Echocardiography is the use of diagnostic ultrasound to examine the heart and blood vessels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Schools teach echocardiography, also called noninvasive cardiovascular technology, as part of a formal training program in cardiovascular technology. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs notes that there are 25 programs in the U.S. that focus on noninvasive cardiovascular technology. Although there are no schools that focus solely on echocardiography, two-year colleges and teaching hospitals offer training programs that include this field of study.
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
The Mayo Clinic's School of Health Sciences offers an 18-month program in echocardiography at both its Rochester, Minnesota clinic and its Scottsdale, Arizona location. The Rochester location is the headquarters for the program; classroom lectures happen "live" there, while students in Scottsdale view lectures via interactive video link. Topics of study are cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, special procedures, Doppler technology and ultrasound physics. Hands-on, clinical experiences throughout the 18-month training program give students a chance to practice what they learn in classroom lectures. Tuition for the program costs approximately $16,000, and additional costs for books, uniforms, lab fees, exam fees and health insurance contribute another $1,000 to $2,000.
Mayo School of Health Sciences
Echocardiography Program
Siebens 11
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
507-266-3799
www.mayo.edu
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg Area Community College, a two-year technical college in southeastern Pennsylvania, offers an associate's degree program in cardiac sonography that trains students in echocardiography. The six-semester program combines classroom lectures, laboratory work, field trips and clinical rotations woven throughout each semester. Students will balance classes in the humanities and social sciences along with in-depth coursework in cardiovascular pathophysiology, Doppler physics, anatomy and hemodynamics. Program costs range from $13,000 to approximately $18,000, depending on the student's residency status and sponsorship by an employer. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification registry examinations.
Harrisburg Area Community College
Lancaster Campus
1641 Old Philadelphia Pike
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-293-5000
www.hacc.edu
Northeast State Technical Community College
Part of Tennessee's community college system, Northeast State Technical Community College offers an associate's degree program in noninvasive cardiovascular technology. Students will learn echocardiography through a 2-year program that exposes them to topics, such as anatomy, physiology, cardiovascular diagnostic procedures, medical terminology, chemistry, physics and statistics. The program also combines elective classes in the humanities, rounding out the clinical aspects of training with coursework in composition, public speaking, psychology and fine arts. Clinical rotations in echocardiography labs in area hospitals provide a hands-on aspect to the training program. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive a degree in applied sciences and eligibility to take national examinations for certification and registry.
Northeast State Technical Community College
Cardiovascular Technology--Non-invasive
2425 Highway 75
P.O. Box 246
Blountville, TN 37617
423-323-3191
www.nstcc.cc.tn.us
Tags: cardiovascular technology, Area Community, Area Community College, classroom lectures, Community College
