Our Program
Middle Tennessee Cardiovascular Institute utilizes a curriculum that prepares students for a career in Adult Echocardiography by applying the experience, knowledge and general skills of accomplished sonographers, educators, and advisors. MTCVI faculty and staff are committed to the success of students by adopting a dual learning curriculum with didactic instruction and clinical experience.
Middle Tennessee Cardiovascular Institute offers a thirteen (13) month Program that consists of 40 hours per week for 45 weeks resulting in a total of 1,800 clock hours. The Program excluding holidays and breaks will span across approximately 13 months. This allows for students to complete required clinical hours for Program completion and for students to obtain registry status within the 13th month. The Program is designed to aid students in mastering adult echocardiography. MTCVI teaches students with dual learning through hands-on classroom instruction and clinical training. Time on-campus is spent in the classroom with PowerPoint lectures and professional ultrasound equipment. Students will learn to scan a full echo in the classroom setting before entering into the clinical environment. Students will then utilize MTCVI Clinical Affiliates to gain experience in clinical settings and real patient scanning. Middle Tennessee Cardiovascular Institute Adult Echocardiography Program is held on campus. The clinical portion of the Program is held off campus. Details on location can be found in the “Clinical Education” section.
Middle Tennessee Cardiovascular Institute faculty and staff are committed to preparing quality and professional cardiac sonographers that will be successful in passing their Registry Exam for Certification, and thrive in an entry level position in Adult Echocardiography. The MTCVI curriculum allows students to have guided, hands-on training in patient care, anatomy, physiology, pathology, scanning, and all necessary career skills.
MTCVI is proud to offer a 2:1 student to machine scanning ratio. This means that each student is either scanning or being scanned in the classroom setting. Our goal is to provide each student with as much hands on experience possible before setting foot in the clinical environment. In addition, students have the option to utilize one of our hand-held Philips Lumify or Butterfly IQ ultrasound devices to take home and practice during non-classroom hours, as well as access to our scanning lab both after hours and on weekends.
Certificate of Completion
After completing the program, graduating students will receive a certificate. This document verifies the successful completion of academic and clinical aspects of the Program at MTCVI. All didactic and clinical hours, academic coursework, and scanning tests must be completed and deemed satisfactory before a student can apply for graduation.
Registry
MTCVI graduates that complete 1,800 clock hours in classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction in the Adult Echocardiography Program will be eligible and encouraged to take the national certification examinations. Although credentialing may not be required for employment, it is highly recommended and encouraged for students to meet a majority of employer requirements. Students qualify for the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) and American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
The CCI offers a credentialing examination for Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS). The examination is for professionals working in the area of Non-Invasive Echocardiography and requires a speciality examination. Graduating students will qualify for these exams following completion of the Program Prerequisite of RC S5. Students can find more information and cost at www.cci-online.org.
The ARDMS offers a Registered DIagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) credential with an Adult Echocardiography (AE) speciality. This organization registers all ultrasound sonographers. At the completion of the MTCVI Program, students will be qualified to take the ARDMS RDCS exams under Prerequisite 1 or Prerequisite 3A. Students must pass the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination first and then the Adult Echocardiography (AE) examination to complete credentialing. For more information on the exam and cost, can visit www.ardms.com.