Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Certificate

echo scanning with left hand

The Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Certificate program (DCS) is a fast-track adult echocardiography program designed for working sonographers registered in vascular technology (RVT) through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).  This two semester program teaches all didactic courses online with one mandatory weekend clinical intensive (in-person) requirement in the Fall semester.   DCS students will only have to come to the Bellin College campus for their one weekend intensive.  Clinical requirements of 400 hours are met at the sonographer’s current employer or with placement assistance from Bellin College faculty.     

  • Fast-track program geared toward working sonographers
  • Assigned clinical sites if you cannot obtain clinical at your current place of employment
  • Clinical hours completed when it fits into your working schedule
  • Completely online curriculum with only one weekend in-person requirement.
  • Small student-to-faculty ratio for individual learning
  • Sonography lab with multiple ultrasound machines
  • American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) board eligible in:
    • Adult Echocardiography

Mission Statement and Program Philosophy

Bellin College Mission
Bellin College is dedicated to educating healthcare professionals through innovation, leadership, and service that promotes lifelong learning and excellence.

Program Goals and Outcomes

Goal: To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the adult cardiac concentration.

Outcomes:

Cognitive: Describe and recognize anatomy, pathologies, and abnormalities in the adult heart.

Psychomotor: Demonstrate hands-on skill proficiency and good clinical decision-making to obtain quality echocardiograms that document cardiac pathology adequately.

Affective: Provide compassionate patient care and education to promote overall well-being.

Program Effectiveness Data

The performance of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Bellin College is reflected through program effectiveness data defined by our accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP). Program effectiveness data includes:

  • Student Retention rate– the number of students that began the program divided by the number of students that actually complete the program.
  • Test Taker Rate– the total number of test takers divided by the total number of graduates
  • Credentialing examination success rate– the number of students who pass the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certification examination in abdominal, obstetric and gynecological, vascular technology, and sonographic principles and instrumentation within one year of graduation from the program.
  • Job placement rate– the number of students that gain employment in the sonography field, are continuing their education, or in the military in one of the program’s accredited specialties within six months of graduation from the program.

Information regarding college enrollment, persistence, credentialing, diversity, and job placement (employment) rates for the college as a whole are available on the Statistics page. Information concerning the Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is maintained on the website as a requirement of its accrediting body CAAHEP.  For more information regarding program effectiveness data visit the CAAHEP website at www.caahep.org.

Handbook and Catalog

The Bellin College (program) Guide – Handbook and Catalog summarizes campus information pertaining to College resources, policies and procedures as well as student services and academic planning.

Bellin College Catalog

Requirements for Admission
  • Credentialed in vascular technology (RVT) through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
  • Official transcript from a CAAHEP accredited sonography program and from all post-secondary institutions attended.
  • Or admitted into the BSDMS General Vascular program and minoring in adult echocardiography. 

*Each candidate may be reviewed under special considerations (years experience, CCI credentialed, etc.) 

Academic Plans

A list of sample academic plans for the Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Certificate program can be found within the College’s Handbook and Catalog: https://catalog.bellincollege.edu/degrees

Accreditation

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Adult Cardiac Program at Bellin College 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS).

Graduates of the program are eligible for certification through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

CAAHEP
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
P:727-210-2350
F:727-210-2354
E: mail@caahep.org

Visit Bellin College’s Accreditation page for more information: https://www.bellincollege.edu/about/accreditation/

Academic Plan         APPLY NOW

Questions?

Please contact Bellin College Admissions at Admissions@bellincollege.edu,
(920) 433-6650, or use our online contact form.

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