Academic Associate of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography

The associate degree program in cardiovascular sonography at Smith Chason College features an up-to-date curriculum that combines online and in-person education, including hands-on experience in our lab settings and placement in a qualified externship. In our Associate Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography program, students will be taught: 

• Anatomy and Physiology 
• Medical Terminology 
• Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation 
• Cardiovascular Sonography 
• Vascular sonography 
• Diseases of the heart 
• Preventive and screening protocols 
• Electrocardiography (EKG) 
• Problem-solving techniques in the basic concepts and principles of physical science 
• Entry-level clinical knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the care of patients undergoing cardiac ultrasound procedures 
• Ethics and professionalism 
• Gain hands-on experience alongside your peers in on-campus ultrasound labs utilizing a variety of industry-standard ultrasound machines 

Our mission and values at Smith Chason College are about promoting the academic excellence and integrity of our graduates in a way that is supportive and contributes positively to our students’ lives. We are here for you, to get you the healthcare education you need for success. 

At Smith Chason College, our commitment to comprehensive education extends beyond the classroom. Through our externship and clinical programs, we integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience, empowering our students to thrive in their respective fields. Collaborating with hospitals and clinics nationwide, we offer hands-on learning opportunities under a mentor’s guidance. Whether aspiring to become proficient sonographers, MRI technologists, or healthcare professionals, our students gain invaluable real-life experience, supporting their goals to become exceptional practitioners prepared to meet the demands of their chosen profession. 

These experiences are typically conducted toward the end of the program, allowing students to apply their accumulated knowledge in real-world settings. Moreover, these opportunities often serve as a gateway to potential job opportunities, enabling students to forge connections and establish themselves within their chosen field even before graduation. At Smith Chason College, we believe in equipping our students with not only the requisite skills but also the practical experience and industry connections necessary to support them on their journey toward a successful career in healthcare. 

Program Objectives:

Graduates of the AAS Cardiovascular Sonography program will:

1. Apply knowledge of patient medical history, laboratory data and clinical indications to facilitate optimal diagnostic findings.
2. Provide patient education related to diagnostic testing and promote principles of good health.
3. Integrate knowledge of cross-sectional and relational anatomy with physiology, pathophysiology, and pathology, as it relates to appropriate sonographic image acquisition for accurate diagnosis by the interpreting physician.
4. Safely perform diagnostic exams using appropriate sonographic instrumentation techniques and proper sonographer ergonomics with patient positioning in a variety of clinical settings.
5. Exercise discretion, professional judgement, and ethical behavior when performing diagnostic services and communicating with patients and healthcare professionals.
6. Apply knowledge and skills to register and complete nationally recognized certification exams.

Class schedules are subject to change. Students will be notified of any change prior to the start of the quarter. Not all schedules are available at all campuses. Speak to an admissions representative to learn more about which schedules are available for your requested start date. 

Weekday/Weeknight:   

• Mornings: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM  
• Evenings: Monday through Friday, 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM 

Weekend:  

• Saturday – Sunday, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM  
• Friday – May be required 

All applicants must meet the Smith Chason College General Admissions Requirements and pass the entrance exam to be eligible for enrollment.

Entrance Exam  

All applicants for the Associates Cardiovascular Sonography program must pass the Wonderlic entrance exam with a minimum passing score of 25 at all College campuses.

About Tuition and Fees

Knowing what to expect is important when planning for your college education. We understand that this can be a big commitment for you in your life and for your finances. Combining quality with value is important and we aspire to give you both.

The current schedule of tuition and fees is included in the latest School Catalog under “Tuition and Fee Schedules”. The cost is dependent on the term and location; for exact financial information please contact your local representative.

See details about Tuition here

Financial Aid is available.

Smith Chason College is eligible to participate in federal financial assistance programs, California state aid programs, approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons, private student loans, and scholarships. Learn more about financial options available to those who qualify at Smith Chason College on our Financial Aid page

Diagnostic sonography utilizes ultrasound machines and imaging equipment, which use high-frequency sound waves to produce images of a patient’s internal organs and tissues. It’s a key way for doctors and physicians to diagnose what’s going on inside a patient’s body without having to resort to invasive and risky exploratory surgical procedures. Cardiovascular sonography — also called echocardiography — is a specialized area of this field, focusing on using ultrasound technology to take pictures of the heart muscles, heart valves, and blood flow. This can often result in the detection of complications, diseases, and cardiac abnormalities, allowing for more accurate diagnoses that could save lives. Some cardiac sonographers even work to identify congenital anomalies during pregnancy.

