5 Accredited Sonography Schools in Riverside CA or Nearby
An hour’s drive from Los Angeles, Riverside has earned a reputation for its arts, culture, and historic preservation. The California Citrus State Historic Park, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum and the Fox Center for the Performing Arts are just a few examples of the many nice places. Students enrolled in diagnostic medical sonography programs and working professionals can take advantage of an expanding health care system that includes several community hospitals, medical centers, specialty clinics, and physician offices.
Sonography Education in Riverside, California
Attending an ultrasound technician program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is the student’s best decision. These are the programs that provide the in-depth coursework and real-world clinical training needed to be successful as a diagnostic medical sonographer. Program graduates can earn ARDMS certification upon graduation from the program, giving them the professional status needed to qualify for the most rewarding jobs.
Although there is no CAAHEP-accredited program in Riverside as of 2014, there are four programs within 50 miles of each other. In fact, Loma Linda University is just 11 miles from Riverside. Other nearby programs less than 50 miles away are offered at Cypress College in Cypress (44 miles), Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa (45 miles), and Platt College Los Angeles in Alhambra (48 miles). Students who need financial aid to cover the cost of their education should discuss options with their school’s financial aid counselors and apply for ultrasound scholarships.
There are more than 30,000 students who attend the University of California-Riverside and Riverside Community College. In total, Riverside has a higher education enrollment of more than 36,000 students.
Salary and Job Outlook for Sonographers in Riverside, California
By meeting the certification requirements, the ARDMS registered professional is qualified to seek employment in most states. Only a couple of states require a sonographer’s license, but that should be easy to obtain as a professional with the RDMS, RDCS, or RVT credential. While the median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers as of May 2013 was $67,170 or $32.29 per hour, sonographers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA earned $69,650 per year, which equates to $33, 49 per hour. The top level earns an average of $97,580 a year or $46.92 an hour. Recent salary surveys indicate that median annual salaries continue to rise and stood at $77,000 in March 2014.
The education and health services industry has been growing steadily since at least 2013, and that trend is projected to continue. Riverside is in the Inland Empire area, and employment projections for 2010 to 2020 indicate a significant growth rate of 38.9 percent or 60 positions.
A List of the Best Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs in and around Riverside CA
School Name: University of California San Diego Medical Center
Address: 200 West Arbor Drive
Zipper: 92103
City: San Diego
Contact phone: (619) 543-6617
Program: Certificate
School Name: Platt College Los Angeles, LLC
Address: 1000 South Fremont Ave., Suite A9 West
Zipper: 91803
City: Alhambra
Contact phone: (626) 300-5444
Program: Associate Degree
School Name: Orange Coast College
Address: 2701 Fairview Road
Zipper: 92628
City: Costa Mesa
Contact phone: (714) 432-5531
Program: Associate Degree
School Name: Cypress College
Address: Vista del Valle Street 9200
Zipper: 90630
City: Cypress
Contact phone: 714) 484-7221
Program Certificate
School Name: Loma Linda University
Address: 11234 Anderson Street, Nichol Hall A829
Zipper: 92354
City: Loma Linda
Contact phone: (909) 558-4931
Program: Certificate