Are you interested in the medical field? Do you want to work alongside cardiologists to care for people with heart disease? A career as an invasive cardiovascular technologist could be a good choice for you.
In this accredited program, you’ll learn to use special equipment to perform medical procedures that help doctors diagnose and treat problems with the heart and blood vessels. You’ll study how to use X-ray technologies to view the cardiovascular system; how to place stents, balloons, pacemakers and other devices; and how to measure blood flow and the electrical activity of the heart. Your training will include a clinical internship and other on-the-job experiences in hospital laboratories.
With this degree, you’ll become prepared to join the health care team as a professional in hospital cardiac catheterization laboratories.
Program Goals
Demonstrate collaboration and effective communication among all health care team members in the delivery of cardiac care in all patient settings.
Analyze information and research and apply it in the health care setting.
Apply the principles of cultural awareness formulating appropriate modification to health care plans to accommodate cultural differences.
Design and implement appropriate treatment plans in all healthcare settings where cardiac care is delivered.
Apply advanced cardiac care competencies in all health care settings.
Additional Application Information
Program start: Fall (waitlist)
Pre-requisites: Yes
Program length: 7 quarters
Number of students each start: 28 total
Contact: Michelle Gendusa 509-533-8196
Applications deadline: N/A
- Demonstrate collaboration and effective communication among all health care team members in the delivery of cardiac care in all patient settings.
- Analyze information and research and apply it in the health care setting.
- Apply the principles of cultural awareness formulating appropriate modifications to health care plans to accommodate cultural differences.
- Design and implement appropriate treatment plans in all healthcare settings where cardiac care is delivered.
- Apply advanced cardiac care competencies in all health care settings.
Breaking Ground on Your Pathway
Plan Your Courses
Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you.
You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.
Prepare for College-level Math
Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below MATH& 146, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → MATH 87 → MATH 88 → MATH& 146
Placement
English placement is not required for this program.
The invasive cardiovascular technologist is a health care professional who, through the use of specific high-technology equipment and at the direction of a qualified physician, performs procedures on patients leading to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease.
As a member of the cardiac catheterization team, the cardiovascular technologist is a surgical scrub assistant, monitors the patient's condition and operates other "CATH Lab." equipment.
The most important "CATH Lab" studies are coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (where stents, balloons, plaque removal devices, and other treatments to restore blood flow are deployed), right heart catheterization (where blood flow measurements are made), electrophysiology (where irregular heartbeats are created, studied and treated) and pacemaker implantations.
The invasive cardiovascular technologist also works with physicians during critical times during heart attacks by restoring blood flow to diseased areas of the heart. They assist with percutaneous revascularization, give clot-dissolving drugs, and operate cardiac assist pumps.
The first year of the Invasive Cardiovascular program teaches basic sciences and cardiology and is combined with the Noninvasive Cardiovascular program. In the second year, the Invasive students concentrate on the technical duties of a cardiac catheterization technologist and spend time working in local hospital cardiac laboratories.
Upon completion of the didactic training (six quarters), the student selects an out-of-town medical center where he/she will complete the final quarter of clinical internship. Students may take the CCI National Registry Exam upon graduation. The program is the only CAAHEP approved invasive technology program in the northwestern United States. The Cardiovascular Technology Programs (Invasive and Noninvasive) are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee for Cardiovascular Technology (www.jrccvt.org). JRC-CVT 6 Pine Knoll Dr. Beverly, MA 01915-1425
- High school diploma or GED certificate required
- Appropriate math score
- Self-place into English
- Computer skills recommended
- Active e-mail account recommended
- A 2.0 grade must be maintained quarterly in each course before proceeding to the next quarter.
- Students may repeat an invasive cardiovascular course once, but it must be repeated within two years.
