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Choose The Best CARDIAC SONOGRAPHER SCHOOL: A GuideTo Echocardiography Schools

September 26, 2018 by discoverecho

The Best Cardiac Sonographer Schools: A Complete Guide To Choosing An Echocardiography School

 

Congratulations on showing interest in becoming a cardiac sonographer.  When I first became interested in echocardiography I did the same thing you’re doing right now. I went online to look for the best accredited cardiac sonographer school.

And that’s exactly what this article is for! To help you find accredited sonography schools that specialize in echocardiograpy.

If you’re interested in more information on how to become a cardiac sonographer, or an echo tech as our occupation is also known as, check out my post, How To Become A Cardiac Sonographer: The Ultimate Guide.  The hope is that you will have all your questions answered regarding what’s required to become a echo tech.

 

Why A Career in Echocardiography Is A Great Choice

I believe that a career in healthcare is still a great path to choose, especially a career in cardiac sonography.  

I’ve been a cardiac sonographer for 12 years and have not regretted the decision even once. It’s been a wonderful career. I’ve been part of a team that has helped a countless number of patients.  

The good news about echocardiography is that there is still a great need for high quality sonographers, and the trend continues to move in that direction.  There has never been a better time to choose a career in ultrasound.

The work is rewarding and the pay is good.  You are making a great decision.

Now the next thing to do is find an accredited echocardiography program that is a good fit for you!

 

Echocardiography Schools

There are a lot of echocardiography training programs to choose from when it comes to finding a good school.  But there are a few very important things to look for in a cardiac sonographer school.

 

What To Look For In A Top Cardiac Sonographer School

  • Is the Echocardiography program accredited?
  • What kind of degrees does the echocardiography training program offer?
  • How long is the echocardiography program?
  • Is it an online echocardiography course?
  • Is the program accredited? (Yes, I’m saying it again!)

Is The Echocardiography Program Accredited?

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is an organization that specifically accredits health science programs including echocardiograpy.

The CAAHEP performs a very detailed and in depth review of the cardiac sonography program  in order to make sure that the it meets the minimum standards of the industry. Accreditation helps to ensure that students who graduate the echo program are well equipped to enter the field of echocardiography.

In my experience, accreditation is also very helpful when it comes to the hiring process. More and more hospitals and clinics either highly prefer or even require that their prospective employees graduate from and accredited cardiac ultrasound program.

 

What Degrees Or Certificates Does The Echocardiography Training Program Offer?

Not all cardiac sonography training programs offer the same level of education. That’s why it’s important to know exactly what kind of degree or certificate you’ll walk away with.  

Some cardiac sonography certificate programs offer just that…a certificate.  While others will offer you an associates degree, a bachelor’s degree or even a masters degree.  

The nice thing to know, however, is that regardless of what level of education you receive from your echocardiography school, there are many schools out there that will allow you to receive an even higher level of education while you work as an echocardiographer.

 

How Long Is The Echocardiography Program?

This kind of goes hand in hand with what level of education you receive, except there may be one major thing you want to consider.  

Many cardiac ultrasound schools will hold classes year round. That means you would have classes or clinicals to attend throughout the summer in addition to the fall, spring and winter.

This can play a major factor in the decision making process in deciding which is the top cardiac ultrasound program for you.

 

Is It An Online Echocardiography Course?

When I was looking at echocardiography programs, I didn’t have to worry so much about this, as there weren’t any online echocardiography courses available at that time.

But times have changed, and now online echocardiography courses are an option for many people.

So be sure to keep this in mind when planning out your educational path.

 

The Best Cardiac Sonographer Schools

As I mentioned, there are many cardiac sonographer schools to choose from. All you need to decide is which one fits best for you and your needs.

With that said, here is a list of some of the top cardiac sonographer schools that I think you should at least take a closer look at.  

We’ll start with the best online programs.

For a complete list of accredited cardiac sonographer schools, you can go to the CAAHEP website and find a list there.

(The below information was obtained from the CAAHEP website)

 

Accredited Cardiac Sonography Programs ONLINE

 

Washburn University

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Cardiac

Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Cardiac Program

1700 SW College Ave.

Topeka, KS 66621

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 9/15/2006

Degrees: Certificate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Keith Farwell MHSc, RDCS, CPTA

Phone: (785) 670-2293

keith.farwell@washburn.edu

 

Jackson College

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Cardiac

Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Cardiac Program

2111 Emmons Road

Jackson, MI 49201

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 11/19/2004

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Lindsay Mercer BS, RDCS

Phone: (517) 796-8529

mercerlindsayl@jccmi.edu

 

State Fair Community College

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Cardiac

Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Cardiac Program

3201 W 16th Street

Sedalia, MO 65301

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 3/16/2018

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes Unavailable

Program Director: Alice Townsend MBA, RDMS, RVT

Phone: (660) 596-7420

atownsend2@sfccmo.edu

 

Cardiac Sonographer Schools That Are NOT Online

The following cardiac sonographer schools offer certificates and/or associates degrees.

