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What is a Cardiovascular Technologist?
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An Echocardiographer/Cardiac Sonographer performs diagnostic examinations and therapeutic interventions of the heart and/or blood vessels using ultrasound technology. The Cardiac Sonographer provides direct patient care and may work in the hospital echocardiography lab, in private cardiology, diagnostic imaging clinics, or in mobile imaging companies. Learn more about these careers at www.cci-online.org , or www.asecho.org The Cardiovascular Technology Program is accredited by CAAHEP, upon the recommendation of Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology.
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Length of Program
Semester Program Begins
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4 semesters (not including prerequisite courses); Program courses must be taken in sequence within the prescribed time frame
Fall Semester; Full time; Day classes only
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| General Admission Application Process |
- Apply to Gwinnett Technical college at. www.gwinnetttech.edu, submit all transcripts from high school and previous college work, and take the ACCUPLACER test, if required (You must be accepted into Gwinnett Tech prior to applying to a program of study.)
- Applicants are initially accepted into the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program while completing the required prerequisite courses
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| Program Application Process |
- All applicants are required to submit a program application packet after completing all requirements (prerequisite and ATI TEAS Exam). Program packet forms are available online at http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/.
- For Fall semester admission, the program application, TEAS for Allied Health Exam (minimum score accepted is 80%) and all prerequisites must be completed by June 8th with a 3.2 GPA.
- Top applicants will be required to attend a mandatory meeting in person at the Lawrenceville Campus during the 3rd week of June. The exact date will be stated in the program application packet.
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Prerequisite Courses
(3.2 GPA minimum)
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All of the following by deadline: |
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*Courses may not be more than 5 years old at time of program application.
**Courses may not be more than 10 years old at time of program application.
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| Additional Required Courses* |
PSYC 1101 -Introduction to Psychology
FYES 1000 - First Year Experience
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One of the following: |
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*Additional Required Courses - recommended that courses are taken prior to program start date, but can be taken during program. See advisor for more information. Transfer students with 30 + transferrable credit hours will be exempt from taking FYES 1000.
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| Competitive Admissions |
Acceptance into the Echocardiography Technology program is based on : Overall GPA, prerequisite GPA on all attempts, and TEAS exam score.
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| Program Costs and Requirements |
In addition to tuition and lab fees, students will need uniform scrubs, shoes, books, liability insurance, criminal background check and drug screen; immunizations for clinical rotations, exam fees for certification and clinical software. More cost may be added as program is developed.
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| For more information: |
Josh Vejar, Program Support Specialist, Health Sciences Department,
JVejar@Gwinnetttech.edu or 678-226-6404 or Building 200, Room 212, of the Lawrenceville Campus |
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Information Sessions
Everyone is welcome to attend our information session held on the 1st Thursday of each month*
at 4:00 p.m. in building 200, Room 160, Lawrenceville Campus.
*There will not be an information session in July and December*
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Quick Facts
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| 2021 Median pay* |
$75,380 per year/ $39.26 per hour |
| Entry level education |
Associate degree |
| Number of jobs, 2020* |
75,900 |
| Job growth, 2020-2030 |
14% (much faster than average) |
Nature of the Work
Cardiovascular technologists assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments. Technologists may specialize in different areas of practice: invasive cardiology or non-invasive (echocardiography).
Invasive cardiology (Cardiac Catheterization). CVTs work with physicians to perform cardiac catheterization procedures in which a small tube, or catheter, is threaded through a patient’s peripheral artery to the heart. These tests are used to diagnose a wide variety of cardiac and vascular disease. If diagnosed, technologists will assist the physician in treatment of the disease. Some of these procedures may involve balloon angioplasty, pacemaker insertion, and stent placement.
Non-Invasive cardiology (Echocardiography). Technologists who use ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels are referred to as cardiac sonographers, or echocardiographers. They use ultrasound instrumentation to create images called echocardiograms that are used to visualize and measure cardiac and vascular structures and function. These tests are used to diagnose a wide variety of cardiac and vascular disease.
Work Environment
Echocardiographers spend a lot of time walking and standing. Heavy lifting may be involved to move equipment or transfer patients.Work environments may vary depending on location. In 2021, most echocardiographers worked in hospitals. Sonography uses non- ionizing radiation technology, which is generally considered safe. In some environments cardiac sonographers may have the potential for radiation exposure. In addition, those who use sonography can be at an increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back strain, and eye strain. Technologists generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week that may include weekends. They also may be on call during the night and on weekends.
Employment
Echocardiographers held about 75,900 jobs in 2021. About 60 percent of jobs were in hospitals (public and private), primarily in cardiology departments. The remaining jobs were mostly in offices of physicians, including cardiologists, or in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers. Employment of cardiac sonographers is expected to increase 14 percent through the year 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Earnings
The median annual wage for cardiac sonographers was $75,380 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,640, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $101,650. Median annual wages of echocardiography technologists and technicians in 2021 were $77,760 in offices of physicians and $77,770 in hospitals.
Research the Career
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2019-20 Edition, Diagnostic Medical Sonographersand Cardiovascular Technologistsand Technicians,IncludingVascularTechnologists,ontheInternet at
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm (visited May 4, 2022).
Gwinnett Tech does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status. For compliance concerns, contact Lisa Richardson, Section 504/ADA, Title IX and Equity Coordinator, at lrichardson@gwinnetttech.edu, 678-226-6691, Building 100, Office 407.
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