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Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Sonography Information Session

Cardiovascular and Medical Sonography Information Session

Purpose

  • To provide you with an introduction to the profession of Sonography and of the admission and program requirements at CCC&TI. It is not intended to answer all of your questions but to provide you with some baseline information as you inquire about this field of study.

Are you interested in a career that offers you:

  • Prestige
  • Job Security
  • Excellent Compensation
  • Career Advancement
  • And the ability to help others???

Then a career as a sonographer may be for you!!

What do sonographers do?

  • Sonographers image internal body structures using high frequency sound waves.
  • Cardiovascular sonographers use sound waves to image the adult heart and vascular structures.
  • Medical sonographers use sound waves to image abdominal structures, female pelvic structures, and fetuses.

The duties of a sonographer may include:

  • Assisting patients
  • Communicating with other health professionals including physicians
  • Obtaining a patient’s medical history
  • Performing diagnostic quality sonograms
  • Cleaning equipment and stocking supplies

Sonographers will see blood, body fluids and assist the physician with procedures involving needles.

Role of a sonographer in the health care team

  • The sonographer is a dependent health care provider.
  • The sonographer does NOT diagnose or treat disease.

Physical requirements of a sonographer

  • Lift more than 50 pounds routinely.
  • Push and pull routinely.
  • Bend and stoop routinely.
  • Have full use of both hands, wrists and shoulders.
  • Distinguish audible sounds.
  • Adequately view sonograms, including color distinctions.
  • Work standing on their feet 80% of the time.
  • Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick or injured.
  • Assist patients on and off examining tables.
  • Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals.
  • Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence.

Cardiovascular and Medical Sonography Programs

  • Are both 21 month programs.
  • Award an Associate in Applied Science degree at graduation.
  • Both curriculums consist of didactic, lab, and clinical components.
  • Both programs begin in August each year with the Fall semester.

Clinical Sites for Clinical Education

  • A wide variety of clinical sites are utilized by both programs.
  • Clinical sites are located in:
    • Asheville
    • Boone
    • Charlotte
    • Concord
    • Fayetteville
    • Franklin
    • Gastonia
    • Greenville, SC.
    • Hickory
    • Lenoir
    • Marion
    • Morganton
    • Wilkesboro

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

  • All sonography students will be required to have a criminal background check (CBC) and a yearly drug screen.
  • CCC&TI designates what company will perform the CBC and drug screens.
  • The cost is approximately $150.00 for both.
  • Some clinical sites will require additional drug screens to attend clinical which will be an additional cost to the sonography student.

Employment

  • The majority of sonographers are employed in hospitals. The others are employed in imaging centers, physician offices, mobile services, education, and research.

Salaries

  • Graduates of the sonography programs earn between $20.00 and $23.00 per hour on average.

Accreditation

  • The Cardiovascular and Medical Sonography programs are fully accredited through the Joint Review Committee on Education in Medical Sonography (www.jrcdms.org ).

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography

  • Medical Sonography program graduates may be eligible for examinations administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) (www.ardms.org).

  • Cardiovascular Sonography program graduates may be eligible for examinations administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) (www.ardms.org).

Cardiovascular Credentialing International

  • Graduates of the Cardiovascular Sonography program may be eligible for examination administered by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) (www.cci-online.org)

Ineligibility

  • A legal conviction of any type may result in a graduate being ineligible to become a registered sonographer through the ARDMS.
    • If you have any questions, please contact the ARDMS at 800-541-9754.

  • For Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) applicants with questions regarding personal criminal matters may request a pre-application to determine if they qualify for the CCI credentialing process.
    • If you have any questions, please contact the CCI at 800-326-0268 or Applicant_Support@cci-online.org

Cardiovascular Sonographers

  • Graduates of the Cardiovascular Sonography program may be eligible for examinations in:
    • Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation
    • Adult Echo
  • Upon successful completion of both exams, the graduate is a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer and may use the initials RDCS after their name.
  • Graduates of the Cardiovascular Sonography program may be eligible for examination in:
    • Registered Cardiac Sonographer requires:
      Passing the one-part Non-Invasive/ Echocardiography Registry Examination from the CCI.
  • Upon successful completion of the exam, the graduate is a Registered Cardiac Sonographer and may use the initials RCS after their name.

Medical Sonographers

  • Graduates of the Medical Sonography program may be eligible to take the ARDMS examinations in:
    • Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation (SPI)
    • Abdomen
    • OB/GYN
  • Upon successful completion of the SPI exam and either Abdomen and/or OB/GYN, the graduate may use the initials RDMS after their name.

Admission Requirements

  1. CCC&TI Application
  2. High School Transcript or High School Equivalency
  3. College Transcripts (if applicable)
  4. Sonography Information Session (return questionnaire)
  5. Completion of a four-hour clinical site visit (scheduled by Student Services)
  6. Interview with either the Program Director 828.726.2322) or the Clinical Coordinator (828.726.2325)
  7. Pre-requisite courses
    • The following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of ‘C’ before acceptance into either the Cardiovascular Sonography Program or the Medical Sonography Program:
      • ACA 115 - Success & Study Skills
      • BIO 163 - Basic Anatomy and Physiology
      • ENG 111 - Writing and Inquiry
      • MAT 121 - Algebra/Trigonometry I
      • PHY 110 - Conceptual Physics
      • PHY 110A - Conceptual Physics Lab
  8. MAR (Minimum Admissions Requirement) Review
    • Contact the Health Sciences Admissions Office after completing all 8 admissions steps to schedule a MAR Review. The contacts are as follows:

Transfer Credit

  • Please check with Student Services as some courses may transfer for the required General Education/Related courses.

Class Size

  • Approximately 8 - 10 students are accepted into the Medical Sonography Program each year.
  • Approximately 7 - 9 students are accepted into the Cardiovascular Sonography Program each year.
  • The sonography programs at CCC&TI accept students with a first come, first serve process.

Estimated Cost

In-State Tuition $5,350.00
Out-of-State Tuition   $20,000.00
Books $1,500.00
Uniforms $650.00
Travel Variable
Miscellaneous $300.00

Information regarding financial aid resources can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office 828.726.2713 .

Questionnaire

To receive credit for the completion of this information session, please complete the Information Session Confirmation at: www.cccti.edu/SON/SONInfoSessionForm.asp

Thank you!!

Contacts

Program Information

Admission Information