Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography, Cert

Program Description

PROFESSION
The Certificate in Cardiac Sonography is a 12-month program. Coursework and clinical time in this program involves more in depth concentrated study of assessment of the heart. It includes extensive study of the heart hemodynamics, normal anatomy, disease processes, and patient treatment. The Cardiac Sonography program begins each Fall. This program prepares students to sit for the board exam and RDCS credentialing exam. All students are required to take and pass the ARDMS Standard Physics and Instrumentation (SPI) exam before completion of the program. This program does require a previous associate/bachelors degree in any field.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALING
Upon completion of the certificate requirements, the student is eligible to sit for the national examination board of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and obtain their RDCS credential.

Program Website  |  Catalog

Program Length

Twelve (12) months

Possible Careers

Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS)

Application Deadlines

Quarter	Application Open	Priority Deadline	Final Deadline
Autumn of 2024	Jun 1, 2023	Oct 15, 2023	Jan 10, 2024

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for admission, the applicant must fulfill ONE of the following three requirements.

1. Any Associate degree from an accredited college or university (science area preferred).
2. Any Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university (science area preferred).
3. Be a graduate of an accredited Allied Health program, including nursing (2-year, LVN, registered nurse).

Prerequisites

All applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses within the past five years:

• Anatomy and Physiology, two-part sequence with labs
• Medical Terminology
• Introduction to Physics
• College Algebra, can have a higher level class, such as Calculus.
• Fundamentals of Health Care (taken before entering the program at LLU the Summer prior to starting the program.)
• If attending a Seventh-day Adventist college/university, 4 quarter or 3 semester units of religion per year is required.
• Complete 8 hours of observation (volunteer/employee) in the LLUMC Sonography Department.

CPR Requirement Students are required to have a current Health Care Provider CPR card offered by the American Heart Association upon admission into the program. Students must maintain it for the entire length of the program.

Discipline Accrediting Agency

The University's medical sonography curricula in both general sonography and echocardiography have been accredited since 1983 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 

Integrating faith and health

Loma Linda University educates and encourages a balanced life by living our values of humility, compassion, justice, integrity, excellence, freedom and self- control. You will be surrounded by faculty who are committed to healthcare innovation and research while engaging your spirituality.

Expected Cost of Attendance

Academic Year 2023-2024

Year of Program:	Year 1
Tuition	$13,175
Fees	$3,090
Books & Supplies	$2,175
Instruments	—
Misc (e.g., Boards, Licensing exam, Uniforms)	$79
Total	$18,519

Notes

Expected costs for the 2023-2024 academic year are based on full time attendance. From year to year, increases are anticipated consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.