2017-2018 Course Catalog & Student Handbook 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2017-2018 Course Catalog & Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Cardiovascular Technology AAS Program Fact Sheet


What is a Cardiovascular Technologist?

A cardiovascular technologist performs diagnostic examinations and therapeutic interventions of the heart and/or blood vessels. The CV tech provides direct patient care and may work in the hospital in-patient or outpatient cardiovascular catheterization labs or in industry sales and education positions.

Learn more about these careers at cci-online.org, or sicp.com. The Cardiovascular Technology program is accredited by CAAHEP, upon the recommendation of Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology.

Length of Program

4 semesters (not including prerequisite courses); Program courses must be taken in sequence within the prescribed time frame.

Semester Program Begins

Fall semester; Full time; Day classes only

General Admission Application Process
  1. Apply to Gwinnett Technical College at GwinnettTech.edu, submit all transcripts from high school and previous college work, and take the ACCUPLACER test, if required. Students must be accepted into Gwinnett Tech prior to applying to a program of study.
  2. Applicants are initially accepted into the Interdisciplinary Studies Associate Degree program with a concentration in Health Informatics while completing the required prerequisite courses.
Program Application Process
  1. All applicants are required to submit a Health Essay with their Cardiovascular Technology program packet. The Health Essay and program packets forms are available online at http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/.
  2. For fall semester admission, the program application, health essay and all prerequisites must be completed by May 20th.
Prerequisite Courses All of the following by deadline:
 
Additional Required Courses*
  One of the following:
 
 

*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 + transferable credit hours will be exempt from taking FYES 1000.
*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.

Competitive Admissions

Acceptance into the Cardiovascular Technology program is based on : Overall GPA, prerequisite GPA on all attempts, TEAS score and Health Science Essay.

Program Costs and Requirements

Uniform scrubs, shoes, books, liability insurance, criminal background check and drug screen; immunizations for clinical rotations, exam fees for certification. More cost may be added as program is developed.

For more information, contact: Tavia Thurmond, program support specialist for Health Imaging and Informatics
TThurmond@GwinnettTech.edu or 678-226-6404 or Building 200, Office Room 213, of the Lawrenceville campus.
   

Information Sessions
Everyone is welcome to attend our Information Session held the 1st Saturday of each month* at 9 a.m. in Building 200, Room 104, Lawrenceville Campus
*There will not be an Information Session in January

Like Us on Facebook at facebook.com/GTCCardioTech


Quick Facts
2016 Median pay*        $64,280 per year/ $30.90 per hour
Entry level education        Associate degree
Number of jobs, 2014*        112,700
Job growth 2015-2020        27,600

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

Cardiovascular technologists spend a lot of time walking and standing. Heavy lifting may be involved to move equipment or transfer patients. Those who work in catheterization laboratories may face stressful working conditions because they are in close contact with patients with serious heart ailments. Some cardiovascular technologists 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. Those in catheterization laboratories tend to work longer hours and may work evenings. They also may be on call during the night and on weekends.

Employment

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians held about 49,400 jobs in 2015. About 77 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 cardiovascular technologists is expected to increase 29 percent through the year 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Earnings

Median annual wages of cardiovascular technologists and technicians were $55,570 in May 2016. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $87,170. Median annual wages of cardiovascular technologists and technicians in 2008 were $48,590 in offices of physicians and $46,670 in hospitals.

Research the Career

Invasive Track: acp-online.org sicp.com
Echocardiography: asecho.org sdms.org
Credentials: cci-online.org ardms.org

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm (visited May 22, 2015).