With a population of more than three million people, Orange County, California is a delightful mix of beaches, parks and well-known cities like Santa Ana, Newport Beach and Anaheim. It has a strong economy, and the County of Orange serves as the regional service provider for public health. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers will find a growing healthcare system offering plenty of employment opportunities and a community with a strong interest in healthy living.
Sonography Education in Orange County, California
There are two CAAHEP accredited diagnostic medical sonography schools in Orange County, California. One program is in the city of Cypress in the north part of the county, and is offered by Cypress College. The other is in Costa Mesa in the southern section of the country and is offered by Orange Coast College. The two cities are approximately 16 miles apart, so sonography students can access whichever program is accepting applications. However, there are also CAAHEP accredited programs in Loma Linda and Alhambra, which are in different counties but are less than 50 miles from Orange County. Every school has a financial aid office that can provide a lot of information about available scholarships for sonography study.
Attending a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is the best decision. These programs are designed to ensure students get the right kind of training needed to meet the ARDMS requirements to sit for exams in order to earn ultrasound certification. There are over 250,000 college and university enrollments in Orange County as of 2014, which is an extremely large student population.
Salary and Job Outlook for Sonographers in Orange County, California
The U.S. Labor Department recognizes Orange Co., CA as the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA. The May 2013 occupational survey reveals that Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn excellent annual wages in this area at $77,510 or $37.29 per hour. Compare this to the 67,170 average annual wage or $32.29 per hour for all sonography jobs in the United States. Experience counts in Orange County, with the top 10 percent of sonographers earning $110,330 annually. Orange County has an excellent employment outlook for sonographers also and has experienced continued job growth in the education and health services sector year-over-year.
Accredited Ultrasound Technician Programs in Orange County or Nearby
School Name: Cypress College
Address: 9200 Valley View Street, Cypress 90630
Contact Person: Lynn Mitts
Contact Phone: (714) 484-7221
Program: Certificate
School Name: Orange Coast College
Address: 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa 92628
Contact Person: Cynthia Lynn Reber-Bonhall
Contact Phone: (714) 432-5531
Program: Associates Degree
School Name: Loma Linda University
Address: 11234 Anderson St., Nichol Hall A829, Loma Linda 92354
Contact Person: Marie Delange
Contact Phone: (909) 558-4931
Program: Certificate
School Name: Platt College Los Angeles, LLC
Address: 1000 South Fremont Ave., Suite A9 West, Alhambra 91803
Contact Person: Blanca Caro
Contact Phone: (626) 300-5444
Program: Associates Degree
School Name: University of California San Diego Medical Center
Address: 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego 92103
Contact Person: Nannette Forsythe
Contact Phone: (619) 543-6617
Program: Certificate