Does training to be a Sonographer really only takes 2 years?

[Eatyourbanana]

Did post else where but no response - sorry.

I would love to be a Sonographer & have been looking into studying. Have read online there is a course which only takes 2 years but this seems like a really short amount of time to me?

Anyone a Sonographer/know someone who is who could shed some light? Can you be qualified after 2 years?

TIA!

I think you need a degree in a relevant subject first and then do a post grad qualification. So be a nurse, midwife, radiographer. I’m a midwife and I know I could do a post grad shortish course to be a sonographer.

Yeah it’s a post grad.

Hi, as far as I know the two year course is post grad and unless you're already a qualified diagnostic radiographer (3 year BSc) you won't be able to register with HCPC and a lot of NHS positions won't be open to you.
I would look into it further and see exactly what you will be able to do with the two year course qualification

Yes you need to have a relevant qualification first, then you take a further course to become a sonographer. Info here: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/sonographer

Sorry @JacobReesMogadishu I forgot that of course midwives and nurses can do it too! I'm a student Radiographer so was it looking at it from that perspective

Have you not looked online? nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/sonographer#HowToBecome

My friend studied to be a radiographer for three years then did a post grad.

You’d obviously need the relevant degree first-not just a couple of A levels.

Ahh righto, this is what I had suspected although wasn’t clear on the websites. Thanks all!

@JacobReesMogadishu Midwifery was the other option I’ve been looking into. Would you recommend it as a career?

I have looked into it online, I wasn’t sure if you could do a 2 year course but only be qualified in one area of ultrasound (E.g. pregnancy.) & the 4 year course would broaden your options...

Or if it was a 4 year course across the board.

Thanks all for your help.

Yes, I would recommend midwifery as a career. But it’s nothing like One Born Every Minute. It’s a very hard course, one which is very competitive to get onto. The drop out rate is high. The job is hard work and stressful....but also rewarding. But a lot of burn out.

@JacobReesMogadishu thank you, I appreciate it must have it’s moments. But it must be extremely rewarding.

The term sonographer is not protected in law and sonographers are not regulated with the HCPC by reason of being a sonographer. They may have a profess qualification but don’t necessarily have to have one at all.
Some services employ people with a very basic level of training - a couple of weeks - but often people complete a two year course at an FE college.

NHS sonographers are usually well qualified and often professionally registered because they’re nurses, midwives, physiotherapists or radiographers.

@CherryPavlova, interesting. Does that mean you could get a job for a private company (window to the womb) for example... with fewer qualifications than is expected by the NHS?

Yes absolutely. Window to the womb is a franchise not an individual organisation. Each centre is regulated separately and sets their own staffing arrangements.
There are smaller, completely independent sonography services with lesser qualifications than NHS commissioned services.
In law, there is no reason that anyone should not just buy an ultrasound and set themselves up. As long as they are clear to customers about their qualifications and don’t pretend to be more qualified, they can do so.
That said, most are qualified and often have sonography as an additional diploma.

Small franchises are often set up by a qualified nurse/midwife/radiographer sonographer. They tend to be small outfits. The ones I know are self employed individuals.