CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
CENTRAL GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Macon Campus
3300 Macon Tech Drive, Macon, GA 31206 478-757-3403
www.centralgatech.edu
Effective Fall Semester 2014 / Revised August 2014
CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM SELECTION
Admission to the college and selection into the Cardiovascular program is a distinct process. Students are responsible for understanding and following the entire process. • Questions regarding admission to the college should be directed to the Office of
Admissions.
Macon Campus: (478) 757-3403 Warner Robins Campus: (478) 988-6850
Milledgeville Campus: (478) 445-2300
• Questions regarding Cardiovascular Technology program selection should be directed to:
Tiffini Strickland RT(R), RCIS, Program Chairperson:
[email protected], (478) 757-3667 Or
Jessica Smith, RVS, RCS, Cardiovascular Instructor:
[email protected], (478) 757-4356
As set forth in its Student Catalog, Central Georgia Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the administration of the College nondiscrimination policies:
Linda Hampton
Executive Director of Conduct, Appeals and Compliance 3300 Macon Tech Drive
Macon, GA 31206 Building J, Room 133
CGTC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent to be admitted to the CVT program.
• Submit an application for college admission, along with a $20 non-refundable application fee.
• Schedule to take the COMPASS placement exam (offered in the Testing Center) in order to be admitted to the college. There is no charge for initial administration of the COMPASS exam. (Other placement exam scores may be acceptable, for
example, SAT or ACT.)
• Request transfer credit for courses completed at accredited college(s) or other educational institutes, if applicable. Complete a Request for Transfer Credit prior to admission, and submit official transcripts to the Registrar’s Office.
• Complete a Transcript Evaluation form in order to receive credit for transferred course work.
• Classes will be accepted at the end Fall Semester.
CARDIOVASCULAR ADMISSION FILE CHECKLIST
An applicant’s official student record must contain the following items in order to be accepted for admission:
_____ Application for admission
_____ High School/GED or College Transcript _____ Proof of age
_____ Placement Exam Scores (COMPASS, SAT, ACT)
_____ PSB Health Aptitude for Practical Nursing Examination, 3rd Edition
CGTC CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Students are admitted to CGTC’s Cardiovascular Program through a process of competitive admission that includes three steps. Only those students who meet the minimum academic eligibility requirements (outlined below) will be considered for selection.
1) Successfully complete the nine required core courses (minimum 3.0 GPA of these courses required).
• ENGL 1101 (Composition and Rhetoric) Associate degree-level • MATH 1111 (College Algebra) Associate degree-level
• BIOL 2113/Lab (Anatomy and Physiology I) Associate degree-level with Lab successful completion within the last five (5) years.
• BIOL 2114/Lab (Anatomy and Physiology II) Associate degree-level with Lab successful completion within the last five (5) years.
• PSYC 1101 (Introduction to Psychology) Associate degree-level • PHYS 1110/Lab (Conceptual Physics) Associate degree-level with Lab.
Transfer Credit: Core courses requested for transfer credit from another institution must meet the above criteria in order to be accepted by CGTC. Other courses requested for transfer credit will be accepted as follows: ALHS courses successfully completed within the last five (5) years and CAVT/ECHO/DMSO courses successfully completed within the last year (any specific grade requirements mentioned later in this pamphlet are applicable). The student requesting transfer credit into CAVT courses must have taken the PSB Aptitude for Practical Nursing Examination, 3rd Edition as outlined in the next step of this procedure. Additionally, the student must be able to successfully perform all competencies of the CAVT/ECHO/DMSO course(s) for which transfer credit is requested.
2) Complete the PSB Aptitude for Practical Nursing Examination, 3rd Edition.
Students may take the exam at any time while taking their required core courses, but no later than midterm Fall semester. This PSB procedure is also applicable to students requesting to transfer into CAVT/ECHO/DMSO courses. Students may take the test two times in a year. The exam is administered in the CGTC Testing Center. There is a $20 testing fee.
* Only PSB Aptitude for Practical Nursing Examination, 3rd Edition scores will be considered in
the selection process. Students who took the 2nd Edition PSB (prior to February 1, 2011) or the 3rd
3) Submit Progression/Application Form to the Admissions Office.
a. Students will not be considered for selection for any given semester unless his/her name is on the list. All requirements for selection must be completed and official documents submitted (including all items listed on the Cardiovascular Technology Admission File Checklist) by midterm Fall semester. In the event that the student is not selected for the program and wishes to be considered for the following semester selection, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her application remains active by submitting a progression form/application again and that all required course grades and timeframes are still applicable.
b. To submit the Progression Form go to the CGTC home page at www.centralgatech.edu page →Current Students →Student Affairs→ Admissions →Progression Form Request →log in to your BannerWeb account. This will automatically open the form. You will then just fill in the form and submit it electronically. Please make sure you print a copy of the form for your records.
