Cardiac Ultrasound Tech Program
New program starts every January & July!
Program Summary
- 12-month, accelerated program
- 35+ hours per week
- 1678 total hours, including 800+ clinical hours
- Program starts in January and July each year (also, new evening program option available in January). Next start date is July 10, 2023.
- Students start scanning the first week
- 88% placement rate
Occupational Outlook*
- $67K median annual wage
- Expected increase of 14% in employment from 2018 – 2028
- Sonographers certified in at least one specialty are expected to have the best job opportunities
Employment Environment
- Most sonographers work in hospitals
- Some work in physicians’ offices
- A few work in medical and diagnostic laboratories
- A few also work in outpatient care centers
Program Overview
Subject
Hours
41
88
108
159
396
826
Total
1,678
Established in 1982, the Arizona Heart Foundation School of Cardiac Ultrasound was 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 training for over 35 years and is accredited by ABHES and licensed by the State of Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. 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 from 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 announce the hiring of Eileen Spengler, RCS, BS, as our School’s Cardiac Program Director and lead instructor. Eileen is uniquely qualified for these roles as a 2004 graduate of the 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.
The program offers an in-depth clinical experience that will enable students to produce accurate, high-quality echocardiographic images through classroom instruction, hands-on experience with patient models, anatomical lab opportunities, and clinical rotations. Students will have the opportunity to learn the distinction between normal and abnormal cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, and gain an understanding of basic pathology and cardiovascular diagnostic procedures.
The program is 52 weeks, includes 1,678 clock hours, and is offered once a year. Students must participate in all components of the program, including reporting to clinical sites as assigned. The school will review any transcripts or certificates from previous education and training and will grant credit where appropriate.
Frequently asked:
about cardiac ultrasound sonographers
What does a cardiac ultrasound 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.*
What is the job outlook for cardiac ultrasound sonographers?
Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is projected to grow 14 – 19 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.*
As the large baby-boom population ages, the need to diagnose medical conditions—such as blood clots and heart disease—will likely increase. Imaging technology is a tool used in making these diagnoses. Moreover, diagnostic medical sonographers, cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and vascular technologists will continue to be needed in healthcare settings to provide an alternative to imaging techniques that involve radiation.
How much do cardiac ultrasound sonographers make?
The median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists was $67,080 in May 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.*
Frequently asked:
about our ultrasound program
Do you have a catalog with all the details of the program?
Yes, you can download the full catalog here.
What are the prerequisites for the Arizona Heart Foundation School of Ultrasound 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? What are the start dates for each program?
The Arizona Heart Foundation School of Ultrasound offers two ultrasound programs. Both of our ultrasound programs are 12-months long.
Both our Cardiac Ultrasound Program and Vascular Ultrasound Program start every January and July. The January Cardiac program includes the regular day program (7am – 2pm) OR an evening program (1pm – 7:30pm). Please see individual program pages for next start dates.
What is the average class size?
Our average class size is 20 – 22 students, with the except of the Cardiac Night Program which limits its class size to 10 – 12 students.
What are the hours? How many hours per week am I in class?
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.
How many clinical hours are needed to complete the course?
We schedule 840 total clinical hours.
Where are the clinical sites?
We are proud to offer clinical rotations at hospitals, acute care facilities and outpatient facilities throughout the Continental U.S.; however, given that we are located in Arizona, and that the majority of our students are from the greater Phoenix area, our main focus is on obtaining clinical sites in the greater Phoenix area and the state of Arizona. Sites can vary from year to year.
Am I assured a clinical site in the greater Phoenix area?
While we try to accommodate all Phoenix area students with a clinical site in the greater Phoenix area, there are only so many clinical sites available in the greater Phoenix area every six months; so, students must be prepared to go wherever they are assigned within the Continental U.S. to complete their clinical rotation.
What is your job placement rate?
We historically place over 90% of our students!
Will you help me find a job in the sonography field after I graduate?
We work with all graduates to help them secure a job in the sonography field by posting job listings, networking and helping to construct resumes showcasing applicable skills.
After passing my Boards, will I be qualified to work at any hospital nationwide? Do I need to complete any other degrees to work as a sonographer?
We require passing the CCI registry exam in order to complete the program, which will give you a nationally recognized credential and you will not need more credentials. The cost of the exam is included in your tuition, but if you do not pass the first time you will be financially responsible for any subsequent attempts.
Are you accredited?
Yes! We are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Frequently asked:
about enrollment process and tuition
Do you have a catalog with all the details of the program?
Yes, you can download the full catalog here.
What are the prerequisites for the Arizona Heart Foundation School of Ultrasound Program?
You must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED.
Do any of my classes/credits I took for another program count? Can I transfer credits?
No, we do not accept credits from other programs. Regardless of your background you must complete the Ultrasound Program in its entirety.
How much does this program cost?
Cardiac Program fee: $29,900. Plus, one-time registration fee of $250.
Vascular Program fee: $29,900. Plus, one-time registration fee of $250.
Program fee includes tuition, textbooks, equipment, supplies, and a one-time national certification exam fee.
If you are outside the Phoenix metro area, you may need to find housing for a few months. However, most clinical rotations can be done in your hometown.
Additional Expenses
- Passport-type photo
- Fingerprint clearance card
- Background check
- 12-panel drug screening
- Current BLS or ACLS card
- Proof of medical insurance
- Any additional testing or documentation that may be required by a clinical site
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?
We do not offer Title IV, federally-funded aid. But we do offer competitive and customizable student loans through our financing partner, Meritize, including loan payment deferral while in school and up to 3 months post-graduation.
We also offer a $3,000 discount off the cost of the program if tuition is paid in-full before the start of the program.
Can I use federal financial aid to pay for the program?
Are you accredited?
Yes! We are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
How do I apply?
We make the application process easy by allowing you complete your application on-line.
What information or documents do I need to complete the online application?
Along with basic contact information including name, address, phone number, and email, you should have the following information available:
- High School Information:
- Name & Location
- Years Attended
- Major (if appropriate)
- Graduation Date
- GPA
- High School Transcript
you must have a copy of your transcript that you can include with your application. - College Information
(if appropriate):- Name & Location
- Years Attended
- Major (if appropriate)
- Graduation Date
- GPA
- College Transcript
(if appropriate) – you must have a copy of your transcript that you can include with your application. - Medical Training
(if appropriate):- Name & Location
- Years Attended
- Major (if appropriate)
- Graduation Date
- GPA
- Ultrasound Training
(if appropriate):- Name & Location
- Years Attended
- Major (if appropriate)
- Graduation Date
- GPA
- References
At least 3 people not related to you who you have known for at least one year. - Letters of Recommendation
At least 2 letters of recommendation that can be submitted with your application.
The Program I applied for doesn’t start for several months; how long will it take before I hear something?
The next step in the enrollment process after submitting your application is a one-on-one interview with the Program instructor. Our instructors review every application and, then, schedule their interviews accordingly.
However, this process does not typically begin until March for the program starting in July and not until September for the programs starting in January.
Is there anything else I can do to be better prepared for your Sonography program?
- If you are in a position to take anatomy/physiology, and/or medical terminology at your local community college it would certainly give you a head start.
- If you are not in a position to take the above mentioned classes, do your own independent internet study ahead of your start date.
- Try to set up times to shadow someone in the ultrasound field to make sure it is a good fit for you.
- If you cannot shadow someone in the field, contact us to schedule a time to observe a scan lab.
*Statistics from the Bureau of Labor
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm
