As a cardiac sonographer, you play a vital role in the pulse of patients’ lives. You will specialize on the heart organ and use imaging to spot issues in blood flow, valve function and chambers. Your critical thinking during these procedures and your ability to communicate results support doctors in making life-saving diagnoses.
Every day, you’ll also interact with patients, explaining what to expect during the ultrasound and providing comfort during an uncertain time in their healthcare journey. Your compassion during these moments makes a significant difference in their experience.
Cardiac Sonography (also known as Echocardiography) is ideal for those seeking a 9 to 5 job in a hospital or physician’s office setting. Oakton College’s state-of-the-art classroom and your clinical experience will prepare you for this exciting career and the national licensing exam.
Equipped with knowledge of anatomy, medical records, technology, patient safety and cardiology, your skills will distinguish you in the sonography labor market. The industry is growing fast, with a median salary of $78,210 in Illinois (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Students will learn skills in accordance with the standards and guidelines recommended by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). Upon successful completion of the program the graduate is eligible to sit for the CCI board examination.
Enrollment is limited. There are a number of minimum requirements for admittance. (Please note: Meeting those requirements does not guarantee admission.) Students are encouraged to meet with a health career specialist at healthcareeradvising@oakton.edu for more information on program admissions.
Admission Requirements:
1. High school graduation or High School Equivalency Certificate*.
Foreign high school graduates or students with foreign college credits need to send English translated copies of their transcripts to Educational Perspectives, www.edperspective.org/oakton. Students with foreign college credit should request a catalog match.
2. High school GPA of 2.0 or higher.
3. EGL 101 placement based on Oakton’s Writing Skills Assessment Test (WSAT), or completion of EGL 101.
4. One year of high school biology or one semester of college biology or equivalent with a minimum grade of C within the past five years.
5. Completion of the following courses with minimum grades of C:
MAT 140 College Algebra
PHY 101 Applied Physics
6. Satisfactory interview with the Cardiac Sonography program director.
* Starting January 1, 2023, the High School Equivalency Certificate became the State of Illinois High School Diploma. High School Equivalency credentials received before that date remain valid.
MAT 140 and PHY 101 have their own prerequisites, which comprise of remedial and/or bridge Math courses, such as MAT 070 “Elementary Algebra” (for PHY 101) and MAT 092 “Intermediate Algebra Bridge” or MAT 095 “Intermediate Algebra” or appropriate score on the Mathematics Placement Test and MAT 080 “Elementary Plane Geometry” (for MAT 140). Most of these courses (or equivalent) might be completed while in high school, allowing students to be placed directly into MAT 140 and PHY 101.
Students completing the prerequisite courses while enrolled in Oakton, are supported by the Health Career Specialists and a Student Experience Navigator (SEN) who help them navigate Oakton’s Academic and Student Support Services, including Learning Center that provides tutoring and academic coaching among other services.
Enrolling at Oakton College can save you thousands of dollars and help you earn more over the course of your career. Our tuition is among the lowest in the region, and we offer many ways to bring your costs down even more.
99 percent of Oakton students graduate without debt.
To help you get there, you can apply for a scholarship, which you don’t have to pay back. We award $12 million in scholarships annually. Financial Aid includes grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance that can reduce your costs of attending college.
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