Cardiac Sonography ATC

Cardiac Sonography Advanced Technical Certificate

This program allows registered Sonography professionals to expand their skills and leads to an Advanced Technical Certificate from Eastern Florida State College. Duties of sonographers have evolved over the years as advances in adult and pediatric cardiac sonography have provided new imaging modalities and techniques to help diagnose and treat heart-related issues. There is a rising need for cardiac sonographers to aid doctors in providing the best possible care for the adult and pediatric cardiac patient.

Classroom and hands-on clinical experience are both key parts of the program, with local hospitals, diagnostic centers and clinics serving as clinical education settings for the certificate. Job opportunities include working in hospitals, emergency clinics, medical clinics and physician’s offices.

Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Sonography is a limited access program with a specialized application process. The 27-credit program starts Fall Term each year and includes courses during three terms held on the Melbourne Campus and local clincal settings. Training is delivered through a cohort method with a class size of 12-14 students. The certificate curriculum can also be part of a Bachelor of Applied Health Science - Medical Imaging Specialization program.

Diagnostic cardiac sonographers (also known as echocardiography technologists) use non-invasive ultrasound machines, laptops and transducers to create images of the inside of patients’ hearts, which physicians use to make a medical diagnosis — often without expensive, invasive methods. Cardiac sonographers also maintain the specialized cardiac imaging equipment.

Each EFSC program includes multiple learning outcomes that clearly express the anticipated skills, knowledge and competencies students are expected to develop throughout their program of study.