Program Overview

Certificate in Cardiovascular Sonography

The Certificate in Cardiovascular Sonography is a 21-month program that combines didactic coursework with hands-on clinical applications. Students spend 30 to 40 hours each week at clinical affiliates, benefiting from the wide variety of diagnostic examinations conducted at The University of Kansas Health System and affiliated clinical sites.

Overview

The curriculum incorporates detailed, structured, and comprehensive coursework, teaching students to use independent judgment in acquiring diagnostic information. The program offers two concentration areas:

• Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Technology: Students can become credentialed as Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers (RDCS) and Registered Vascular Technologists (RVT) through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or as Registered Cardiac Sonographers (RCS) and Registered Vascular Specialists (RVS) through Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
• Adult and Pediatric Echocardiography: Students can become credentialed as Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers (RDCS) with a specialty in pediatric echocardiography (PE) through ARDMS or as Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographers (RCCS) through CCI.

Academic Requirements

• A bachelor's or associate's degree with an emphasis in science is preferred but not required.
• Students must complete a minimum of 8 hours of shadowing a cardiovascular sonographer, including 4 hours observing adult echocardiography and 4 hours of either pediatric echocardiography or vascular sonography.
• Prerequisite courses include:
  • College-level algebra
  • English or speech/oral communication
  • Human anatomy (B grade preferred)
  • Human physiology (B grade preferred)
  • Medical terminology
  • Physics
• An overall grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is required, with a minimum grade of "C" in each prerequisite course.

Health and Physical Requirements

• Good physical and mental health are essential for this field.
• Excellent visual acuity is necessary.
• Students must possess manual dexterity, sufficient hearing and speech ability, and good physical coordination.
• Physical or other disabilities are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Background Check and Drug Screen

• A background check is required, with a one-time fee paid directly to the company performing the investigation.
• Drug screening is required for activities in a clinical environment.

International Students

• Additional requirements and documentation are necessary for international students.
• Please review the information for international students before applying.

Coursework

• Adult Echocardiography: Students complete courses in patient care, physics, adult echocardiography, and clinical practicum.
• Pediatric Echocardiography: Students complete courses in pediatric echocardiography and clinical practicum.
• Vascular Technology: Students complete courses in vascular ultrasound and clinical practicum.

Technical Standards

• The program prepares candidates to practice cardiovascular sonography within organizations and businesses.
• Graduates require knowledge and skills to function in diverse practice settings.
• Technical standards identify the requirements for admission, retention, and graduation.
• Candidates must be able to perform the following:
  • Visual-auditory abilities
  • Sensory-motor abilities
  • Communication skills
  • Intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities
  • Behavioral and social attributes

Admission and Retention

• Technical standards are essential for admission, retention, and graduation.
• Candidates must meet the requirements set forth in the Technical Standards with or without reasonable accommodation.
• It is the responsibility of candidates needing accommodation to register with and provide documentation of their disability and specific functional limitations to the Academic Accommodations Office.