A career in diagnostic cardiac sonography revolves around using ultrasound technology to create precise 3D images of the heart. These images help detect abnormalities in (or around) your patient’s heart, as well as any irregular blood flow.

If you’re interested in working with the latest medical technologies, saving lives, and earning a great living, becoming a diagnostic cardiac sonographer (or echocardiographer) is an excellent career choice. It’s also one of the fastest growing fields in the allied health sector.

Read on to discover 47 reasons you should enroll in a diagnostic cardiac sonography program today!

1. The Education Is Short and Sweet

Compared to the number of years required to become a doctor or nurse, cardiac sonography programs can be completed in 2 years or less. You can receive an excellent education and start your career in no time at all!

2. Student Loans Are Not Forever

One of the major perks of entering this area of allied healthcare is that you can enter the job field faster and incur minimal debt by the time you graduate.

3. Great Study Buddies

 

The great thing about being in a focused program is that everyone is working toward the same goals. Everything is easier when you have a friend – especially when studying medical terminology!

4. Hands-on Learning

Your educators want to prepare you for real-world experiences. You’ll learn the ins and outs of equipment that you’ll be using on a daily basis.

5. Benefit from Smaller Classes Sizes

When you choose a specific program like cardiac sonography, class sizes are often smaller. The result? More one-on-one time with your teachers. There’s no more competing for attention in a lecture hall of 300 other students.

6. Sharpen Your Motor Skills

Creating precise images is key for sonography. During training, you’ll gain a lot of practice learning how to create an accurate 3D ultrasound. The moment you step into the field, you’ll feel extremely confident.

7. Learn from the Best

In a cardiac sonography program, not only do you work with experienced teachers, but you get to complete a clinical internship. This ensures that you learn the most important aspects from experienced professionals.

8. Have the Confidence to Start Working Right Away

Completing a focused program gives you all the tools you need to start a job right after you obtain your certification. You don’t have to job-hop anymore, because you know exactly what you want to do.

9. Get Your Medical Field Fix

Some of us have dreamed of working in the medical field since we were little, but going to school for almost a decade sounds exhausting. Cardiac sonography can fulfill your desire to work with patients and the latest technology in a hospital setting.

10. Your Friends Call You a Science Buff

 

You’re the one who can answer all the biology questions on trivia night, and you always did pretty well on science projects. Sonography involves a lot of science knowledge, so this is the perfect career for you.

11. Hearts Get Your Blood Pumpin’

Cardiac sonographer: It’s in the name. If you’ve always been captivated by the human heart, you’re in the right place. You get to take pictures of it all day long!

12. The Early Bird Catches the Worm

If you feel most productive in the morning and throughout the afternoon, working at an outpatient care clinic can give you the 9-5 job that you’re looking for.

13. Night Owls Get Worms, Too

On the other hand, if you feel more energetic in the evening or at night, hospitals are lively places at all hours of the day. Staff always needs a cardiac ultrasound tech on hand, and a flexible schedule lets you work when you’re most alert.

14. You’ll Always Have a Food Friend

Few people enjoy eating alone. Whether you work at a hospital or clinic, you’ll always be surrounded with coworkers (aka food buddies) who are willing to go grab that blueberry muffin you’ve been thinking about all day.

15. You Gravitate Toward Bustling Work Environments

Hospitals offer an incredibly active, fast-paced atmosphere. If you thrive in this kind of environment, that’s great news, because hospitals employ the largest amount of diagnostic cardiac sonographers.

16. Technology Gets You All Wired up

Ultrasound techs require the latest technology and equipment to create high-quality images. If you love getting to know the ins and outs of new technology, you don’t even have to wait until Christmas!

17. There’s Plenty of Upward Mobility

 

When you work at physician's office, you have the opportunity to earn a higher salary than if you find a position at a hospital. To increase your chances of finding employment at a physician’s office, it’s beneficial to obtain as many certifications as you can in the field.

18. You’re a Team Player

A certified cardiac sonographer knows the human heart like the back of their hand, and their input is valued and trusted. Once the tech produces an image, they assist a team of medical professionals to diagnose the issue.

19. Diversity at Work

If you work in a hospital, you’ll work alongside a diverse group of individuals like doctors, nurses, EMT workers, surgeons, assistants, other sonographers, and students. This gives your work life a lot of variety.

20. Communication Is a Part of Your Daily Life

Social butterflies are valued in the allied healthcare field. Not only will you and your coworkers be taking care of many patients on a daily basis, but it’s also vital to communicate what is going on to avoid mishaps.

21. Job Opportunities Are Boom-Boom-Booming

The job outlook in the cardiac sonography field is extremely positive, and is growing exponentially. From 2014 to 2024, jobs are expected to increase by 22%. It’s always comforting to know there will be a healthy job market waiting for you when you graduate.

22. Your Career Can Move With You

 

Thinking about moving to the vast forests of Seattle, or perhaps the sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore? As a cardiac sonographer, there are only 4 states in which you need a specific state license. In the other 46 states, a license is not required, but most employees require certification

23. Salaries That Can Get Your Heart Racing

A diagnostic cardiac sonography salary is extremely promising, and the average tech makes around $55,000 per year. That number is only expected to rise as hospitals and clinics have an increasing need for registered sonographers.

24. Monetary Peace of Mind

Since echocardiographers receive great pay and have a fantastic job outlook, you no longer have to search for stability and comfort with a second job. You’ll finally have money to squirrel away, or take that dream holiday in the Bahamas.