 

Grossmont College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

8800 Grossmont College Drive

El Cajon, CA 92020

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 1/19/1989

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Liz Barrow BA, RCIS, CEPS

Phone: (619) 644-7302

liz.barrow@gcccd.edu

 

Orange Coast College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

2701 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa, CA 92628

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 4/19/2002

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Darryl Isaac MEd, BA, RDCS, RCCS, FASE

Phone: (714) 432-5549

disaac@occ.cccd.edu

 

Arkansas Tech University

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

1700 Helberg Lane

Ozark, AR 72949

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 3/20/2015

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Kristen Wendling BS, RDCS, RDMS

Phone: (479) 209-6130

kwendling@atu.edu

 

Florida State College at Jacksonville-Yulee

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

76346 William Burgess Blvd

Yulee, FL 32097

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 7/31/2014

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Christie Jordan BS, RDCS, RCS, RCIS, FASE

Phone: (904) 548-1709

chjordan@fscj.edu

 

International College of Health Sciences

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

2300 South Congress Avenue

Ste 105

Boynton Beach, FL 33426

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 9/16/2016

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes Unavailable

Program Director: Brian Dillmon BS, RDMS, RVT

Phone: (561) 202-6333

bdillmon@ichs.edu

 

Santa Fe College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

3000 NW 83rd Street

Building W, Room 201

Gainesville, FL 32606

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 10/18/2002

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Sharon Whitcraft MA, RVT, RVS, RCS

Phone: (352) 395-5702

sharon.whitcraft@sfcollege.edu

 

Augusta Technical College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

University Hospital/Harry T Harper

1350 Walton Way

Augusta, GA 30915

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 10/23/1994

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Patricia Thomas RCIS, BS, MBA

Phone: (706) 774-5044

pthomas@uh.org

 

Central Georgia Technical College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

3300 Macon Tech Drive

Macon, GA 31206

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 3/20/2015

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Deana Harkins RCIS

Phone: (478) 757-3667

deharkins@centralgatech.edu

 

Gwinnett Technical College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

5150 Sugarloaf Parkway

Lawrenceville, GA 30043

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 9/20/2013

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Kristen Buoy RCIS, RRT

Phone: (678) 226-6334

kbuoy@gwinnetttech.edu

 

Piedmont College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

743 Spring Street NE

Gainesville, GA 30501

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 5/19/2017

Degrees: Certificate

Program Outcomes Unavailable

Program Director: Paul Braum BS, RDCS, RCS, RVT, RVS, ACS, FASE

Phone: (770) 534-2020 Ext -1604

Paul.Braum@nghs.com

 

South Suburban College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

15800 S State St

South Holland, IL 60473

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 11/17/2017

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Zubeir Haroun MD, RDCS, MPH

Phone: (708) 596-2000 Ext -2038

zharoun@ssc.edu

 

Kirtland Community College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

4800 W Four Mile Rd

Grayling, MI 49738

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 9/20/2013

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: James Eastman BS, ARDMS(AE), ARRT(RT)

Phone: (989) 705-3604

james.eastman@kirtland.edu

 

American Institute of Medical Science and Education

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

4500 New Brunswick Ave

Piscataway, NJ 08845

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 7/21/2016

Degrees: Certificate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Kalpana Mahatpure BS, RDCS, RVT, RDMS (Ab, OB/GYN)

Phone: (908) 222-0002

Kalpana@aimseducation.edu

 

Eastern International College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

684 Newark Ave

Jersey City, NJ 07306

United States of America

Satellite Locations/Multiple Campuses

Belleville, NJ

 

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 9/18/2015

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes Unavailable

Program Director: Shahida Qureshi MD, RDCS, RVT, ARDMS

Phone: (201) 216-9901

Shahada.qureshi@eicollege.edu

 

Eastwick College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

10 South Franklin Turnpike

Ramsey, NJ 07446

United States of America

Satellite Locations/Multiple Campuses

Nutley, New Jersey

 

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 11/15/2013

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes Unavailable

Program Director: Lisa DiLauri BS, RDCS, RCS. RVS, CCT, FASE

Phone: (201) 357-8199

ldilauri@eastwick.edu

 

