Program Details
Program Details
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Program Details

Career Studies Certificate in Echocardiography

Career Studies Certificate
Piedmont Virginia Community College

The PVCC Career Studies Certificate in Adult Echocardiography will prepare competent entry-level Adult echocardiography technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a sonographer uses equipment that emits sound waves to penetrate through body tissue (www.bls.gov). The sound waves reverberate back to create a computerized image of the body tissue. Echocardiographers are thus the specially trained technologist who work with the cardiovascular system.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Registered ARDMS with relevant work experience is required for admission to the program.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Piedmont Virginia Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Career Studies Certificate in Echocardiography
28
Career Studies Certificate in Echocardiography
28
CSC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
28
Course Requirements for CSC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
28
DMS 150
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DMS 250
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
EMS 153
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DMS 231
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DMS 256
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DMS 232
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DMS 255
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DMS 298
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DMS 233
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
UNUSED COURSES
0
Plan GPA Requirement for CSC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
0
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Prior completion of any associate degree or higher waives the SDV 100 requirement. All courses are evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree.

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Prior completion of any associate degree or higher waives the SDV 100 requirement. All courses are evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree.
Credit for Prior Learning https://www.pvcc.edu/credit-prior-learning
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Piedmont Virginia Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
External Link
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me?
Transfer Student Catalog Year
First Year Student Catalog Year
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Northern Virginia Community CollegeDiagnostic Medical Sonography: Abdominal Sonography-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography Specialization, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Northern Virginia Community CollegeDiagnostic Medical Sonography: Echocardiography Specialization, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Northern Virginia Community CollegeDiagnostic Medical Sonography: Vascular Sonography Specialization, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Rappahannock Community CollegeAAS Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography: EchocardiographyAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
29-2032.00Diagnostic Medical SonographersProduce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 28 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Career Studies Certificate in Echocardiography at Piedmont Virginia Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 2 semesters or 1 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $169 Per Credit $4,732 $0 $4,732 https://www.pvcc.edu/tuition-fees
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.