The Echocardiography program is a technical program designed to prepare students for work in the allied health field as Echocardiographers. The program offers both clinical and didactic instruction. Upon completion of the Echocardiography program, the student is eligible for a national certification examination.
Employment Opportunities
Successful completion of this program should enable graduates to pursue job opportunities in several diagnostic imaging areas such as hospitals, imaging centers, medical research universities and physicians’ offices.
Accreditation
The Echocardiography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS, www.jrcdms.org). CAAHEP may be contacted at 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, Phone 727.210.2350.
Licensure/Certification
Graduates of the Echocardiography program must pass either the American Registry of Cardiac Sonographers examination or the Non-Invasive/Echo Registry examination given by Cardiovascular Credentialing International to become a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer.
Admissions Criteria
- Submit a completed application and application fee;
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Submit official high school transcript or GED transcript;
- Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
- Echocardiography is a competitive admissions program. Please refer to page 19 for more information.
- Meet the following assessment requirements:
| Test |
Reading |
Writing |
Numerical |
Algebra |
| Accuplacer |
64 |
70 |
NA |
57 |
| Accuplacer (Next Gen) |
236 |
249 |
NA |
245 |
| Compass |
79 |
62 |
NA |
37 |
| SAT |
17 |
17 |
NA |
21 |
| SAT |
290 |
290 |
NA |
380 |
| ACT |
16 |
14 |
NA |
17 |
| ASSET |
42 |
41 |
39 |
42 |
| PSAT |
17 |
17 |
NA |
21 |
| GED |
NA |
145 |
NA |
145 |
Note: The number of students accepted into the Echocardiography program is based on the standards set by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS), which are based on the availability of the program’s clinical education settings. A non-discriminatory policy and a pregnancy policy are available upon request. If an applicant is not accepted into the program and wishes to try again, he/she must submit another application and meet all admission criteria with the exception of payment of application fee. Ten percent of program admission is reserved for qualified credentialed imaging professionals. State standards may require completion of additional courses. Transcripts must be evaluated prior to admission.
Readmission to Competitive Admission Programs
A student who voluntarily leaves or is dropped from a competitive admission program due to academic reasons, attendance, or having received a grade less than “C” in any program course will be limited to a one-time re-entry into the program.
A student seeking readmission to a competitive admission program must understand that readmission is granted on a competitive and space available basis, based on the program’s admission criteria, accreditation agency requirements, and clinical capacity. The student must meet current program admission requirements at the time of the readmission request.
A student who voluntarily leaves or is dismissed from a competitive admission program during the first semester of program classes must re-enter the competitive admissions process in order to be re-admitted.
A student who successfully completed at least one term of program classes must follow the steps below to request re-admission to the program:
- Submit a letter requesting readmission to the Director for Admissions.
- Upon approval from the Director for Admissions and confirmation that there is space available in the class, the student must demonstrate retention of materials/information taught in the last successfully completed semester.
- The student will take a written examination covering materials taught in previously taken coursework. The student must make a grade of 75 or better.
- The student will take skills tests covering competencies in the procedures learned in previously taken coursework. The student must make an 85 or better on the skills test. The number of skills tests will be determined by each Program Director.
Echocardiography Degree Curriculum
The curriculum for the Echocardiography associates degree program is designed for the semester system. Students will enter the program in the fall semester of the academic year. Prerequisite courses can be started in any semester but all core courses must be completed the spring semester prior to program entry. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 73 semester credit hours. The program requires a minimum of 2415 contact hours and generally takes 6 semesters to complete.
Program Courses
General Education Core (19 Credits)
Area I – Language Arts/Communication (3 Credits)
ENGL 1101: “C” or higher grade is required for this course.
Area II – Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 Credits)
PSYC 1101: “C” or higher grade is required for this course.
Area III – Natural Sciences/Mathematics (3 Credits)
Area IV – Humanities/Fine Arts (3 Credits)
Select one
NOTE: “C” or higher grade is required for all the above courses.
Program –Specific Requirements
NOTE: “C” or higher grade is required for all the above courses.
Non-General Education Degree Courses (8 Credits)
NOTE: “C” or higher grade is required for all the above courses.
Occupational Courses (46 Credits)
Select one (3 Credits)
NOTE: “C” or higher grade is required for all the above courses.
Required
CAVT 1030, DMSO 1040, DMSO 1080, ECHO 1100, ECHO 1310, ECHO 1320, ECHO 1370, ECHO 2360, ECHO 2370, and ECHO 2400: “C” or higher grade is required for these courses.
Program Costs
Tuition/Fees: $7,670
Books/Supplies: $2,000
Uniform Costs: Approximately $250
Liability Insurance: $10 per fiscal year
Registry Exam: $450
Physical Exam: $200
TB Test: $40
Tetanus vaccination (within last 10 years): $50
Hepatitis B Series: $265
Drug Screening: $30
Criminal Background Check: $39-$80
Course Supply Fees:
- CAVT 1030 Electrophysiology and Cardiac Anatomy: $30
- CAVT 1080 Advanced Hemodynamics & Cardiac Physiology: $30
- ECHO 1100 Echocardiography Fundamentals: $30
- ECHO 1310 Echocardiography I: $30
- ECHO 1320 Echocardiography II: $30
(Costs are estimates and are subject to change.)
Clinical Education
Number of Clinical Sites: 10
General Location of the Clinical Sites: Bulloch, Chatham, Glynn, Laurens, Tattnall, Toombs, Liberty and Ware Counties in Georgia, Hardeeville, and Varnville in South Carolina
Special Requirements of the Clinical Sites
- Current CPR Certification
- Immunization Records
- Liability Insurance
- 2 Step TB Test
- Hepatitis B vaccinations or Hepatitis B Titer
- Varicella Titer or proof of history of Varicella Titer or Chicken Pox vaccine
- Current Tetanus vaccination
- Physical examination
- Criminal Background Check
- Proof of Health Insurance (may vary by site)
Clinical Education Courses
The Echocardiography Program Clinical Education provides students with an opportunity for in-depth application and reinforcement of principles and techniques in cardiology departments and related business environments. The clinical practicum allows the student to become involved in a professional work situation applying technical skills. Students may not receive pay from the clinical site for clinical education hours. Student’s performance will be evaluated by the clinical preceptor and by program faculty.
Clinical Assignments
Echocardiography students will rotate through the clinical affiliates on a semester basis. Clinical assignments are scheduled during the first shift hours, Monday through Friday. Clinical schedules will be distributed at the beginning of each semester. Students may not choose which clinical affiliate they wish to attend.
The student is required to adhere to his/her assigned schedule at all times. No personal adjustments will be made to the clinical schedule, unless it is an extreme emergency. Changes in the clinical schedule must be requested in writing to the Clinical Coordinator. Only program faculty can approve changes in the clinical schedule.
Students may be asked to travel over one hour from Ogeechee Tech for clinical rotations. During clinical rotations, the student will be responsible for all transportation.