Molloy College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

1000 Hempstead Ave

Rockville Centre, NY 11571

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 10/19/2001

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Michael J Hartman MS, RDMS, RVT, RT(R)

Phone: (516) 323-3388

mhartman@molloy.edu

 

Central Piedmont Community College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

PO Box 35009

Charlotte, NC 28235

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 5/15/2009

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Sabrina Black BS, RDCS, FASE

Phone: (704) 330-6285

sabrina.black@cpcc.edu

 

Harrisburg Area Community College-Lancaster Campus

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

1641 Old Philadelphia Pike

Office 207-D East Building

Lancaster, PA 17602

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 8/16/2006

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Kristy Werkheiser MEd, RT(R)(M), RCIS, CCT

Phone: (717) 358-2872

kjwerkhe@hacc.edu

 

Piedmont Technical College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

620 North Emerald Road

Office 103GC

Greenwood, SC 29646

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 7/18/2013

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes Unavailable

Program Director: Laura Boone RDCS, RVT, RDMS, RT(R)

Phone: (864) 941-8717

boone.l@ptc.edu

 

Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

2435 Forest Dr

Columbia, SC 29204

United States of America

Status: Probation

Effective Date: 7/13/2017

Initial Accreditation Date: 10/17/2003

Degrees: Certificate

Program Outcomes Unavailable

Program Director: Daniel Chambers RDCS, RCT

Phone: (803) 256-5743

daniel.chambers@providencehospitals.com

 

Southeast Technical Institute

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

2320 North Career Avenue

Sioux Falls, SD 57101

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 10/21/1995

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Pamela Boyd BS, RVT, RDCS

Phone: (605) 367-4634

Pam.Boyd@southeasttech.edu

 

Northeast State Community College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

Cardiovascular Technology Program

2425 Highway 75

Blountville, TN 37617

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 5/18/2007

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Angie Slone RCIS

Phone: (423) 354-5505

alslone@northeaststate.edu

 

El Centro College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

Main and Lamar

Dallas, TX 75202

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 7/21/2000

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Catherine Carolan RDCS, RDMS, RVT

Phone: (214) 860-2310

cmc5540@dcccd.edu

 

Hill College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

2112 Mayfield Parkway

Cleburne, TX 76033

United States of America

Status: Initial

Initial Accreditation Date: 1/21/2016

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Julie Britain BS, RDCS, RCS

Phone: (817) 760-5936

jbritain@hillcollege.edu

 

Sentara College of Health Sciences

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

1441 Crossways Blvd

Suite 105

Chesapeake, VA 23320

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 10/17/1997

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Megan Hunsinger EdD, MS, RCIS, RCES, FSICP

Phone: (757) 388-7467

mhunsinger@sentara.edu

 

Spokane Community College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

1810 North Greene Street

MS 2090

Spokane, WA 99217

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 7/20/1989

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Scott Cutler BS, RDCS, RVT, RDMS

Phone: (509) 533-7309

scott.cutler@scc.spokane.edu

 

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Cardiovascular Technology

Adult Echocardiography

Cardiovascular Technology – Adult Echocardiography Program

700 West State St

Milwaukee, WI 53233

United States of America

Status: Continuing

Initial Accreditation Date: 1/23/2004

Degrees: Associate

Program Outcomes

Program Director: Erwin Wuehr BS, CP

Phone: (414) 297-8517

wuehre@matc.edu

 

What Is Echocardiography?

Echocardiography has become a very important exam that’s widely used in hospitals and clinics all around the world. Echocardiography is used to help diagnose, manage and follow a variety of patients who are suspected to have or are known to have heart disease.

Echocardiograms are, without a doubt, one of the most widely used diagnostic tests in all of cardiology. Echo results can provide a wealth of useful information, including the size and shape of the heart (internal chamber size quantification), pumping capacity, and the location and extent of any tissue damage.

Echocardiograms give physicians the information they need to estimate heart function, such as a calculation of the cardiac output, ejection fraction, and diastolic function (how well the heart relaxes).

 

Conclusion

Again, congradulations on making what I believe to be one of the best decisions…to become a cardiac sonographer!  If you have any questions at all about what its like to be a cardiac sonographer, please don’t hesitate to contact me and ask.

Best of luck to you!

 

Related Posts:

1. How To Become A Cardiac Sonographer

2. The 2D Echo Exam: What To Expect During Your Heart Ultrasound

3. 3 Best Free Echocardiography CME Websites

4. How Much Does An Echocardiogram Cost: Updated 2018 ECHO TEST COST

5. Electrocardiogram vs Echocardiogram: What Is The Difference

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