Sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to acquire, interpret and selectively record anatomical images, physical data, and real-time physiological information for medical diagnostic purposes in conjunction with Medical Practitioners.

Skill Level

1

Alternative Titles

• Ultrasonographer

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Sonographer is Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (ASMIRT). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Qualification Requirement
  • Applicants must have a qualification that is assessed as equivalent to a postgraduate degree and associated clinical levels.
    • Post qualification education may also be considered
• English Language Requirement
  • IELTS – score of at least 7.0 for each component
  • OET – minimum of level B
  • PTE – minimum score of 65
  • TOEFL iBT – minimum total score of 94 with the following minimum scores for each section: 24 for listening and reading, 27 for writing, 23 for speaking
  • CAE – no component below 185
• Experience Requirement
  • Must have at least two years of clinical experience post-qualification in the last five years

Operate X-ray and other radiation producing and imaging equipment for diagnostic, monitoring and treatment purposes under the direction of Radiologists and other Medical Practitioners.

Tasks

• Receiving referrals from Medical Practitioners to perform medical imaging and radiation treatment of patients
• Determining the appropriate equipment to use, such as X-ray equipment, radiation scanners, fluoroscopes, ultrasound equipment, nuclear instrumentation, angiography equipment and computed tomography (CT) equipment, and selecting the appropriate equipment settings to provide the diagnostic information requested by Medical Practitioners
• Calculating details of procedures such as length and intensity of exposure to radiation, size and strength of dosage of isotopes, and settings of recording equipment
• Explaining procedures to patients and answering patients’ inquiries about processes
• Ensuring patients’ welfare during procedures
• Positioning patients, screens and equipment preparatory to procedures
• Viewing the screen and deciding if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, and selecting images to show Medical Practitioners
• Conveying findings of procedures to Medical Practitioners

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing may be required.

Occupations in this Group

• 251211 Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
• 251212 Medical Radiation Therapist
• 251213 Nuclear Medicine Technologist
• 251214 Sonographer