Echocardiography (Cardiac Ultrasound)

Echocardiography focuses on the evaluation of the heart, its valves and chambers, and associated vessels. The echocardiography certificate produces competent, compassionate, and responsible professionals and leaders who are skilled in ultrasound scanning techniques and the operation of ultrasound instrumentation.

The certificate in echocardiography is an 18-month program that includes a clinical internship. The program, which focuses on the evaluation of the heart, its valves and chambers, and associated vessels, has been designed to exceed the objectives of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The program produces competent, compassionate, and responsible echocardiography professionals and leaders. This certificate is available to all registered allied health practitioners as well as those holding an associate or bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline. The certificate includes lectures and course work integrated with a clinical internship. Dependent on the previous degree, certain prerequisite courses may be required prior to enrollment. Required prerequisite courses include one year of anatomy and physiology with laboratories, one year of college or general physics with laboratories. A patient care course/experience may be required prior to or during enrollment. For more information on the prerequisite courses and completion time, please contact the program director. We will be glad to assist you and provide you with detailed information dependent on your situation.

Graduates earning the certificate will:

• be prepared as competent entry-level adult cardiac sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
• gain a thorough working knowledge of ultrasound scanning techniques;
• be skilled in the operation of ultrasound instrumentation and laboratory equipment;
• acquire the proper manner in working with patients; and
• under the guidance of faculty and professional staff, be capable of scheduling and performing the daily workload of ultrasound procedures, evaluating new procedures where necessary, and supervising other technical personnel.

Plan of Study

During the first academic year, students complete all the prerequisite courses required to enter the clinical internship phase of the program. Students also apply, polish, and test their clinical skills and techniques in the on-campus Ultrasound Scanning Suite, which is equipped with a variety of ultrasound equipment. Following a required two-week pre-clinical internship orientation session, students begin their training at the first of two assigned clinical training sites.

In addition to the echocardiography certificate, RIT also offers a bachelor of science degree and a certificate in diagnostic medical sonography. Both of these options are designed to meet the growing needs of the national and international medical communities.