Hospitals and clinics nationwide are facing a critical need for travel cardiac sonographers to support echocardiography labs, intensive care units, and cardiology practices. If you want to step into this role and learn how to become a travel cardiac sonographer, you are in the right place. Nomad Health connects you with these high-demand assignments, offering full transparency on salary expectations, certification requirements, and facility details. Accelerate your career with every placement while delivering high-quality cardiac imaging to patients where they need it most.

What does a cardiac sonographer (echo tech) do?

Cardiac sonographers, also known as echo techs, are trained imaging specialists who use echocardiography equipment to create real-time moving images of the heart. These ultrasound studies help providers evaluate heart function, detect diseases, and guide treatment decisions. Echo techs are trained to:

• Perform transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE)
• Use Doppler ultrasound to evaluate blood flow, valve function,and cardiac output
• Support stress echocardiograms and contrast echo procedures
• Collaborate with cardiologists and care teams to deliver timely, accurate cardiac imaging results

How to become a travel cardiac sonographer

Ready to take your echocardiography skills on the road? Transitioning into a travel role requires a strong educational foundation and proven clinical expertise, as travel facilities expect you to hit the ground running following your orientation. Here is the step-by-step process most clinicians follow:

1. Complete an accredited echocardiography program

Your journey begins with formal education. Most sonographers earn an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography or Cardiovascular Technology. It is highly recommended to choose a CAAHEP-accredited echocardiography program to ensure career readiness and board eligibility. These programs include supervised clinical rotations in echo labs, giving you direct patient care and imaging experience. Alternatively, experienced healthcare providers (like nurses or respiratory therapists) can enter the field through specialized allied health bridge programs.

2. Obtain national certification (ARDMS or CCI)

To qualify for most travel jobs, you must hold at least one nationally recognized cardiac ultrasound credential. The gold standard is the RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer) from ARDMS. Alternatively, you can earn the RCS (Registered Cardiac Sonographer) or RCCS (Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer) from CCI. For experienced professionals, CCI also offers the ACS (Advanced Cardiac Sonographer) credential. Nomad Health accepts both ARDMS and CCI credentials, though specific requirements depend on the individual hiring facility.

3. Gain 1–2 years of clinical facility experience

Travel assignments require you to work independently from day one. Because of this, hospitals and staffing agencies strictly require at least one to two years of recent, hands-on echocardiography experience in a clinical setting before you can take a travel role. Getting in contact with a travel agency early is a good move to quickly transition into a travel career. Ensuring your license, resume, references, and any other documentation needed is ready right when you hit the facilities required experience.

4. Secure necessary state licenses and certifications (BLS/ACLS)

Before hitting the road, ensure your foundational life support certifications are active. Basic Life Support (BLS) is required for all assignments, while Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is highly preferred and sometimes mandatory for specialized clinical roles. Additionally, while only a small number of states require a specific state license for sonographers, you will need to secure local licensure if you plan to take assignments in those specific locations.

5. Partner with a travel healthcare agency

Once you have the necessary experience and credentials, it is time to find your first assignment. By partnering with a modern platform like Nomad Health, you can filter travel jobs by your specific certifications (RDCS, RCS, RCCS, ACS), view weekly pay rates upfront, and apply directly without relying on recruiters or cold calls.

Travel cardiac sonographer salary & pay packages

Travel cardiac sonographers often earn higher weekly pay than permanent staff, particularly in high-demand states or specialized areas like pediatric or congenital echocardiography. While actual pay depends on the facility, location, and assignment, Nomad makes it easy to explore your earning potential by letting you filter travel jobs by your specific certification (RDCS, RCS, RCCS, ACS), so you only see the high-paying assignments you’re qualified for.

Source: Nomad Health travel job listings in 2025

Nomad Health’s Pay Perks:

• W-2 employment
• Full transparency in weekly rates
• Weekly direct deposit
• License and credentialing reimbursements
• Malpractice coverage included
• Tax free stipends for housing and meals

Specialized areas within cardiac sonography

Travel cardiac sonographers with expertise in the following specialized areas are often in high demand, opening opportunities for higher pay and more flexible assignments:

• Pediatric or Congenital Echocardiography: Focus on assessing heart defects and conditions in infants and children.
• Fetal Echocardiography: Specialize in evaluating cardiac development during pregnancy in OB/MFM settings.
• Advanced Cardiac Sonography: Elevate your clinical practice by pursuing the CCI Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS) credential, or by leveraging years of specialized experience with your ARDMS (RDCS) or CCI (RCS/RCCS) certifications.

Is a travel cardiac sonographer career right for you?

Travel echo techs enjoy the freedom to build a career around their personal lives. Because you control your schedule, you have the flexibility to move frequently, extend contracts in your favorite cities, or take time off between assignments to recharge. Along the way, you can bring your loved ones or pets, gain valuable clinical experience with new hospital systems, and spend your weekends exploring exciting new landscapes and local cultures.

What to expect in a travel cardiac sonographer contract

Most travel echo tech assignments follow a standard format, making it easy to plan your career and lifestyle around your next adventure.

Typical travel contracts

• Length: Usually 13 weeks, with frequent options to extend.
• Schedule: 36–40 hours/week, with day or night shift options.
• Locations: Nationwide opportunities in all 50 states.
• Flexibility: Choose to extend your contract if the hospital is a great fit, move on to a new city or facility, or take a break and travel.

Travel contracts through Nomad Health

• Autonomy: Search and apply directly on your own terms without recruiters or cold calls.
• Transparency: View clear, upfront weekly pay rates before you even apply.
• Support: Rely on full clinical support from a dedicated team of experienced clinicians.
• Credentialing: Receive step-by-step help and licensing assistance throughout the entire process.

Thousands of travel clinicians have already made the switch, and many more are now finding their ideal travel cardiac sonographer jobs through Nomad.

Challenges of travel cardiac sonography

While travel roles can be rewarding, they’re not for everyone. Common challenges include:

• Adjusting to new protocols, workflows, and ultrasound equipment
• Meeting licensure requirements in the few states that mandate it (e.g., New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon)
• Living away from home for 13+ weeks at a time
• Shorter onboarding and orientation periods before patient care begins