Becoming an Ultrasound Technician in New Hampshire: What You Need to Know

New Hampshire requires diagnostic medical sonographers to hold state licensure—not just certification. This makes it one of only four states with mandatory licensing, which means you can't legally practice without meeting specific credentialing requirements. The upside? Strong job protections and a clear path to entry. The median salary sits at $87,690 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 data, and employment is projected to grow 15.4% through 2032, outpacing the national average.

The catch is the prerequisite. New Hampshire's primary accredited program requires you to already hold an associate or bachelor's degree in an allied health field like radiologic technology or nursing. If you're starting from scratch, you're looking at 2-4 years of prerequisite education plus 16 months of sonography training. But if you already work in healthcare and want to pivot, this pathway moves quickly.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Ultrasound Technician in New Hampshire?

The timeline depends entirely on your starting point. If you already hold an associate or bachelor's degree in an allied health field, you can complete New Hampshire's primary sonography program in 16 months. If you're starting fresh, add 2-4 years for prerequisite education.

Here's the breakdown. NHTI-Concord's Community College offers the state's only Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program. The 16-month certificate requires four semesters of full-time study covering abdomen, small parts, obstetrics, gynecology, and introductory vascular sonography. Clinical rotations run throughout the program at affiliated sites across New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.

Before you can apply, you need a two-year allied health degree in a patient-care field. NHTI specifically accepts radiologic technology and nursing backgrounds. Medical assisting and general health science degrees don't qualify. You'll also need college-level coursework in algebra or statistics, anatomy and physiology I and II with labs, and physics or radiographic physics—all with grades of C or higher. Add a BLS CPR certification from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or National Safety Council. Online-only CPR courses don't count.

After graduation, budget 1-2 weeks to schedule and take your certification exams. Then allow 2-4 weeks for state licensure processing once you submit your application with all required documents.

What Ultrasound Technicians Actually Do

Diagnostic medical sonographers operate specialized equipment to create images of internal organs, blood vessels, and developing fetuses. You're not just pressing buttons—you're interpreting what you see in real time, adjusting equipment settings and patient positioning to capture diagnostic-quality images, and communicating findings to physicians.

The work is physically demanding. You'll stand for extended periods, lift or reposition patients who may be disabled, and perform repetitive hand and wrist movements that can lead to musculoskeletal injuries if you don't use proper ergonomic techniques. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sonographers must maintain careful attention to patient safety while operating equipment that uses sound waves rather than radiation.

Most sonographers work in hospitals, but you'll also find positions in physicians' offices, imaging centers, and outpatient clinics. Expect evening, weekend, and overnight shifts, particularly in hospital settings that provide 24/7 coverage. The role requires strong interpersonal skills—you'll explain procedures to anxious patients, coordinate with physicians during invasive procedures, and sometimes deliver difficult news about what you observe during scans.

Education Pathways: Programs and Costs

New Hampshire's accredited pathway is designed for career changers who already work in healthcare. If you're coming from outside the field, you'll need to complete prerequisite education first.

New Hampshire Ultrasound Technician Programs

NHTI's program is the sole CAAHEP-accredited option in New Hampshire as of 2025. The certificate qualifies you to take American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) specialty exams immediately upon graduation under Prerequisite 2, which waives the 12-month work experience requirement that non-accredited program graduates face.

The application deadline for fall 2026 admission is January 9, 2026, though the school may consider late applications through May 1 on a space-available basis. Clinical rotations are built into the curriculum, giving you supervised experience at hospitals and imaging centers throughout the region.

Alternative Pathways

If you don't have an allied health degree, you have two options. You can complete a two-year associate degree in a qualifying field like radiologic technology or nursing, then apply to NHTI's certificate program. Or you can pursue an associate or bachelor's degree in diagnostic medical sonography at an out-of-state CAAHEP-accredited institution, then apply for New Hampshire licensure.

The associate degree route typically takes two years and includes general education requirements alongside sonography coursework. Bachelor's programs run four years and prepare you for management or education roles in addition to clinical practice. Both pathways lead to immediate ARDMS exam eligibility if the program holds CAAHEP accreditation.

Certification and Licensure Requirements

New Hampshire law mandates state licensure for all practicing sonographers. You can't work legally without it, even if you hold national certification.

National Certification

You must pass two exams to earn ARDMS credentials. The Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam tests physics and instrumentation knowledge. You can take it before graduation if you've completed a physics course. The specialty exam corresponds to your training area—abdomen, obstetrics and gynecology, breast, or vascular technology. Both exams must be passed within five years of each other.

New Hampshire accepts certification from three organizations: ARDMS, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). ARDMS is the most common pathway for general sonography. CCI specializes in cardiac and vascular credentials. ARRT offers sonography certification for radiologic technologists expanding their scope.

State Licensure Process

Once certified, apply for licensure through the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. You'll need your current certification card, official transcripts related to medical imaging, and FBI and New Hampshire criminal background checks. The application fee is $155 for a two-year license period.

The background check requires an NH Criminal Record Release form processed through the state office. Any issues with your criminal history can block licensure even if you pass your exams, so address this early in the process.