25. Cardiac Sonographers Are Top Allied Healthcare Earners

Other allied healthcare occupations (like medical assistants) require less schooling, but they don’t earn nearly as much. For the amount of schooling, the job outlook, and the salary, cardiac sonographers are in an extremely sweet spot.

26. Ultrasounds Are the Future

With ultrasounds becoming less expensive, more patients can afford to receive this type of healthcare. This means more ultrasound imaging, and more jobs for you!

27. Your Body and Mind Benefit

As a tech, you’re constantly using your hands to position the patient and create an excellent image. Your brain is active when examining the ultrasound for abnormalities. This is a great job to keep your brain and body active.

28. You’re a Photographer at Heart

 

A cardiac sonographer has to take extremely precise images of the patient’s heart so the medical team can see every detail. If you’ve always had a great eye and loved taking photos, continue your interest as a sonographer.

29. Patient Care Is Your Passion

Taking care of others has always given you a warm, fuzzy feeling. This skill is crucial in allied healthcare. Patients will almost always be nervous or scared about hearing bad news. It’s your job to make them feel calm and reassure them that they’re in good hands.

30. Leave Work Feeling Victorious

Whether you received praise for doing a good job, helped save a patient’s life, or assisted a coworker with a difficult task, you can always leave work with a rewarding feeling.

31. “Thank You” Is a Gift in Itself

There are many material items to show someone your gratitude, but a patient thanking you for saving their life is something that money can’t buy.

32. The Devil Is in the Details

If you have an eye for the little things, your skills will undoubtedly be appreciated as a cardiac ultrasound tech. It’s your job to scan the patient’s ultrasound with extreme detail so you can spot any minor or major issue.

33. You’re a Lifesaver

Matters of the heart are no joke, and your ultrasound images will help discover problems within and around your patient’s heart. The quicker the problem is detected, the faster medical professionals can help the patient.

34. Old People Have the Best Stories

 

America’s aging population overwhelmingly suffers from heart disease. If you’ve always enjoyed hearing about your grandparents’ experiences, you’ll love your patients. Wisdom comes with age, so during their exams, be prepared to receive some sage advice or hear some hilarious stories.

35. Kids Are the Future

Unfortunately, adorable little babies and children suffer from cardiac diseases, too. Your job is non-invasive, so there’s nothing harmful or painful during the procedure. You can distract kids by asking them personal questions while detecting the problems inside their body. All kids deserve to grow up to be awesome adults – and you’ll play a role in that.

36. Your Smile Brightens up a Room

Nothing makes a patient’s day like being greeted with a bright, welcoming smile. They want to feel valued and taken care of, and your smile and attitude lets them know you’re happy to help.

37. Not Good with Blood? No Problem!

If blood freaks you out – but you want to work in the allied health sector – sonography is the route for you. It’s non-invasive, so you'll rarely see blood.

38. Give More Patients the Help They Need

As of 2014, 15% of the American population was over 65, meaning that echocardiographers will see an increase in elderly patients. Ultrasounds are a safe, non-invasive, and accurate way to provide the health assistance they really need.

39. Personal Growth Is a #Goal

The allied health sector is constantly growing and changing, and you need to be able to grow and change with it. If you love challenging yourself, experiencing new things, and learning about new technologies, you’ll always stay ahead of the game.

40. Flexibility Is Your Middle Name

Working in the medical field, changes can occur in an instant. You understand that it’s more helpful for you to go with the flow and help your team, rather than getting stuck on why something didn’t go as planned.

41. Go Ahead, Swipe Right

Doctors are notoriously known for having a hectic, impossible dating life. As an ultrasound tech, you’ll have more consistency in your schedule, allowing you to plan get togethers with friends, or a night out on the town with a date.

42. Become the Medical Translator in Your Group of Friends

Are you tired of your friends never understanding any medical terminology on Grey’s Anatomy? Do they always ask you the difference between a stenographer and a sonographer? Once you’re a registered tech, you can make sure your friends know the most important medical terms (and that you don’t work in a courtroom).

43. You Can Keep a Secret – Hello HIPAA!

Due to health information privacy laws, you can’t disclose your patients’ private information or diagnoses to anyone outside of your workplace. Keeping a secret isn’t always bad!

44. Share What You Know

As a cardiac ultrasound tech, you’re extremely educated about anything and everything to do with the heart. You see and experience the most common heart problems – and unusual cases – firsthand. Use this information to help your loved ones live healthier lifestyles, or at least let them know the importance of routine check-ups.

45. You’ll Be the Talk of the Town at Every Get Together

 

Anytime your family gets together, they won’t be asking you the regular mundane questions anymore. As a sonographer, your job is probably unknown and interesting to them, so sit back and enjoy being questioned for once!

46. The Bad Energy Stays Away

Since an ultrasound is created using low frequency sound waves, it’s not harmful or invasive. Because radiation (or other risky emissions) are not involved, both the patient and sonographer are safe.

47. You Are Self-Assured

When a patient sees that you’re confident in the tasks you are doing – especially when it comes to their health – they’ll trust you and feel more at ease. Your bosses will trust you with bigger, more important tasks and leadership roles. Self-assurance is a really underrated skill: If you have it, you’re already ahead of the game.

The Heart Wants What It Wants – for You to Become a Cardiac Sonographer!

If you’ve finished reading this list, and your heart is pulling you in the direction of a diagnostic cardiac sonographer, let it! If you’re in the New Jersey area, get the ball rolling and attend the AIMS diagnostic cardiac sonography program.