Echocardiography
This certificate provides education to prepare competent entry level adult Cardiac Sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for General or Vascular Credentialed Sonographers currently working in the field of ultrasound.
This is a G3 program. Students may qualify for free tuition, fees, and books.
Area of Interest
Program
Credit Hours
Program Information
The Career Studies Certificate in Adult Echocardiography will prepare competent entry-level Adult echocardiography technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. This program can be completed in four semesters.
Occupational Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a sonographer uses equipment that emits sound waves to penetrate through body tissue (www.bls.gov). The sound waves reverberate back to create a computerized image of the body tissue. Echocardiographers are thus the specially trained technologist who work with the cardiovascular system. According to the U.S. Department of Labor and EMSI data, employment of sonographers nationally and in our service region is projected to grow faster than average for other occupations through 2024. The average salary for employees in this field is approximately $24.31 per hour ($50,564 annually). Experienced vascular technicians can earn an average of $34 per hour ($70,720). As imaging technology evolves, medical facilities will continue to use ultrasound to replace more invasive and costly procedures. Sonographers with specialized credentials in more than one modality, e.g. Vascular Technology, will have a competitive advantage over other sonographers without this additional training.
Compliance Requirements: Successful completion of clinical compliance documentation, including criminal background check, drug screening, and immunization documentation, is required for clinical internships.
Admission Requirements
An eligible applicant must hold a current credential with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. No other criteria are required at this time.
Information Sessions
Attendance at an information session is required for eligibility to the Echocardiography program. Information regarding how your attendance will be recorded will be provided during the session. During the application process, students may be asked to provide the date that they attended the session or some other confirming information provided during the session. Information sessions will cover class expectations, success tips, student materials and supplies and class registration.
The following information sessions are scheduled for the Fall and Spring semesters:
- Tuesday, October 17, 2023 from 3:15-4:45pm via Zoom; register here
- Wednesday, November 15, 2023 from 3:15-4:45pm in Keats Science Building Room K209; register here
- Wednesday, December 13, 2023 from 12:30-2:00pm in Keats Science Building Room K209; register here
- Wednesday, January 17, 2024 from 1:00-2:30pm in Keats Science Building Room K209; register here
- Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 1:00-2:30pm in Keats Science Building Room K209; register here
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 1:00-2:30pm via Zoom; register here
Space is limited and registration is required for attendance. Please note the name used for registration must be the same name used for application submission. Students may reserve one spot only.
Apply for Admission
Applications are accepted through the Health and Life Sciences Application Portal. Hardcopy applications and applications received outside of the portal will not be considered for admission. Applying to other health sciences programs has no impact on an applicant’s qualifications for this program. Applications for previous years are not valid for current or future application years.
All applicants must be current PVCC students to begin their health sciences application. If you are not a current PVCC student, please click the “Apply Now” link at the top of this page and complete a VCCS/PVCC application.
The Echocardiography program will be offered in Fall 2024. This page will be updated when next year's application has been scheduled to open.
Sign into the Health and Life Sciences Application Portal to begin your application.