If you are interested in a career as a sonographer or ultrasound technician, a great place to start is to earn a sonography certificate. A sonography certificate prepares students to work with patients and sonography medical equipment in a health care setting. Certificates can be earned after one year of study at community colleges, technical colleges or through a web-based program.

Instructors and students at the Institute for Medical Education, which has campuses in Oakland and San Jose, California, talk about their experience at the schools ultrasound program. Incoming students can expect a two year program that teaches them hands on techniques using ultrasound imaging.