Program Map for
Choose program map:
Total Prerequisites Credits: 35
Total Program Credits: 107
Prerequisites
First Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&160
General Biology with Lab
5
ENGL&101
English Composition I
5
MATH&146
Introduction to Statistics
5
Second Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST&210
Interpersonal Communication
1
5
Third Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PHYS 100
Introductory Physics
5
Program Courses
NOTE: You must apply and be accepted into the program before taking the following courses
First Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HED 109
Human Physiology and Disease
5
ICT 114
Introduction to Cardiac Care
3
ICT 115
Technical Skills - CPR for Health Care Providers
1
ICT 116
Acute Coronary Syndrome
1
ICT 117
Cardiovascular Pharm 1
1
ICT 212
Electrocardiography Lab
1
ICT 213
Electrocardiography
3
Second Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ICT 124
CV Diagnostic Exams
4
ICT 126
Technical Skills/Reading Hemodynamics
1
ICT 127
Cardiovascular Pharm 2/Intravenous Therapy
1
ICT 128
Technical Skills/Pharmacology/Intravenous Therapy
1
ICT 129
Basic Life Support Instructor Course
2
Third Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ICT 134
Cath Lab Procedures
3
ICT 135
Technical Skills Cath Lab Procedures
1
ICT 138
Cardiovascular Physiology
4
ICT 139
Radiation Safety
2
ICT 140
Surgical Asepsis
1
ICT 141
Technical Skills/Surgical Asepsis
1
PHYS 120
Fundamentals of Medical Physics
5
Fourth Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ICT 144
Patient Care and Assessment
4
ICT 145
Technical Skills/Cath Lab Boot Camp/Patient Care
4
ICT 146
Cath Lab Clinical I
6
Fifth Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ICT 203
Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course
2
ICT 204
Advanced Cardiac Life Support Technical Skills Lab
1
ICT 214
Cardiac Interventions/PCI
3
ICT 215
Interventional Radiology
2
ICT 216
Electrophysiology 1 Introduction to Devices
2
ICT 217
Technical Skills/PCI/EP/Special Equipment
2
ICT 218
Cath Lab Clinical II
5
ICT 219
Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology
1
Sixth Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ICT 224
Advanced Practices/Management
5
ICT 226
Statistics and Research
1
ICT 227
Electrophysiology 2 Interventions
2
ICT 228
Technical Skills/Peds/Special Procedures/EP
2
ICT 229
Cath Lab Clinical III
5
Seventh Quarter
Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ICT 234
Board Registry (RCIS) Prep Blackboard
4
ICT 235
Cath Lab Clinical IV
12
| 1 |
To meet the requirements of the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program, CMST& 210 should be taken on campus rather than as an online course. |
Students must have their health science clinical files completed before they attend clinical. Students reentering the programs or entering with advanced standing, must update their files before attending clinical.
All required paperwork is to be turned in to the health science office: Building 9, Room 132.
Photocopy
(Students must bring in a copy; the office is not equipped to make copies for students.)
-
Medical insurance - bring in a copy of your medical insurance card or purchase medical insurance from the SCC cashier and bring in a copy of your receipt. (If you have SCC medical insurance, it must be updated each quarter and a copy of your receipt must be brought in for your file.)
-
American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR card - bring in a copy of a current CPR card (within the last year). This must be updated annually as long as you are in the program, and a copy must be kept on file.
Originals Required
-
TB test - bring in documented results of two- step TB test (two separate tests within the last year). Must show results and be signed and dated by a healthcare provider. The TB test must be within the last year and updated annually in your file as long as you are in the program and a copy on file.
-
DT - Diphtheria/Tetanus vaccination within the last 10 years. Must be signed and dated by a healthcare provider.
-
MMR - Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccination or a titer for each of the diseases showing immunity. Must be signed and dated by healthcare provider.
-
A photo copy of your shot card may be substituted for the above immunizations (TB, DT, MMR).
-
Physical - current physical - signed and dated by the physician. Use Health Science physical form.
-
Drug screening - mandatory drug screening through Pathology Associates - results of which will be sent to the Dean by the lab. Students need to turn in a copy of their receipt for their file.
-
Hepatitis B form - SCC form - completed and turned in for file.
-
Chicken Pox form - SCC form - completed and turned in for file.
-
Flu Vaccine form - SCC form - completed and turned in for file.
-
MultiCare Flu declination form
-
Clinical Agreement form - SCC form - completed and turned in for file.
-
National Background Check
Students are advised to keep a copy of their physical, TB test results and immunizations for their own records. Potential employers will be requesting this same documentation and the school is not responsible for providing such documentation.
Students who change programs or are reentering a program with advanced standing: previous files are not considered current and many file requirements will have to be updated.
It is the student's responsibility to maintain their own medical and personal records. You will need them again when you apply for employment in the medical field.
It is in your best interest to obtain a documented shot record from your healthcare provider and keep that record, along with updates, in a safe, accessible place in your personal file. It is also important for you to keep a copy of your CPR card and physical. The Health Science office does not provide copies.
Estimated costs for completing this program
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 15,403
$ 19,050
$ 35,802
Books
$ 1,033
$ 1,033
$ 1,033
Course Fees
$ 680
$ 680
$ 680
Institutional Fees
$ 1,120
$ 1,120
$ 5,324
Supplies and Materials
$ 1,560
$ 1,560
$ 1,560
Total Costs
$ 19,796
$ 23,443
$ 44,399
Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.
These charts reflect the accreditation report for the program. You can use it to compare programs for their strength. We at SCC are above threshold for all of our quality standards. There are currently 56 accredited ICT programs in the USA. See caahep.org for more information.
The invasive cardiovascular technologist is a health care professional who, through the use of specific high-technology equipment and at the direction of a qualified physician, performs procedures on patients leading to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease.
As a member of the cardiac catheterization team, the cardiovascular technologist is a surgical scrub assistant, monitors the patient's condition, and operates other "CATH Lab." equipment.
The most important "CATH Lab" studies are coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (where stents, balloons, plaque removal devices, and other treatments to restore blood flow are deployed), right heart catheterization (where blood flow measurements are made), electrophysiology (where irregular heartbeats are created, studied and treated) and pacemaker implantations.
Invasive cardiovascular technologists also work with physicians during critical times during heart attacks by restoring blood flow to diseased areas of the heart. They assist with percutaneous revascularization, give clot-dissolving drugs, and operate cardiac assist pumps. To learn more about what invasive cardiovascular technologists do, see our Sample Job Description.