Your Complete Guide to Travel Cardiac Sonographer Careers
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Looking to take your cardiac sonography career on the road? Whether you're an experienced ARDMS-credentialed echo tech (RDCS) or hold a CCI certification (RCS, RCCS, or ACS), this guide walks you through everything you need to know about travel cardiac sonographer jobs – including certification requirements, salary expectations, job flexibility, and why Nomad Health is changing how clinicians find work.
Why Travel Cardiac Sonographers Are in High Demand
Cardiac sonographers, often called echo techs, are vital members of the cardiovascular care team. Using advanced ultrasound and Doppler imaging, they provide cardiologists with real-time insights into heart structure and function — information that supports accurate diagnoses and life-saving treatment decisions.
Today, hospitals and clinics across the country increasingly depend on travel cardiac sonographers to fill staffing needs in echocardiography labs, intensive care units, and cardiology practices. These professionals ensure patients continue to receive timely, high-quality cardiac imaging even during workforce shortages.
Career Growth for Travel Cardiac Sonographers
Far from stalling your career, traveling accelerates it. With each assignment, you can:
- Build experience in academic medical centers, private cardiology practices, and trauma hospitals
- Gain exposure to advanced procedures like pediatric echo, congenital heart imaging, or stress echo
- Strengthen your resume for leadership positions or specialty certifications (e.g., pediatric echo, ACS)
- Use downtime between contracts to pursue continuing education (CEUs) or professional development
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.
They 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
Specialized areas within cardiac sonography:
- Pediatric or congenital echocardiography - assessing heart defects and conditions in infants and children
- Fetal echocardiography - evaluating cardiac development during pregnancy in OB/MFM settings
- Advanced cardiac sonography - a highly specialized practice where sonographers may pursue additional credentials, such as the ACS (Advanced Cardiac Sonographer) from CCI, to demonstrate advanced expertise. Many professionals also advance their practice through extensive experience with ARDMS RDCS or CCI RCS/RCCS certifications
Travel cardiac sonographers with expertise in these specialized areas are often in especially high demand, opening opportunities for higher pay and more flexible assignments.
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Education & Training Requirements for Cardiac Sonographers
If you’re wondering how to become a cardiac sonographer or echo tech, most employers – including those offering travel cardiac sonographer jobs – look for a combination of formal education and hands-on clinical experience. To become a cardiac sonographer, you’ll typically
Typical education and training pathways include:
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography or Cardiovascular Technology
Completion of a CAAHEP-accredited echocardiography program (highly recommended for career readiness and certification eligibility)
Supervised clinical rotations in echocardiography labs, where students gain direct patient care and imaging experience
Some professionals enter the field through allied health bridge programs, transitioning from related careers such as nursing, radiology, or respiratory therapy. These programs allow experienced healthcare providers to build on existing clinical knowledge while training in cardiac ultrasound.
Graduates of accredited programs are typically positioned to sit for ARDMS (RDCS) or CCI RCS or RCCS exams. For more experienced sonographers, the CCI ACS credential offers an advanced pathway to demonstrate higher-level expertise. These are the most widely recognized certifications for both staff and travel roles.
Certifications & Credentials You Need
To qualify for most travel cardiac sonographer jobs, you’ll need at least one nationally recognized cardiac ultrasound credential.
ARDMS Certifications (gold standard)
CCI Certifications
Important note: Nomad Health accepts both ARDMS and CCI cardiac sonography credentials, but the specific certification required will depend on the hiring facility’s guidelines.
Additional certifications:
BLS - Basic Life Support (required)
ACLS - Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (not typically required but may be preferred or required for certain roles)
Learn more about CCI certifications here.
How to Become a Travel Cardiac Sonographer
Interested in starting your career as a travel cardiac sonographer? Ready to hit the road? Here’s the step-by-step process most clinicians follow:
1. Get Certified
Earn a nationally recognized cardiac ultrasound credential such as:
RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer) from ARDMS
RCS (Registered Cardiac Sonographer) or RCCS (Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer) from CCI
2. Gain Clinical Experience
Most facilities and staffing agencies prefer 1–2 years of recent echocardiography experience before placing a sonographer in a travel role.
3. Create Your Nomad Profile
Building a profile on Nomad Health takes just minutes – no recruiter calls or hidden steps.
