Cardiovascular Technology
Now is the time to pursue a career in healthcare. To get started, enroll at the college, then complete a program application using the instructions on this page. Program applications are currently being accepted by email only. Admissions Specialists are available to help you by phone or by email.
What You Will Learn
About Cardiovascular Technology
If you’re interested in cardiovascular technology, it’s likely that you have a knack for problem-solving — such as identifying an underlying issue or problem — and that you are skilled at interpreting complex data. You are interested in the inner-workings of the heart and have compassion for others. You are also very tech-savvy, great at multi-tasking, and communicate well with teammates. Become a cardiovascular technologist by earning an Associate of Applied Science in Cardiovascular Technology from Central Piedmont.
What You Can Do With This Degree
A cardiovascular technologist is an allied health professional who performs highly specialized procedures leading to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease. The cardiovascular technologist possesses technical and cognitive skills necessary to provide quality care practices for the evaluation of varied pathophysiologic states.
Cardiovascular Technology Tracks
The Cardiovascular Technology curriculum prepares individuals to develop attributes necessary to perform procedures leading to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Course work emphasizes technical and cognitive skills development with application by applying the concepts of echocardiography, exercise stress testing, electrocardiography, cardiac catheterization, blood gases, electrophysiology, cardiovascular anatomy, and physiology.
Career Shadowing Opportunity
CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia allows prospective students an opportunity to “shadow” in various departments including the invasive cardiac cath lab and cardiac sonography departments. This provides the student with the chance to see real procedures and speak with professionals performing those procedures so that the prospective student can understand which track is better suited to them. It is highly suggested that you make separate morning appointments from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. for both the invasive and sonography labs. The labs are generally busiest during this period so you would be able to see a wider variety of procedures.
If interested, complete the CaroMont Health Shadowing Opportunity application. You should begin the application at least one month out from when you want to shadow. After you complete the application, you will be contacted by a hospital representative to give you additional information about other requirements, such as a visit with CaroMont's Occupational Medicine, a background check, and an online orientation. Applicants are connected to a host for shadowing when all of the requirements are complete, and the schedule date is worked out between the host department and the applicant.
Note that any questions about the shadowing application process or any follow up questions regarding shadowing should be directed to the hospital point of contact and not the Cardiovascular Technology program faculty.
Invasive Track: Cardiac Catheterization Technologist/Invasive Cardiovascular Specialist
Students selecting the invasive track will graduate to puruse a career as a cardiovascular invasive specialist. Graduates may be eligible for the Invasive Registry to become a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) through Cardiovascular Credentialing International, Inc. (CCI).
Non-Invasive Track: Cardiac Sonographer/Echocardiography Technologist
Students selecting the non-invasive track will graduate to pursue a career in cardiac sonography. Graduates are eligible to become a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) for the Noninvasive Registry through the American Registry of Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or a Registered Cardiac Sonography (RCS) through Cardiovascular Credentialing International, Inc. (CCI).
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- exercise critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities in the performance of cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic services as an entry-level non-invasive or invasive cardiovascular technologist
- perform all cardiovascular procedures, appropriate to subspecialty, which are assigned by a supervising cardiovascular technologist with a high degree of technical skill, effectiveness, efficiency, and safety as an entry-level invasive or non-invasive cardiovascular technologist
- effectively communicate with patients, their families, and all members of the healthcare team to assume optimal understanding and to facilitate the delivery of quality patient care
After Graduation
After completing our cardiovascular technology program, you will be immediately eligible to take the cardiovascular technology registry through Cardiovascular Credentialing International or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. You will find employment opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and cardiology offices.
Why Choose Central Piedmont
Our program is the only program in North Carolina that is dedicated to a comprehensive cardiac focus, in which you will receive training and a clinical internship in echocardiography and cardiac catheterization within the first year of your studies. With Central Piedmont’s location in the heart of the city of Charlotte, there are many major hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities in which you may complete trainings and clinical rotations — translating to more opportunities for employment upon program completion for you. Our program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT) at the associate degree level in the Non-Invasive Cardiology (Adult Echocardiography) concentration and the Invasive Cardiology (Invasive Cardiovascular Technology) concentration. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the Cardiovascular Technology Student Association.
Real World Education
At Central Piedmont, your education goes beyond what you learn in class. We offer numerous opportunities for you to enhance your learning — and to make friends, network, and pursue your passions — through clubs and organizations, sports, events and activities, leadership opportunities, job experience, volunteer experiences, visual and performing arts, and even international experiences.