Career Overview
Medical sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of various parts of the body to aid physicians in monitoring pregnancies and in diagnosing cardiac, ophthalmic, vascular and other medical disorders.
Medical sonographers who are supervisors or instructors are included in this group.
Medical sonographers work in clinics and hospitals.
Duties
Medical sonographers:
- Run ultrasound imaging equipment that transmits high frequency sound pulses through the body to produce images of those parts of the body needing examination
- Monitor examination by viewing images on video screen to evaluate quality and consistency of diagnostic images
- Make adjustments to equipment as needed
- Record, store and process scanned images by using camera unit connected to ultrasound equipment
- Make sure patients are safe and comfortable during examinations
- Prepare examination reports for physicians to help monitor pregnancies and the diagnosis of cardiac, abdominal, ophthalmic, vascular and other disorders
- Do quality control checks on ultrasound equipment to make sure they operate properly
- Do minor repairs and adjustments to equipment as needed
- May supervise and train student and other medical sonographers
Special duties
Medical sonographers may specialize in abdominal, cardiac, cerebral, obstetrical and gynaecological, ophthalmic, intraluminal or peripheral vascular sonography. They may also specialize in adult or pediatric echocardiography or neurosonology.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
870% Employed Full Time
67%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in an indoor medical environment
- Workers may be exposed to bacteria or viruses that could cause illness
Career Pathways
The Canadian Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers recognizes the certifying examinations of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Job Titles
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of a three- to four-year program in diagnostic medical sonography or ultrasound technology
or
Completion of a two- to three-year program in a related allied health field and a one-year post-diploma program in diagnostic medical sonography from an accredited institution are required. - Registration with the Canadian Association of Registered Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Professionals and/or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is usually required by employers
- Registration with l'Ordre des Technologues en Radiologie du Québec is required in Quebec
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Diagnostic Technology & Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Labour Market Statistics
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Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
870Employment by Region
Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 20 | 2.3% |
Kootenay | 35 | 4.0% |
Mainland/Southwest | 560 | 64.7% |
North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 1.7% |
Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
Thompson-Okanagan | 85 | 9.8% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 150 | 17.3% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)
470Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)
Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 10 | 0.4% |
Kootenay | 20 | 1.1% |
Mainland/Southwest | 320 | 2.0% |
North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
Northeast | Not available | Not available |
Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 1.7% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 80 | 1.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
Industry | Job Openings (2023-2033) |
---|---|
Health Care And Social Assistance | 460 |
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services | 0 |
Resources
-
British Columbia Ultrasonographers' Society (BCUS)www.bcus.org/
-
Sonography Canadawww.sonographycanada.ca/