Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Vascular Sonography, Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC)

(CIP 51.0910)

Program Pre-requisites: Associate Degree or higher in sonography from an Accredited Institution. Prior education must include prerequisites listed in A.A.S. above. Must hold a current professional registry credential such as RDCS

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Degree: Advanced Technical Certificate Degree in either Adult Echocardiography, Pediatric Echocardiography, or Vascular Sonography

Purpose: The Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography Program offers a one-and-a-half-year curriculum to prepare those who already have a degree in sonography for a career in Adult Echocardiography, Pediatric Echocardiography, or Vascular Sonography which are branches of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Upon graduation, students will possess the skills necessary to perform ultrasound and related diagnostic exams of the heart and blood vessels. Echocardiographers and Vascular Sonographers practice in a variety of settings including hospitals, diagnostic centers, doctors’ offices, contract services, self-employment, sales, education, and research. The Advanced Technical Certificate Program is a condensed version of the A.A.S. option considering the student’s prior experience and training in allied healthcare. This program utilizes the same clinical sites all around the greater Houston - Galveston area. Graduates of this program may also earn their credentials by taking the national registry exam offered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).

This is not an entry-level certificate.

This program is accredited through the Joint Review Committee for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) which is under the umbrella of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 US Hwy 19 North, Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763, Tel: 727-210-2350. All three specialty tracks and both degree options are accredited.

1. Admission Requirements: Application Deadline May 15 - Application available online.
   1. To be considered for admission to the Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography Program in the Advanced Technical Certificate option, the applicant must:
      1. Have a high school diploma or GED certificate.
      2. Have an Associate degree or higher in sonography from an accredited institution with demonstration of program pre-requisites with a C or better: BIOL 2401 , BIOL 2402 , MATH 1314  or MATH 1332  and PHYS 1410 .
      3. Submit to the ACC registrar’s office official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
      4. Must have a current sonography credential such as RDCS, RDMS, RVT, RCCS, RCS, or RVS. Submit copy of current credential cards.
      5. Take the HESI A2 exam, score a 75 or better. Scores must be within 5 years of the time of application. Required sections: Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary & Knowledge, Grammar, and Anatomy & Physiology.
      6. Attend DCVS information session.
      7. Complete and submit the application to the Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography Program using the checklist provided in the application packet to ensure all components are included.
      8. Students who are in progress with prerequisites during the application period may still apply; however, prerequisites must be completed with grade or C or better prior to application deadline. Professor must send an email indicating progress/status in prerequisite to sonography@alvincollege.edu. Students in progress may be accepted with contingency that prerequisite courses are passed with grade C or better.
   2. Requirements to be completed after initial acceptance and before the start of the program:
      1. Pass a criminal background check, drug screen and physical exam.
      2. Provide up-to-date immunizations as required by the Texas Department of Health and clinical affiliates: MMR, TDaP, Varicella, Hepatitis B (complete series), seasonal flu, and annual TB skin test. Positive titers are required for rubella, varicella, and Hepatitis B. History of disease is NOT accepted.
      3. Provide CPR certification from American Heart Association: Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers.
      4. Attend mandatory DCVS Program Orientation.
   3. Transfer Students
      1. Meet the above admission criteria.
      2. Have a grade of C or better in all curses being transferred into the DCVS curriculum. Sonography course(s) will be considered only if the course contains similar content with comparable credit and contact hours (classroom, laboratory and clinical) to the course offered at ACC.
      3. Provide the DCVS department with a description and syllabus of each sonography course being considered for transfer.
      4. Transfer may only be accepted if the prior Sonography program enrollment was within the past year. Any DCVS course completed more than one (1) year prior to the time the student is accepted will require demonstration of retention of knowledge and skills before being accepted for transfer.
      5. Must complete a minimum of 18 semester credit hours at ACC in order to graduate.
      6. Course substitution approval will follow current ACC guidelines as stated in the college catalog. WECM (technical) course substitutions will be reviewed by the DCVS Program Director and Dean.
      7. Only students who leave their previous school in good standing will be considered for admission to ACC. ACC DCVS program will not admit a student who was on probation, dismissal, or withdrawn due to unprofessional or unsafe practices. ACC DCVS program will not admit a student who has 2 previous unsuccessful attempts in the prior Sonography program courses.
      8. Transfer students will only be considered if there is availability within the current cohort.
2. Prior Learning Assessment Opportunity: See Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Adult Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Pediatric Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Vascular Sonography, A.A.S.  
3. Auditing: See Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Adult Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Pediatric Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Vascular Sonography, A.A.S.  
4. Get a Head Start: See Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Adult Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Pediatric Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Vascular Sonography, A.A.S.  
5. Progression Policies: See Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Adult Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Pediatric Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Vascular Sonography, A.A.S.  
6. Readmission Policies: See Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Adult Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Pediatric Echocardiography, A.A.S. , Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, Vascular Sonography, A.A.S.  

Statutory law (Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53) requires the Alvin Community College nursing and allied health programs to notify prospective applicants and future healthcare professionals a licensing/credentialing authority may suspend or revoke a license/credential, disqualify a person from receiving a license/credential, or deny to a person the opportunity to take a licensing/credentialing examination on the grounds that the person has been convicted of certain criminal behavior.