Many students complete an associate's degree in cardiac sonography at a community college, vocational school or technical or trade school. Some colleges offer certificate programs as well, and special training programs are available at some hospitals. Bachelor's degrees in this field also are available at some colleges, but these are not as common. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Professionals accredits cardiovascular technology education programs as well as programs in diagnostic medical sonography.
Cardiac sonography training programs prepare students to become certified in this field. No states require cardiac sonographers to be certified, but a majority of employers want sonographers who have some kind of national certification. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography offers four examinations that cover sonography principles, adult echocardiography, pediatric echocardiography and fetal echocardiography. Students have to pass the sonography principles exam and another one of the echocardiography tests to become registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers.
Courses in a cardiac sonography training program cover topics such as medical terminology, physics, anatomy, sonographic instruments and patient care. Students also learn psychology, pathophysiology, Doppler physics and ethics. In addition, these programs teach students echo orientation and techniques, cardiovascular principles, conceptual physics and sonographic sectional anatomy, according to the Austin Community College District in Texas, which offers an associate's degree program in diagnostic cardiac sonography. To get into this particular program, students must first complete a nurse aide certification course. Many cardiac sonography training programs also include hands-on clinical training.
Individuals who have completed cardiac sonography training can work in hospitals--usually in cardiology departments--and diagnostic imaging centers. Cardiac sonographers also can find work in cardiologists' and other physicians' offices as well as in medical and diagnostic laboratories.
Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to increase 24 percent between 2008 and 2018 because of the aging population and the preponderance of heart disease. Median annual wages of these professionals in May 2008 were $47,010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.