Sonography (Cardiovascular) - Certificate
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Deadline Dates
Program Admission
Information Sessions - Sonography
The Sonography Programs at Chattanooga State Community College are 12-month certificate programs which begin each fall semester. Full-time student status is required. Both programs are currently accredited by CAAHEP. A class will be accepted each year for fall admission, rotating between the general sonography program offering and the cardiovascular program offering. All courses are taught by Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers, Registered Vascular Technologists, Registered Diagnostic Medical , Sonologists, Cardiologists, and other qualified personnel for each designated subject.
Applicants must possess a minimum of an AS or AAS degree from an accredited patient-care-related field (providing 2 years of clinical experience) and certification in that same field.*
(*Those who have not yet taken their certification exams can still be accepted on a probationary status.)
Upon completion of the cardiovascular sonography program, the graduate will be eligible to test for certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) in the specialty categories of Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Technology. Upon successful completion of the Sonography Physics and Instrumentation exam, in addition to at least one of the specialty exams, the graduate will become a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) and/or a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) also awards credentials in the field of cardiovascular sonography. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) also awards a credential in vascular sonography.
Accreditation
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Cardiovascular Sonography programs are accredited by:
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
CAAHEP
9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 3775
(727) 210-2350
http://www.caahep.org
JRC-DMS
6201 University Blvd, Ste. 500
Elliott City, MD 21043
(443) 973-3251
http://www.jrcdms.org
Program Outcomes
Click here: Program Effectiveness Data
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities are varied. Sonographers may be employed in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and industry. There is also a need for suitably qualified educators, researchers and administrators. The demand for registered sonographers continues to exceed the supply, and sonography has become a beneficial skill in the multi-modality health care environment.
Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median salary of a sonographer at $72,510, supply and demand ratios always impact salaries, depending upon experience, job description and geographic location.
Program Cost
| First Semester (16 hours) (fall) | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Fee | 2363.00 | 9199.00 |
| Nursing/Allied Health Fees | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Truescreen: myRecord Tracker Fee: | 17.50 | 17.50 |
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| Physical Examination (estimate) | 300.00 | 300.00 |
| Hepatitis B (estimate) | 175.00 | 175.00 |
| Liability Insurance | 11.05 | 11.05 |
| CPR (estimate) | 25.00 | 25.00 |
| Truescreen Criminal Background Check | 24.50 | 24.50 |
| Truescreen Drug Screening (12 panel) | 39.00 | 39.00 |
| Textbooks (estimate) | 650.00 | 650.00 |
| National U/S Society & Local U/S Society Fees | 45.00 | 45.00 |
| Second Semester (16 hours) (spring) | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Fee | 2363.00 | 9199.00 |
| Nursing/Allied Health Fees | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Textbooks (estimate) | 50.00 | 50.00 |
| Third Semester (16 hours) (summer) | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Fee | 2363.00 | 9199.00 |
| Nursing/Allied Health Fees | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Textbooks (estimate) | 140.00 | 140.00 |
| ARDMS Exam Registration (SPI + 2 specialty exams) | 725.00 | 725.00 |
Costs Disclaimer
These are estimated program costs. Actual costs may vary due to changes in tuition and/or fee increases as determined by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Note: College fees are included in the maintenance cost. To view current calculation table, go to Bursar’s Office on Chattanooga State website. This website will also give you information on refund policies, fee payments and the refund calendar.
This list does not include expenses for lodging and other expenses incurred during class scheduled times. Students are responsible for the cost of uniforms/lab coats for clinic.