Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography, Cert

Program Description

PROFESSION
The diagnostic ultrasound profession is a multispecialty field comprised of diagnostic medical sonography (DMS)-with subspecialties in abdominal, neurologic, obstetric/gynecologic; diagnostic cardiac sonography (DCS)-with subspecialties in adult and pediatric echocardiography; vascular technology (VT); and other emerging fields. These diverse specialties are distinguished by their use of diagnostic medical ultrasound as primary technology in their daily work. The diagnostic ultrasound professional is an individual qualified by professional credentialing and academic clinical experience to provide diagnostic patient-care services using ultrasound and related diagnostic procedures. Diagnostic ultrasound professionals perform patient assessments, acquire and analyze data obtained using ultrasound-related diagnostic technologies, provide a summary of findings to the physician to aid in patient diagnosis and management, and use independent judgment and systematic problem-solving methods to produce high-quality diagnostic information and optimize patient care.

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 Sonographers.

GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURE
As part of new federal regulations, LLU is providing required information regarding the following gainful employment (GE) program.  The following link will provide information regarding the cost of the certificate, financing available, median debt, normal timeframe for completion, and job placement rates for students that have completed this program. To view this information, Click Here.

Program Website  |  Catalog

Program Length

Track 1: 24 months; Track 2: 12 months

Possible Careers

Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS)

Application Deadlines

There are currently no published application deadlines.

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 2021-2022

Year of Program:	Year 1	Year 2
Tuition	$14,025	$3,300
Fees	$2,772	$924
Books & Supplies	$2,100	$700
Instruments	—	—
Misc (e.g., Boards, Licensing exam, Uniforms)	—	—
Total	$18,897	$4,924

Notes

Expected costs for the 2021-2022 academic year are based on full time attendance. From year to year, increases are anticipated consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.