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Get the Skills to Become a Cardiac Sonographer

72 Week Hands-On Cardiac Sonography Training Program in Sacramento, CA

Program Description

The Cardiac Sonography program consists of 72 weeks of training excluding any holidays and scheduled breaks. The program includes lectures, laboratories, and clinical education. The curriculum prepares students with the theoretical knowledge, skills, and responsibilities required to work in the health allied medical field as an entry-level Cardiac Sonographer.

The student receives eight hundred (800) hours of didactic and lab instruction and nine hundred and twenty (920) hours of clinical education allowing them to apply the lecture topics to practical use. The curriculum provides students with the technical, clinical, and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed in this field. In addition, the program prepares students to take the ARDMS specialty exam through ARDMS.

Next Start Date: Please visit our Admissions page for more information.

Be sure to register within the window of application to be eligible for the next start date. Visit the Admissions page to learn the application deadline (as well as general admissions requirements and how to apply).

Topics Covered

  • The program prepares students to utilize diagnostic techniques, sound judgment, and good decision making to provide patient services.
  • The program communicates the importance of becoming credentialed in the profession of echocardiography.
  • The program prepares students to think critically, communicate effectively, and exemplify professional ethics.
  • The program conveys the importance of becoming lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
  • Prepare students for ARDMS Registry Exam.
  • To incite passion and empathy in healthcare and provide diagnostic correct examinations for improved patient outcomes.

Cardiac Sonography Overview

Cardiac sonographers (a.k.a, echocardiographers, echo techs) use ultrasonic equipment to perform scans to determine if there is anything abnormal about the size or structure of the heart and vascular systems in the body. Physicians look at these scans to diagnose patients.

Job Outlook

According to the 2020 data from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the annual wage mean for Diagnostic medical sonographers or Cardiovascular Technologists in California is $96,780. SUI students, upon completion are eligible and ready to take their ARDMS & ARRT exams. The school also secures clinical sites for students. Many SUI alumni work at Sacramento’s best hospitals. And there is a projected growth of 12 percent from 2019-to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Make a phone call or text at 916-931-3132 and jump-start your career.

ARDMS Eligibility

Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible to complete ARDMS credentials:

  • Bachelor’s degree (any specialty)
    Students are eligible to sit for the exam upon program completion (Prerequisite 3A)
  • Associate degree in Allied Health
    Students are eligible to sit for the registry exam (Prerequisite 1)
  • Associate degree other than Allied Health
    Will first need to successfully complete the CCI Certification to be eligible to sit for the ARDMS AE registry exam under (Prerequisite 5). See more details under “Certification through CCI” below. To learn more about the ARDMS registry prerequisites, go to ARDMS.org or click the link here.

Certification through CCI (Cardiac Concentration Only)

Earning a Registered Cardiac Sonography (RCS) credential through the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) can be accomplished through multiple pathways. The SUI DMSA and concentrated Cardiac Sonography program meet the qualification requirements for RCS5. See Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) for more details.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Click here for more information about Financial Assistance. For details please call: 916-877-7977

General Information

Program Hours: 1720 Hours
Program Length: 72 Weeks
Credits: 120 Credits
Instruction: Blended
Credential Awarded: Associates in Applied Sciences Degree

Cardiac Sonography Program Admissions Requirements

  • An Associate Degree (any field) or higher in any discipline.
  • Successful completion (defined as receiving a grade of “C” or higher) of college-level coursework in the subjects below. SUI does not accept Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit grades in fulfillment of admissions prerequisites. Courses must be a minimum of three semesters or five-quarter credits. All prerequisite courses together must be a minimum of twenty-five quarter credits.
    • General Physics (topics must include sound waves, heat, light, and motion)
    • Communication Skills (Written or Oral Communication, i.e., Speech, English Composition)
    • Mathematics ( Intermediate Algebra or higher-level course, i.e., Calculus, Statistics)
    • Human Anatomy & Physiology

Prerequisite and Transfer Course Self Evaluation

To find out if your course meets the program prerequisite or transfer requirements Click here and access our Transfer Credit Articulation Database for more information. Please visit our Admissions page for program start dates and application window and register for a webinar info session to start your application process.

For immediate questions, call or text at 916-931-3132.