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Cardiovascular Technology for Health Care Professionals - Certificate (Career)

Application Code 270

For curriculum information, contact the Health Sciences Division—Room HS-236—443-518-1560.

This certificate is designed for individuals who are working as health care professionals and who desire to prepare themselves for advancement in the area of Invasive Cardiovascular Technology. Individuals who are currently licensed, registered or certified as a Nurse, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Respiratory Therapist, Physical Therapist, or practicing Radiologic Technologist are eligible to apply for admission to this program. Cardiovascular Technology is an allied health profession specifically dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiac and/or peripheral vascular disease. Graduates may apply to take the national certification exam to become a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS). Certified Radiologic Technologists may apply to take the examination in Cardiovascular – Interventional Technology to become a Cardiovascular Radiologic Technologist (CVRT).

Suggested Semester 1 (Spring)

Course NumberTitleCredits
CARD 120Rhythm Analysis and 12-lead ECG

2

CARD 121Cardiovascular Assessment Skills Lab

3

CARD 122Cardiac Anatomy and Pathophysiology

3

Suggested Summer Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
CARD 123Hemodynamics

3

CARD 124X-Ray Theory for Cardiovascular Technology

3

Suggested Semester 2

Course NumberTitleCredits
CARD 201Cardiovascular Pharmacology

2

CARD 220Cardiovascular Procedures

2

CARD 221Diagnostic and Interventional Procedures

8

Suggested Winter Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
CARD 231Applied Clinical Practicum

3

Suggested Semester 3

Course NumberTitleCredits
CARD 222Advanced Intravascular Interventional Procedures

4

CARD 261Clinical Internship

4

Students must have the following in their background or complete prior to enrollment in the cardiovascular course sequence:

Course NumberTitleCredits
BIOL 101General Biology I

4

OR

BIOL 107Fundamentals of Microbiology

4

BIOL 203Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIOL 204Anatomy and Physiology II

4

PHYS 101Technical Physical Science

4

OR

PHYS 103Fundamentals of Physics I

4

AND

PHYS 104Fundamentals of Physics II

4

Gen Ed Core Mathematics Core Course

3

Total Credit Hours: 37

A grade of “C” or better is required in cardiovascular, mathematics, and science courses.

Sciences are generally not transferable if they are ten (10) years old. Check with the office of admissions and advising.

Placement into ENGL 121 (or proof of completion of a college-level English course) must be demonstrated.

CARD 121: Students will be expected to participate in four 8-hour days of clinical experience during the semester in addition to scheduled class time. A health form is required.

CARD 124: Practicing Radiologic Technologists are not required to take CARD 124.

CARD 231: Students will be assigned to a clinical agency for the month of January, between the third and fourth semesters. Clinical experience is 40 hours per week.

A minimum grade of 80% is required for the following courses: CARD 221, CARD 222 (clinical portion only), CARD 231, and CARD 261.

Completion of BIOL 101 or BIOL 107 is required as a prerequisite for BIOL 203. Official transcripts, showing completion of the above prerequisite courses (with a minimum grade of “C” for CARD, mathematics, and science courses) must be submitted, with an Official Transcript Evaluation Form to the office of admissions and advising before candidates are eligible to be cleared into the Cardiovascular Technology courses.

For important information about this program, including the graduation rate and median debt of students who completed, please visit www.howardcc.edu/disclosure-cardiovascular-technology-for-health-care-professionals.