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Adult Echocardiography

The Adult Echocardiography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT).

Program Goals

Students will learn to become competent entry-level cardiac sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains, and they will be qualified to sit for national credentialing examinations. Graduates may work in a variety of allied healthcare settings, from large hospital centers to small outpatient clinics, performing diagnostic ultrasound examinations on the adult heart.

Curriculum

The Adult Echocardiography program is a 1-year, certificate-level program divided into three semesters 15-17 weeks in length—Fall, Spring and Summer. The cardiac sonographer training program consists of didactic classroom, hands-on laboratory and clinical externship experience with coursework designed to build upon previous courses.

Program Cost

The cost of the Adult Echocardiography program is $18,000 plus a $100 non-refundable application fee.  Program tuition includes:

  • All administrative fees, lab fees,

  • All required textbooks,

  • Baylor Scott & White laptop for school use (if needed, returned upon graduation),

  • Weekly meal card which can be used at all BSWH facilities with Freedom Pay readers, including hospital cafeterias, in-house La Madeline restaurants, and MiniMart facilities,

  • Four (4) sets of embroidered black hospital scrubs,

  • Embroidered school backpack

  • Examination fee for the Cardiovascular Credentialing International® (CCI) national credentialing examination for adult echocardiography.

 

We proudly accept the GI Bill® for eligible veterans and military-connected students.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Program - Specific Requirements

The application process for the Adult Echocardiography program is open to applicants who not only meet all of the General Admissions criteria but will also meet all of the following minimum requirements at least one week prior to the start of classes.

  • Completion of an associate degree from an accredited university or college in the United States, or equivalent foreign degree after conversion through the World Education Services (WES.org).

  • Bachelor’s and higher degrees in a health- or science-related field are preferred. Medical terminology is not required but recommended.

  • Minimum of six (6) hours total of Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Human Anatomy & Physiology II must be completed at an accredited college or university in the United States with a grade of “C” or better within the past 6 years. Exception to the 6-year rule may be made at the discretion of the Program Director.

  • It is required for students in the Adult Echocardiography program to take the national registry credentialing examination from Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI®) before the end of the summer semester. If you have a criminal background, it can be a barrier to taking the national registry examination, which will be a barrier for you to graduate from this program. Credentialing bodies such as CCI have rules indicating that they may act against an applicant, candidate, or registrant in the case of conviction, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere to any crime. CCI website: https://cci-online.org/

As a condition of the Living for Zachary Foundation Scholarship money, which is donated to the school every year in perpetuity to benefit the students with meal cards and other support, all Adult Echocardiography students are required to volunteer for at least one Living for Zachary Foundation event scheduled during the school year.  A representative from the Living for Zachary Foundation will coordinate these volunteer events and students will usually be scheduled in pairs.  These events have been both educational and fun for past students and involve heart screenings of local youth using cardiac sonography.

The Heart Hospital CVI Excellence Award

The Excellence Award Program at THH is designed to recognize graduates of programs offered by the THH Cardiovascular Institute (CVI). Eligible full-time, certified employees who work in the discipline they studied at THH CVI can receive a monetary award up to $5,250 per application period for students, with one taxable award allowed per year. For CVI graduates who become certified and remain in good standing, the award reimburses a portion of their tuition costs in phased payments over time, provided they stay employed at THH. If a certified graduate of a CVI program is not immediately employed upon graduation by THH but is hired within five years of graduation, they may petition The Heart Hospital Committee for the award to be paid to them. Employees with outstanding tuition loans at BHSCU must prioritize repaying those loans with their award funds. Applications are submitted annually, reviewed by a committee, and must include proof of enrollment or graduation. Recipients must remain employed and in good standing to continue receiving payments, and any rehire after leaving THH may require committee approval to reinstate the award.