As an echocardiographer or cardiac sonographer, you’re trained to perform a wide range of tasks, depending on where you work and the kinds of patients you interact with. You’ll do things like: 

• Record the medical histories and information in patients’ medical charts 
• Answer any questions or concerns they have about the ultrasound 
• Prepare them and the equipment for the procedure 
• Clean and maintain your imaging equipment to ensure it’s working properly 
• Take ultrasounds and review the images to make sure you cover the whole area requested 
• Make note of any abnormalities you observe in the images and record those findings in patient records 
• Work with physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals to aid in diagnosis and treatment 

The path to becoming a cardiac sonographer starts with formal education through an accredited degree program, like the Cardiovascular Sonography associate degree program at Smith Chason College. We ready you for an entry-level career in the echocardiography field, as well as helping you prepare for the necessary registries or certification exams you need in order to qualify for employment. Ideally, a cardiovascular sonography program will utilize hands-on education, informed by real medical professionals who have experience in the field. 

Cardiovascular sonographers should also: 

• Be detail-oriented — Ultrasounds must be precise and the differences between healthy and unhealthy may be subtle, so having a strong eye for details will be a big advantage. 
• Be calm and professional — Sonographers work closely with patients, and many times these are people dealing with a lot of worry and stress, which means a calm bedside manner is vital. 
• Have good hand-eye coordination — Taking ultrasounds involves moving pieces of equipment right where they need to go, all while keeping an eye on what’s happening on a screen. 
• Possess strong technical skills — Digital medical imaging equipment can be complex, so sonographers must feel comfortable with computers. 

There are a few key factors affecting the healthcare field right now: our aging baby boomer and millennial populations, and the increased prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and other chronic health conditions. All of these elements help explain why the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for sonographers to grow much faster than average — 19% through 2030. 

The growing need for cardiac sonographers means that the opportunities for employment range widely across the country, with a lot of echocardiographers being employed at: 

• Research hospitals 
• Children’s hospitals 
• Community hospitals 
• Private hospitals 

But just under half are employed outside of those settings, in medical facilities and organizations that include: 

• Outpatient clinics 
• Physicians’ offices 
• Clinical applications/sales specialists 
• Medical and diagnostic labs 
• Teaching and classroom settings 

Smith Chason College graduates are eligible to sit for their registry exams to become registered sonographers. Smith Chason strongly recommends obtaining certifications to provide you with the best knowledge and opportunities when entering the medical imaging field. Registry reviews and assistance with the registry exam process are available for students as they navigate through their program.

Review our Pathways to Registry for Associate Cardiovascular Sonography students to learn more about our suggested pathway and which exams are included in the program cost.

Other registries to consider after Graduation and in your career: 

• ARDMS Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer® (RDCS®) 
• ARDMS (AE) Adult Echo 
• ARDMS (PE) Pediatric Echo 
• ARDMS (RVT): Registered Vascular Technologist  

The eligibility prerequisites of all registries can be changed at any time without Smith Chason College’s knowledge or consent. This document is meant to be a guide only, there are additional steps and requirements not listed here, and all students should refer to the Smith Chason registry disclosure and review the registry’s website for the most up-to-date information. Your previous education may allow you to have registry eligibility not addressed here, please see the registry’s website for details. 

Yes, Smith Chason College  is accredited by the ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).

Yes, Smith Chason College is approved for federal financial aid, scholarships, and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Our programs work in cooperation with community partners nationally in the medical field, including but not limited to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, and assisted living.

Externships and clinical rotations may be attended during daytime hours, evenings, or weekends as approved by externship/clinical sites and Smith Chason. Students are responsible for transportation to and from their externship site and may be required to travel more than 75 miles from the campus each way including out of the area or out of state.

In addition, our partners require that we ensure that our students participating in externships or clinical practice at their facilities have required vaccinations, health screenings, and clear background checks.

All programs at our college require clinical applications on real patients as required by the Boards that license our graduates. Therefore, any person enrolling at Smith Chason will be required to perform all clinical requirements to meet graduation and state board requirements.

6 months for our Bachelor and Associates medical imaging students.

Yes. Smith Chason College is eligible to participate in federal financial assistance programs, California state aid programs, approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons, private student loans, and scholarships. Learn more about financial options available to those who qualify at Smith Chason College on our Financial Aid page

Smith Chason also offers and accepts a variety of scholarships. Our Smith Chason Scholarship booklet contains a sampling of various scholarships granted by Smith Chason and other sources for you to consider as you embark on your educational journey. Scholarships can be a great source of additional assistance to help you fund your education and your future!

For other scholarships not listed in our booklet, please visit FastWeb, an online resource to search over 1.5 million scholarships.

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*Smith Chason College does not control the availability, validity or selection criteria of outside scholarships. Scholarships and financial aid is available to those who qualify

Yes, graduates who have successfully completed all parts of their program are eligible to sit for their registry and NCLEX exams. This includes the SPI and CCT which can be taken after completing PHY202 and CAR220 respectively, ARRT(S), ARRT(MR), ARMRIT, ARDMS, NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN after graduation.  Smith Chason strongly recommends obtaining certifications to provide you with the best knowledge and opportunities when entering the medical imaging and nursing field. Smith Chason provides registry reviews, NCLEX prep with  robust ATI program and assistance with the exam process.

See our Pathways to Registry for Medical Imaging Students for more information.