Do We Need Both Career and Competency Frameworks for Sonographers?

ABSTRACT The sonography profession in Australia and New Zealand faces a chronic shortage of qualified medical sonographers, exacerbated by limited training capacity, an ageing workforce and a lack of career advancement opportunities. This shortage impacts patient care by increasing waiting times and potentially leading to poorer health outcomes. Whilst a competency framework exists, there is no career framework to guide career progression. This paper advocates for the development of a sonographer career framework to assist in addressing these issues. Such a framework would outline clinical and non‐clinical career growth and progression opportunities, supporting both individual and organisational development. By incorporating aspects such as supervision, teaching, leadership and research, the framework would provide a structured pathway for career advancement. It would also help standardise terminology and professional titles, ensuring consistency across the profession. The development of this framework could be achieved through consensus, expert opinion or research using a Delphi model. Ultimately, a robust career framework would enhance the sustainability of the sonography workforce, improve job satisfaction and ensure high‐quality patient care.