Cardiovascular Technology (CVTE)

Cardiovascular Technologists use medical imaging tools to sample and/or record anatomic and physiologic data which help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments. The four main areas of professional practice are: Invasive cardiology- Cardiac Catheterization, Noninvasive cardiology-Echocardiography, Noninvasive peripheral vascular study-Vascular Ultrasound, and Cardiac electrophysiology (www.caahep.org). This four-year Bachelor of Science degree program is a collaborative effort between Piedmont College and the Northeast Georgia Heart Center, and provides students a blend of traditional classroom-based instruction and focused clinical experiences to prepare them for careers in adult, non-invasive echocardiography. The first three years of this combined program are held on Piedmont’s Demorest campus, where students complete preliminary coursework with an emphasis on critical thinking and scientific principles. The fourth year consists of specialized didactic and clinical instruction at the Northeast Georgia Heart Center (Gainesville, GA). Admission to the program is competitive and not guaranteed.

Admission Criteria

See General Education Requirements; these apply to degree-seeking students only.

Prospective students must meet the minimum criteria listed below to be considered for admission to the program; these apply to both degree and certificate students:

• Separate application to the CVTE program
• “C” or better on all prerequisite and required general education courses (all prerequisite courses except HSCS 4411 Health Policy, Law, and Issues must be complete before beginning the clinical year).
• Only two lab science courses may be repeated one time; failure of more than two science courses or a second failure in any one science course results in ineligibility for admission to the program
• Students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and earn a “C” or better in all Science (BIOL, CHEM, PHYS), Health Science (HSCS), and Cardiovascular Technology (CVTE) courses.
• In instances where a course has been repeated for a higher grade, the higher grade will be counted only if the first grade is a “D” or “F.” If the initial grade was a “C” or higher, repeat grades will not be counted
• Successful completion of a CVTE admissions interview, including (students must have completed or be enrolled in all prerequisite courses except HSCS 4411 Health Policy, Law, and Issues before they will be granted an interview):
  • Official Transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Proof of current health and accident insurance
  • Current physical examination by either a licensed physician or nurse practitioner
  • Proof of immunizations (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) or appropriate titer to prove immunities
  • Proof of current tetanus, two-step PPD tuberculin test, two consecutive annual tests, or chest x-ray results for converters, and hepatitis B vaccination (preferably two of the three injections completed)
  • Proof of current BLS certification
  • Successful completion of a criminal background check and drug screen approved by the School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Course Descriptions