Cardiovascular Sonography

In echocardiography, students are trained to determine the pathology of the heart; monitor flow patterns; and evaluate heart valves, EKG patterns, and the cardiac cycle. In vascular technology, students are trained to determine arterial and venous pathology in the peripheral, abdominal, and cerebrovascular systems. Students attend didactic lecture courses and scan lab courses for the full 15 months of the program; students attend clinical rotations for 12 months of the program. Students attend clinical rotations across S.C. and train in facilities including inpatient and outpatient facilities, Trauma I hospital systems, cath labs, and vascular surgery centers. 

The cardiovascular sonographer is a skilled member of the diagnostic health care team. Cardiovascular sonographers work closely with cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and vascular and cardiac surgeons. The sonographer must possess in-depth knowledge of ultrasonographic physics, human anatomy, physiology, and pathology. The sonographer's primary job is direct patient care, which necessitates excellent interpersonal skills.

Procedures are performed with real-time B-mode, M-mode, and Doppler instrumentation, utilizing a transducer assembly against the anatomical part of the interest and recording the images with ancillary devices. Noninvasive peripheral vascular studies also utilize blood pressure cuffs, photoplethysmography and other devices for assessing hemodynamic properties.

This is a 15-month program. There is one program start date each year, which is in June, and the program is completed the following year in September.

All courses in the curriculum must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher in order to proceed to the next session.

Program Outline – Year 1

First Year

Summer  – Session I	Contact Hours	CEUS
Introduction to CVS	26	2.6
Introduction to CVS Scan Lab	52	5.2
Professional/Medical Ethics	26	2.6
Sonography Physics	52	5.2

Fall  – Session II	Contact Hours	CEUS
Echocardiography I	26	2.6
Vascular Sonography I	26	2.6
CVS Scan Lab I	52	5.2
Clinicals I	369	36.9

Program Outline – Year 2

Second Year

Spring  – Session Iii	Contact Hours	CEUS
Echocardiography II	26	2.6
Vascular Sonography II	26	2.6
CVS Scan Lab II	52	5.2
Clinicals II	477	47.7

summer  – Session Iv	Contact Hours	CEUS
Echo/Vascular III	26	2.6
EKG Testing	26	2.6
Registry Review	26	2.6
Clinicals III	486	48.6

Admissions Requirements

Changes to Admissions Policy

Our admissions procedure has changed from previous years. We no longer have rolling admissions and will no longer transfer offers of acceptance from year to year. Students must provide the $25 application fee should they decide to reapply for the next year.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration into the program the student must have successfully completed at least one of the following:

An Associate Degree (60 Hours) - two-year Allied Health Care program with direct patient contact (must include a clinical internship/externship). Allied Health occupations include, but are not limited to, radiologic technologist, respiratory therapist, paramedic, occupational therapist, physical therapist and registered nurse.

OR

A Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.) - any major.

Successful completion of three prerequisite courses (listed below) before the program start date in June. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” or higher. These three courses must be less than three years old from the year of the program start date. If they were taken more than three years prior, students must retake these courses.

Prerequisite Courses

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 credit hours
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 credit hours
• Medical Terminology 3 credit hours

Students can be interviewed/accepted on a probationary status if they are completing their degree and/or prerequisite courses the spring semester before the program start date. Full acceptance will be pending on all completion of all required coursework.

Additional Information

• The 15-month program begins each summer and concludes in September of the following year. The priority registration deadline is January 1. Applications are accepted until January 30, pending space availability.
• Those applicants who are currently completing their degree studies may apply and become accepted on a probationary status, pending proof of completion of the necessary courses prior to the June program start date. Those who do not provide this proof prior to the beginning of the first class will not be eligible to proceed. 
• Foreign applicants must meet certain academic admission requirements and should contact the program manager's office to ensure eligibility for the program. Students who do not use English as their first language may have to demonstrate proficiency in the English language before being accepted into the program. 
• As part of the admission requirement, all applicants must have their official transcripts forwarded to the program director's office.
• The program may accept up to eight students per program year in each area, general Diagnostic Medical sonography and Cardiovascular sonography. 
• Students in this program are involved in their professional course work and clinical education rotations for a minimum of 35 hours per week. Full-time work outside of the program requirements is strongly discouraged. 
• Students will interact with sick and injured patients of all ages and conditions. Rotations will involve three or more affiliate hospitals and offices in order to provide the student with the most comprehensive clinical education and experience. This requires traveling throughout the state of South Carolina. All clinical schedules are made in advance, per semester, so students can schedule their outside activities accordingly. 
• Students must be of a physical and emotional state that will allow them to meet all clinical objectives which involve the moving of patients, equipment, and communicating with patients and other medical staff. 
• The students will adhere to a prescribed dress code while in the clinical rotations and classes, as well as follow policies and procedures set forth by the program to properly educate students to the hospital setting. Students must wear scrub uniforms during all classes and clinical rotations.
• Attendance requirements for class and clinical rotations are much more stringent than the overall college's policy. More than two violations of dress, attendance, or professionalism policies will not be tolerated and are grounds for dismissal from the program.
• Students must be certified in adult and infant BLS for Healthcare upon entering the program AND are responsible for maintaining certification during the program.
• Students must submit a background check and clean drug screening prior to the start date of the program. The background check must be clean for the past 10 years.
• Students are responsible for receiving all titers and vaccinations required by hospital clinical sites before they begin clinical rotations in the fall semester. These include, but are not limited to: MMR, Hep B titers, Quantiferon Gold (TB) test or chest X-ray if necessary, flu shot, TDAP, and COVID-19. Please note that these vaccinations are mandatory and cannot be declined to participate in the program. Instructions for completing vaccine requirements are given to the students AFTER they are accepted in to the program. It is not required to complete vaccines/titers before the program start date.

Application Process

Prospective students must apply for admission to the Cardiovascular program by completing the steps below.

This is a 15-month program. There is one program start date each year, which is in June. The deadline for priority registration is January 1. After this date, applications will be accepted until January 30, pending space availability.

Step 1:

Download application and mail along with a $25 non-refundable application fee to:

Continuing Education Department
Attention: Sonography Program
Midlands Technical College
PO Box 2408
Columbia SC 29202 

Include with your application: a copy of any professional certification for verification (ARRT card as an example), if you have been previously certified.

Step 2:

Official college transcripts showing a completed undergraduate degree and the three prerequisites are required. They must be mailed to the same address as above. Official e-transcripts are also accepted, and can be emailed to cantwellk@midlandstech.edu.

Step 3:

A minimum of 2 letters of reference are required with the application packet. Forward all letters of reference to the same mailing address or email address above.

After You Apply

Applicants will be placed on the qualified list to be interviewed once ALL information has been received. Applications received without the $25 fee will not be processed and the applicant will not be contacted.

Once a student has met the preliminary admissions requirements he/she will be required to attend a mandatory Program Information Session and complete a job shadowing. These are conducted in the early spring term. Upon completion of those two requirements, the student will then be invited to interview with the committee in late spring. Job shadowing prior to the Information Session is strongly encouraged, if it possible for the applicant to complete on their own.

The student must pass the formal interview for acceptance. The interview score is averaged by the committee members and a minimum number of points must be achieved for acceptance. 

All students are required to have a clean background check for 10 years, and a clear drug screening. The forms will be distributed once the student has been accepted into the program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The course cost for 2023-24 is $11,865.00.

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