific type of ARDMS certification you've attained.

But more than staying licensed, it's important to stay educated to serve your patients better. Medical practice is in a constant state of flux, and there are regular technological advancements in the field of sonography. Maintaining your CME credits is the surest way to know your knowledge base is up to date.

Types of Ultrasound Technician Careers in Wisconsin

Part of an ARDMS certification is the option to choose a track or discipline in a specific field of sonography. Medical imaging specialists often find more employment opportunities and even higher salaries. Check out some of the directions you can take your career as an ultrasound tech.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Choosing to focus on OB/GYN and become an ultrasound tech for babies can be incredibly rewarding. To pursue this career, you should choose an OB/GYN track leading up to the SPI exam, and there will be an additional exam focusing on OB/GYN. If you're already ARDMS-certified, you'll have to pass the specialized exams within five years.

Vascular Sonography

A vascular sonographer is vital in preventing and treating blood-related issues like strokes and heart attacks. A vascular ultrasound tech uses their equipment to take detailed images of veins, arteries, and blood vessels. These images can uncover clogs, clots, compression, and other areas of concern, which can ultimately save lives.

As with becoming an ultrasound tech for pregnancy, you can focus your initial ARDMS studies on vascular sonography or complete the specialty SPI exam within five years of certification.

Abdominal Sonography

An abdominal sonographer focuses their equipment on the stomach, liver, kidneys, and spleen, among others, looking for abdominal issues. The most common uses for abdominal ultrasounds include checking pregnancy status, searching for gallstones and kidney stones, diagnosing abdominal pain, or checking for clots, tumors, or other irregularities.

As with other ultrasound technician specialties, an abdominal sonographer may focus on this track within their initial studies or as CME. The abdominal specialty SPI exam must be passed within five years of certification.

FAQs About How to Become an Ultrasound Technician in Wisconsin

Have more questions about becoming an ultrasound technologist? Read on to find answers to common questions about earning your certification.

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

It generally takes two years of full-time enrollment to become an ultrasound tech in Wisconsin. Most programs result in an associate degree, but some require four years of study and result in a bachelor's degree. These timelines include clinical experience and lab work.

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

It takes two to four years of dedicated study to become an ultrasound tech after high school in Wisconsin. If you finish high school without a diploma, you'll need to acquire a GED before that time frame begins.

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

Tuition costs vary depending on the school and level of degree you're pursuing, but most associate degrees will cost between $10,000 and $15,000. The cheapest ultrasound technician degree in Wisconsin costs $10,526, from Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, whereas the most expensive degree comes from Concordia University-Wisconsin and costs $135,000.

How Much Does an Ultrasound Tech Make in Wisconsin?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean sonography tech salary is $97,670, while the mean hourly rate is $46.96. However, actual salaries will differ based on your level of education, experience acquired, and the healthcare provider you're working with.

Become an Ultrasound Technician

Choosing to become an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer in Wisconsin can result in a rewarding and lucrative career. Though the title often includes the word 'technician,' the work is so much more than technical. Ultrasound tech requirements include knowledge, people skills, and empathy. You'll help a vast variety of people on both the patient and medical sides, and there's not much more rewarding than that.

If you're ready to start your education and enter the field of ultrasound technology, we're here to help. Explore the schools and degree programs featured on Learn.org to find the right fit for you.