Vascular Technology, Associate of Applied Science Degree

Overview

Offered at the Piedmont Summerville Site.

Admission: Vascular Technology is a competitive program. Students who meet the College admission criteria are eligible to enroll at the College to take prerequisite courses for this program. Prerequisite courses (ENGL 1101, Humanities/Fine Arts Area IV, MATH 1111, MATH 1127, PSYC 1101, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, PHYS 1110, and PHYS 1110L) must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale by the designated deadlines to be evaluated for program admission. Students are REQUIRED to attend an informational session during the ranking cycle prior to consideration for acceptance into competitive admission programs.  Instructors will hold recruitment fairs/informational sessions on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle, January - May.

The academic ranking order for admission to the program is determined using the most recent grade for MATH 1111, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, PHYS 1110, and PHYS 1110L. Students can retake a class to earn a higher grade. Students who are not selected for admission may consider another program or resubmit an admission application and a new Competitive Ranking Application by the next ranking cycle deadline. High school graduation or GED is required for admission to this program. For more information regarding this process, please contact the Admissions Office at (706) 771-4028. Refer to program related deadlines.

Program Description: Vascular Technology is a program of Augusta Technical College and University Hospital‘s Harry T. Harper, Jr., M.D., School of Cardiac and Vascular Technology. The off-campus site is centered at the Heart and Vascular Institute at University Hospital.

The program is a sequence of courses that provide educational opportunities to individuals in didactic and clinical environments that will enable them to obtain skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to graduate and become successful entry-level Vascular Technologist in an allied health profession specifically concerning the diagnosis and treatment of patients with vascular diseases. The profession requires critical thinking skills, judgment, and the ability to provide appropriate health care services. A vascular technologist performs examinations at the request or under direct supervision of a physician, is proficient in the use of a variety of diagnostic imaging and monitoring equipment, and provides sonographic images and data from which a correct anatomic and physiologic diagnosis can be made. Vascular Technology use high frequency sound waves to perform venous and arterial diagnostic procedures. The information is evaluated by physicians to make a medical diagnosis. Course work includes sonographic physics, sonographic identification of normal and abnormal anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology of the venous and arterial systems, journal and case reviews, and a comprehensive registry review.

Employment Opportunities: Vascular technologists may pursue career opportunities within hospitals, physician offices, medical clinics, mobile outreach companies, cardiac equipment companies, or research groups.

Credentialing (Optional):  Satisfactory completion of all program courses entitles students to sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) – ARDMS examination. Students take the National Registry in Cardiac or Vascular Technology before graduation.

Curriculum Outline

General Core Courses, 19 credits

Non General Education Degree Courses, 8 credits

Occupational Courses, 46 credits

Notes:

• A grade of “C” or higher is required for all courses.
• Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to submit completed medical and dental examination forms. All required immunizations, including Hepatitis B, must be accompanied by documentation. Students who refuse to take the Hepatitis B vaccination series must sign a declination form and be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse them an opportunity to gain clinical experience.
• A student who does not earn a grade of “C” or higher in one course with the CAVT, DMSO or VAST prefix will be suspended from the program for one year. A student who does not earn a grade of “C” or higher in any two courses with these prefixes will not be allowed to re-enter the Cardiovascular Technology Program.
• Conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor may prohibit employment in field and may make a student ineligible to take licensing/certification exam(s) required for the profession. A background check and/or drug screen may be required by some agencies before a student attends a clinical practicum. For more information, contact the appropriate program advisor.
• Student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing his or her clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. Students will not be receiving monetary remuneration during this educational experience, nor will he or she be substituted for hired staff personnel within the clinical institution in the capacity of a cardiovascular technologist.
• Natural Science prefix courses older than 5 years will not be considered for program progression evaluation. Students will need to retake these courses to become eligible for program progression evaluation.
• Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to show proof of current health insurance. Students who cannot show proof of health insurance need to be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse to allow them the opportunity to gain clinical experience at their facility.

Guided Pathway

You may click on any course below to view the course description and prerequisite information.

Students who do not follow the Course Sequence listed below may not be able to complete the program in the number of semesters shown.

Piedmont Summerville Day Program

PROGRAM NAME: Vascular Technology

AWARD: Associate of Applied Science Degree

CAMPUS: Piedmont Summerville Day Program

Year 1 Fall Semester

Year 1 Spring Semester

Year 1 Summer Semester

Students are ranked for admission to the program summer semester

Year 2 Fall Semester

Year 2 Spring Semester

Year 2 Summer Semester

Year 3 Fall Semester

Accreditation

The Vascular Technology Program is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs—Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology. The contact information for the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is as follows: 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL, 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org.