School of Cardiac Ultrasound

Cardiac Sonography (Echocardiography)

Cardiac sonographers use sophisticated diagnostic ultrasound equipment to produce dynamic real-time imaging of the heart's chambers, walls, valves, and great vessels to assist the physician in diagnosing cardiovascular disease. Cardiac sonographers complete important tasks, such as:

Acquiring information related to the heart's anatomy and physiology
Evaluating acquired and congenital cardiac abnormalities and associated complications
Evaluating narrowed or leaking heart valves
Looking for causes of murmurs, chest pain, shortness of breath
Tracking and evaluating chronic heart conditions
Acquiring images during a stress echocardiogram
Assist with image acquisition in the operating room for valve or device implantation

Career outlook for a cardiac sonographer

Cardiac sonographers can expect a median salary of $81,350, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job outlook for cardiac sonographers in the U.S. is expected to grow faster than average.

Program Description

The School of Cardiac Ultrasound is an accelerated, full-time (Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.), 12-month certificate program offered through the Cleveland Clinic Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. Students successfully completing the program are eligible to sit for the national registry exam through either Cardiovascular Credentialing International (RCS) or American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (RDCS).

Classes start each year on the first Tuesday after Labor Day. All program classes are face-to-face. These along with the clinical externship training are held at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus.

The core curriculum includes:

Adult Echocardiography I - III
Adult Echocardiography Lab I & II
Ultrasound Physics I
Clinical Externship I – III

Student handbook

View our student handbook for more program details.

Accreditation

The Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound is approved by the Cleveland Clinic which is accredited by the Joint Commission (TJC).

The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd,
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: 630.792.5800
www.jointcommission.org

The Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 113th St N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727.210.2350
www.caahep.org

The Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound Program is approved by the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools (School Registration No. 2165). For questions related to the State Board approval, please contact Cleveland Clinic Center for Health Profession Education, 9500 Euclid Ave./JJ21., Cleveland OH 44195, 216.444.5678 option 4.

Program outcomes

Resources

The American Society of Echocardiography (www.asecho.org)
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (www.sdms.org)
The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) (www.ardms.org)
The Cardiovascular Credentialing International (www.cci-online.org)

Application & Requirements

Application Form

Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound online application

Application process includes:

Completed online application.
$25 application fee (non-refundable).
Post-secondary educational transcripts (must be official).
Upload the following documentation in application:
- Completed, signed Shadowing Form.
- Resume.
- Application Essay (see guidelines here).
- Two letters of reference (one work/professional, one personal).
- Proof of American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
- Proof of the following immunizations and TB test:
  - Negative two-step Mantoux TB test T-Spot or QuantiFERON-TB Gold test, MMR, Varicella, DT or DTaP booster within the last 10 years, Hepatitis B positive titer or signed waiver assuming the risk of exposure, Influenza vaccine will be required in the fall
  - The COVID-19 vaccine or booster is no longer a requirement as a condition to participate in Cleveland Clinic educational programs, however, it is strongly encouraged.

Application Deadline

The school begins accepting applications on March 1st each year for fall admission. Complete online application with all supporting documentation must be submitted by the application deadline of June 1.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Cleveland Clinic’s School of Cardiac Ultrasound is selective. The application process is open to applicants who meet all the following minimum criteria at the start of the program:

18 years of age
Completion of either:
- Two-year associate’s degree in any field (healthcare preferred)
- Accredited allied health program
- Bachelor’s degree (any field)
Completion of the following prerequisite post-secondary coursework with a grade of C or better:
- Anatomy and Physiology with Lab
- College Algebra or higher
- Communications (English, speech, composition course)
- Physics (preferred but not required)
Required 4-hour shadowing experience at Cleveland Clinic. Click here to schedule a job shadow.

Download shadowing experience form here.

International Students

International students are not eligible for admission. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Tuition

Tuition is $15,000 plus fees and may be paid in installments. Upon acceptance to the program, a $500 non-refundable deposit must be submitted to secure a position. This will be applied toward the initial installment due by the 1st day of school.

Tuition and Fees: $15,000

Tuition includes required textbooks and laptop (both borrowed for the year) and the reimbursement of the registry examination fee to the student upon passing the exam. If paying in installments, the payments are due by the first day of each term.

1st day of fall term (September)	$5,000
1st day of winter term (January)	$5,000
1st day of summer term (May)	$5,000

Tuition includes required textbooks (borrowed for year) and the reimbursement of the cost of the registry examination fee to the student upon passing the exam. Students are responsible for uniforms (navy top and bottoms).

Additional Information

Scholarships

We are pleased to offer limited scholarship opportunities for applicants and current students.

Herbert Kohler Diversity Scholarship

The Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound strives to advocate for an inclusive, diverse, and accepting community. The Herbert Kohler Diversity Scholarship is funded by the generosity of the Kohler Foundation. This scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to students from a range of backgrounds and life experiences. Preference will be given to students who have experienced significant challenges or hardships that have influenced their life journey. These challenges and experiences may revolve around any number of factors, such as family background, community setting, educational experience, health-related challenges, and general life experiences.

One $10,000 non-renewable scholarship is awarded before the start of school. The annual award is split evenly over fall, spring, and summer terms.

The scholarship is paid directly to the school and will result in a tuition credit towards the school tuition.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, students:

Must be accepted into the Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound.
Must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA at prior academic institution(s).
Must submit the Diversity Scholarship Application by June 1^st deadline.
Cannot be awarded in collaboration with another Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound scholarship.

Award requirements:

Scholarship is non-renewable.
Student must maintain good academic standing as defined by the Cleveland Clinic School of Cardiac Ultrasound Handbook.
To maintain the scholarship, a student must be enrolled full-time and keep a minimum 2.5 GPA.

The application will include:

A copy of academic transcript(s).
Letters of recommendation.
A personal statement.

Prompts:
- In what ways have your unique background, experiences, and perspectives shaped who you are today? Share a specific example of how your unique or impactful experiences have contributed to your personal growth and the enrichment of your community.
- Many individuals face challenges based on their background, ethnicity, gender, health or other personal characteristics. Share a significant obstacle you have encountered and overcome from your unique or impactful experiences. How did this experience shape your character and ambitions?

Timeline:

Open application period: March 1 – June 1, 2024
Review and selection process: June 15 – July 1, 2024
Recipients notified by July 1, 2024

Click here to apply.

Herbert Kohler Merit Scholarship

The Herbert Kohler Merit Scholarship is funded by the generosity of the Kohler Foundation. The purpose of the merit scholarship is to reward, recognize, and incentivize current CCF School of Cardiac Ultrasound students who have shown academic and clinical excellence.

There will be three $5,000 non-renewable scholarships awarded in each of the second and third semesters. The scholarship is paid directly to the school and will result in a tuition credit towards the school tuition.