Maintaining Your Credentials

ARDMS requires 30 continuing medical education credits every three years to maintain certification. You'll also pay an annual renewal fee. State licensure renews every two years and requires proof of current national certification. ARRT has different requirements: 24 continuing education credits every two years plus Continuing Qualifications Requirements every 10 years. CCI mandates 36 continuing education units every three years.

Salary and Job Outlook in New Hampshire

New Hampshire sonographers earn a mean annual wage of $89,160 according to May 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The hourly mean is $42.86. This tracks closely with the national median of $89,340 reported in May 2024 figures.

Location within the state matters. The Boston-Cambridge-Nashua metro area, which includes southern New Hampshire communities near the Massachusetts border, reports a mean annual wage of $103,570—significantly higher than the state average. Northern and central New Hampshire positions typically pay closer to the state median.

Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers in New Hampshire is projected to grow 15.4% from 2022 to 2032 according to New Hampshire Employment Security projections. That's faster than the 13% national growth rate the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects for 2024-2034. The state expects to add roughly 52 positions to a base of 338 sonographers currently employed.

The growth stems from demographic shifts. An aging population increases the incidence of conditions like tumors and heart disease that require ultrasound for diagnosis. Ultrasound is also expanding as a first-line diagnostic tool because it's safer and more cost-effective than CT or MRI scans. Many job openings will come from replacement needs as current sonographers retire or transfer to other occupations.

Where Ultrasound Technicians Work in New Hampshire

Most sonographers work in hospitals, but opportunities exist across multiple settings. Major employers include Dartmouth Health in Lebanon, Elliot Hospital in Manchester, Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, Concord Hospital, and Southern New Hampshire Health in Nashua.

Dartmouth Health actively recruits cardiac sonographers with New Hampshire state licenses plus ARDMS Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) or CCI Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) credentials. They offer sign-on bonuses up to $15,000 and tuition reimbursement for some positions. BLS certification is required.

Elliot Hospital posts full-time day shift positions with call requirements—typically one weekend every six weeks and one holiday per year. They prefer candidates with completion of an accredited ultrasound program or allied health training with cardiac ultrasound clinical experience. New Hampshire Board certification is required, and you must obtain ARDMS or CCI credentials within one year of eligibility.

Physicians' offices, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and outpatient care centers employ smaller numbers of sonographers but may offer more predictable schedules without overnight or weekend shifts.

Career Advancement Options

Sonographers can advance by adding specialty credentials, moving into leadership roles, or transitioning to education. Stacking multiple ARDMS specialties—such as adding vascular technology to your abdomen and obstetrics credentials—increases your value to employers and opens positions in specialized imaging centers.

Lead sonographer positions supervise daily operations and require demonstrated technical competence plus experience. Advanced credentials like CCI's Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS) require six years of experience, graduation from an accredited program, and completion of complex exams. ACS-credentialed sonographers perform advanced procedures and mentor staff.

Clinical instructor roles allow you to train students in classroom and clinical settings. These positions typically prefer or require a bachelor's degree alongside substantial clinical experience. Some sonographers transition to applications specialist roles with equipment manufacturers, training healthcare facilities on new technology. These industry positions often require travel flexibility but offer exposure to cutting-edge equipment.

Challenges to Consider

The physical demands are real. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders affect sonographers at high rates due to repetitive scanning motions, awkward postures, and sustained grip pressure on transducers. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography publishes industry standards for preventing these injuries, emphasizing proper patient positioning, ergonomically correct scanning techniques, and appropriate equipment adjustment.

The prerequisite requirement creates a barrier if you're not already working in healthcare. You can't enter NHTI's program directly from high school—you need that allied health degree first. This adds 2-4 years and significant cost before you even start sonography training.

Schedule realities include evening, weekend, and overnight shifts, particularly in hospital settings. On-call requirements mean you may need to report for emergency procedures outside your regular hours. The work involves standing for long periods and physically assisting patients who may be in pain or have limited mobility.

New Hampshire's mandatory licensure protects the profession but adds administrative steps and costs. You'll pay for certification exams, state licensure fees, background checks, and continuing education throughout your career. Budget for these ongoing expenses when calculating the true cost of entry.

Is This Career Right for You?

Ultrasound technology offers a clear path to a stable healthcare career with above-average pay and strong job growth. If you already work in an allied health field and want to specialize, New Hampshire's 16-month certificate program provides focused training with immediate exam eligibility. The state's licensure requirement creates job security and professional standards.

The prerequisites matter. If you're starting from scratch, you're committing to 3-5 years of education before you can practice. The physical demands require attention to ergonomics and body mechanics. And the schedule realities mean you'll likely work some combination of evenings, weekends, or on-call hours.

For career changers with healthcare backgrounds, the timeline is manageable and the return on investment is strong. For those new to healthcare, consider whether you're willing to complete prerequisite education in radiologic technology or nursing before pursuing sonography training. Either way, New Hampshire's mandatory licensure and growing demand create a stable foundation for a long-term career.