With a population of over 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 Orange County is the regional provider of public health services. Diagnostic medical sonographers will find a growing healthcare system offering many 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 located in the city of Cypress, in the northern part of the county, and is offered by Cypress College. The other is in Costa Mesa, in the southern part of the country, and is offered by Orange Coast College. The two cities are about 16 miles apart, so sonography students can access any program that accepts applications. However, there are also CAAHEP-accredited programs in Loma Linda and Alhambra, which are in different counties but within 50 miles of Orange County. Each school has a financial aid office that can provide a lot of information about the scholarships available to study sonography.

Attending a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Allied Health Education Programs is the best decision. These programs are designed to ensure that students obtain the correct type of training necessary to meet the ARDMS requirements for examination and 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 US Department of Labor recognizes Orange Co., CA as the Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. 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 average annual salary of 67,170 or $32.29 per hour for all ultrasound jobs in the United States. Experience counts in Orange County, where the top 10 percent of sonographers earn $110,330 a year. Orange County also has an excellent employment outlook for sonographers and has experienced continued job growth in the education and health services sector year after year.

Certified Ultrasound Technician Programs in or Nearby Orange County

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: Associate 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: Associate 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