4. Search & Apply for Jobs
Browse hundreds of travel cardiac sonographer jobs with full pay transparency. You can even filter assignments by the certification you hold (ARDMS or CCI) to quickly find jobs you qualify for.
5. Start Your Assignment
Enjoy 13-week contracts with options to extend at the same facility or explore a new location.
Travel Cardiac Sonographer Salary & Pay Packages
Travel cardiac sonographers often earn higher weekly pay than permanent staff roles, particularly in states with urgent staffing needs or in specialized areas like pediatric or congenital echocardiography. Actual pay packages depend on the facility, location, and type of assignment — with demand being a major factor.
Position | Estimated Weekly Pay |
Travel Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) | $2,300–$3,200 |
Travel Echo Tech (ARDMS – RDCS) | $2,400–$3,400 |
Pediatric / Congenital Echo Tech | $2,500–$3,600+ |
Source: Nomad Health travel job listings (2025)
Nomad Health’s Pay Perks:
W-2 employment
Full transparency – see weekly rates up front
Weekly direct deposit
License and credentialing reimbursements
Malpractice coverage included
With Nomad, you can filter travel jobs by your certification (RDCS, RCS, RCCS, ACS) so you only see assignments you’re qualified for.
Benefits of Travel Cardiac Sonographer Jobs
Choosing a travel assignment offers unique perks beyond your paycheck. Along with competitive weekly pay, travel echo techs enjoy:
High pay without long-term commitment
Travel stipends for housing and transportation
Work-life balance with breaks between contracts
Explore new cities and healthcare systems
Grow your resume with experience in top hospitals and specialty programs
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
What to Expect in a Travel Cardiac Sonographer Contract
Most travel echo tech assignments follow a standard format:
Typical travel contracts:
Length: 13 weeks (with frequent options to extend)
Schedule: 36–40 hours/week, typically day shifts
Locations: Nationwide opportunities in all 50 states, with only a small number requiring state licensure for sonographers
Flexibility: Many travelers extend contracts at the same hospital if it’s a good fit, while others move on to a new city or facility.
Why Should You Travel With Nomad Health?
Traditional staffing agencies rely on cold calls, hidden pay rates, and recruiters who don’t always understand clinical work.
Nomad does things differently:
No recruiters. No cold calls.
Transparent weekly pay listed up front
Search and apply directly on your own terms
Full clinical support from experienced clinicians
Credentialing and licensing help every step of the way
Thousands of travel clinicians have already made the switch – and many more are now finding their ideal travel cardiac sonographer jobs through Nomad.
Lifestyle as a Travel Cardiac Sonographer
Travel echo techs have the freedom to shape their careers around their lifestyle. Depending on your goals, you can:
Stay in one city for multiple back-to-back contracts or move frequently
Take breaks between contracts to recharge or travel
Bring a partner, family member, or pet along
Experience new hospitals, teams, and technologies
Spend weekends exploring – from national parks to foodie destinations to small-town gems
FAQs: Travel Vascular Interventional Radiology Tech Jobs
- Most facilities require either ARDMS (RDCS) or CCI (RCS, RCCS, or ACS) certification, along with BLS certification. Many travel assignments also prefer ACLS. Final credential requirements are determined by the hiring facility, so always check the job posting before applying.
- Often, yes. Travel cardiac sonographer jobs typically offer higher weekly pay than permanent staff cardiac sonographers, especially in high-demand states or specialty areas like pediatric and congenital echocardiography. Actual compensation varies based on the facility, location, and type of assignment.
- The standard length for a travel echo tech contract is 13 weeks. Many contracts include options to extend or renew, allowing you to stay longer at a facility if both you and the hospital agree.
- Most travel positions require 1–2 years of recent, full-time echocardiography experience. However, some hospitals may consider strong early-career sonographers who demonstrate exceptional skills and readiness for independent practice.
- In most states, no license is required to practice as a cardiac sonographer. Currently, only a few states - New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon - mandate licensure. If you're pursuing a travel assignment in one of these states, Nomad Health provides credentialing support to help you meet all requirements.
- Getting started is simple: 1. Create a free profile on Nomad Health (takes just minutes). 2. Filter jobs by the certifications you hold (ARDMS or CCI) to see the assignments you qualify for. 3. Search, view pay up front, and apply directly online - no recruiter calls required