Cardiac Program Summary
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Cardiac specialty program
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12-month accelerated program
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35+ hours per week
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1,678 total hours
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800 clinical hours
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Begin scanning first week
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Scan real people and patients
Phoenix Campus
JAN / APR / JUL / OCT Program Start
Tucson Campus
JAN / JUL Program Start
Occupational Outlook
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$75,000 average sonographer annual salary
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90% placement rate
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Specialized sonographers are expected to have the best job opportunities
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Growing field - expecting an increase of 14% from 2018-2028
Employment Environment
Sonographers primarily work in hospital settings but can also work in the below medical settings:
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Hospitals
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Physicians Offices
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Medical & Diagnostic Labs
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Outpatient Care Centers
Start Your Career In Sonography
Enroll in the AHF Cardiac Ultrasound Program and Secure Your Place In The Growing Lifesaving Field Of Cardiovascular Sonography
About AHF Cardiac Ultrasound Program
Established in 1982, the Arizona Heart Foundation School of Cardiac Ultrasound is one of the premier programs in the United States dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s sonographers. The program has evolved to include the ever-changing field of vascular sonography and is now known as the School of Cardiac & Vascular Ultrasound.
The School has earned a strong reputation as a leader in cardiac ultrasound education for over 35 years and is licensed by the State of Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and accredited by ABHES. The program is designed to meet and exceed the minimum clinical clock hour requirements as recommended by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Our faculty’s expertise, coupled with small class sizes, not only prepares our students for the national registry exams but also results in graduates with a discernible difference. More than 500 highly qualified sonographers have graduated since the ception of the program. Our graduates provide quality patient care, possess leadership positions in their profession, and dedicate themselves as life-long learners.
Arizona Heart Foundation is pleased to have Eileen Spengler, BS, RCS, FASE, as our School’s Cardiac Program Director and Executive Director of the Arizona Heart Foundation. Eileen is uniquely qualified for these roles as a 2004 graduate of the AHF Cardiac Sonographer Program and the five years she spent in post-secondary education subsequently. Eileen is also an elected alumnus of Mayo School of Health Science. Eileen has also coordinated and performed heart screenings for high school, college, and retired professional athletes and has received numerous awards and recognition for community outreach and advocacy in Sudden Cardiac Death in athletes.
What does a cardiac
sonographer do?
Cardiac ultrasound sonographers operate special imaging equipment to create images or conduct tests. The images and test results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. Sonographers and technologists may work closely with physicians and surgeons before, during, and after procedures.*
Do you have a catalog with all the program details?
Yes we do! Click to download.
What are the prerequisites for this program?
You must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED.
How long does the program take to complete?
The AHF School of Ultrasound offers two programs - both programs are 12-months long.
What are the start dates for each program?
Phoenix Campus
JAN / JUN / OCT Start Dates
Tucson Campus
JAN / JUN Start Dates
What is the average class size?
The average Cardiac and Vascular class size is 20-22 students
The Cardiac Night Program is limited to 10-12 students.
What is the time commitment for these programs?
Classroom sessions and clinical rotations average 35-40 hours per week. Hours vary, but typically the Cardiac and Vascular day time programs run 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM Monday-Friday, while the Cardiac Night Program runs 1:00 PM – 7:30 PM Monday – Friday.
When your clinical rotation begins, the schedule is built around 8 hour clinical days and start times can vary based on your assigned facility; however, almost all clinical rotations (including those for the Cardiac Night Program) happen between 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday.