It is important to choose a program that is formally accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CAAHEP currently recognizes 61 cardiovascular ultrasound training programs in 29 states.
Training takes between one and four years to complete, depending on the chosen credential. Certificates, two-year associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees are all available.
Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent designation, such as a GED. High school or prerequisite college-level coursework in biology, math, physics, chemistry and medical terminology is typically required.
Coursework typically includes ultrasound equipment and instrumentation, patient care and management, medical ethics, ultrasonic physics, heart anatomy and pathology, adult and pediatric echocardiography, vascular sonography and imaging evaluation. Students often do a practicum or internship in a professional clinical setting in the final year of study.
The average yearly tuition rate at a public college or university is $6,070. Since out-of-state tuition costs more than double that amount, it is a good idea to choose an in-state school if possible. Community college programs typically cost less per year than a four-year degree and credits can often be transferred to a college or university following graduation.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for professionally trained cardiovascular ultrasound technologists is expected to increase by at least 24 percent through 2018. This is largely due the rise of heart disease and a rapidly aging population in the United States. The average salary of a professional diagnostic medical sonographer is $61,980.