Selection Criteria
Upon successful completion of the required core courses and having taken the PSB test,
students will be considered for selection into the CAVT program based on the following criteria: 1. GPA will be calculated according to the following guidelines:
a. Scoring: GPA X 100 plus highest PSB score.
b. In the case of multiple attempts at a course(s) to achieve the required course grade or improve a grade, only the two most recent attempts will be calculated in the GPA. In the event that a student previously attempted coursework at institutions other than GGTC, official transcripts will be evaluated to include the two most recent attempts, and grades from any applicable coursework will be calculated in the GPA accordingly.
c. Only courses taken within the required timeframe will be calculated in the GPA. In the case of English, COMP and/or Psychology, course grades for courses taken over five (5) years will not be computed in the GPA, unless it is the student’s only grade for the specific course.
2. The number of students selected is based on the number of available clinical slots in the program as a whole and may vary by campus and semester.
Tiebreaker: In the event of a tie in the ranking, the student’s current PSB score will be used as the tiebreaker. In the event that a student has taken the PSB exam more than once, the current PSB scores will be averaged and the average of the two scores will be used in the tiebreaker process.
Post-selection Requirements
Following selection, in order to progress in the program, the student must maintain a minimum grade of C for all required CAVT/ECHO/DMSO courses and maintain a GPA of a 2.5 or higher in order to progress to the next term and remain on track. Those who receive a grade below a "C" on any CAVT/ECHO/DMSO course and/or who’s GPA drops below 2.5, will be removed from the track progression in the program and have to wait until the course is offered again (usually the next year) to apply to repeat the course. Admission back into the program is dependent upon space available at the time the course is offered.
Transfer, re-entry (any break in successive semester enrollment), and transient students will be accepted into the program based on clinical slot availability. In order to receive transfer or re-entry credit for the courses below, CAVT/ECHO/DMSO courses must have been taken within the last year. If CAVT/ECHO/DMSO courses are older than one (1) year, they will not be accepted for credit, and the student must compete for selection (as previously outlined in this packet) and begin the program with new first semester students (see below). Students transferring to CGTC from another institution who are applying for entrance into the Cardiovascular Technology program upper level selections (i.e.: entering the program at any point past the new student first semester) must also meet the 2.5 GPA requirement as stated above.
Before any student’s first clinical experience in the program, proof of required immunizations, a drug screen and background check are required (re-entry students will fulfill the drug screen/background check requirements upon re-entering the program as well as with the first clinical experience).
CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM CURRICULUM
Required Core Courses for Competitive Admission
All previously mentioned requirements apply for selection eligibility. These courses can be taken in two or more semesters, depending on the student’s schedule and course
availability, but must be completed by the end of Fall semester for Spring acceptance.
COURSE CREDIT HOURS CONTACT HOURS
ENGL 1101 Composition and Rhetoric 3 45
MATH 1111 College Algebra 3 45
PSYC 1101 Introduction to Psychology 3 45
BIOL 2113 Anatomy and Physiology I 3 45
BIOL 2113L Anatomy and Physiology I Lab 1 45
BIOL 2114 Anatomy and Physiology II 3 45
BIOL 2114 L Anatomy and Physiology II Lab 1 45
PHYS 1110 Conceptual Physics 3 45
PHYS 1110 L Conceptual Physics Lab 1 45
Total Hours 21 405
COURSE CREDIT HOURS CONTACT HOURS
SPCH 1101 Public Speaking 3 45
MATH 1127 Introduction to Statistics 3 45
HUMN 1101 Introduction to Humanities 3 45
ALHS 1040 Introduction to Healthcare 3 75
COMP 1000 Introduction to Computers 3 75
ALHS 1090 Medical Terminology 2 30
Total Hours 20 320
Suggested Course Progression for Students Selected into the CAVT Program In each of the semesters listed below, the student must successfully complete all courses prior to progressing to the following semester.
Fall Semester
In addition to these classes students are required to attend observation days. Students will rotate through various areas of cardiovascular technology to help determine specialty track. Observations days are a part of your grade.
Spring Semester
CAVT 1080 Advanced Hemo & Physiology 4 credit hours ECHO 1550 Professional Development 1 credit hour And
CAVT 1020 Cardiac Catheterization I 4 credit hours CAVT 1021 Cardiac Catheterization Clinical I 3 credit hours Or
ECHO 1310 Echocardiography I 4 credit hours ECHO 1360 Echocardiography Clinical I 1 credit hour DMSO 1040 Sonography Physics & Instrumentation 4 credit hour Summer Semester
CAVT 1090 Drug Calculation and Admin 2 credit hours And
CAVT 2020 Cardiac Catheterization II 4 credit hours CAVT 2030 Cardiac Catheterization Clinical II 6 credit hours Or
ECHO 1320 Echocardiography II 4 credit hours EHCO 1370 Echocardiography Clinical II 6 credit hours Fall Semester
CAVT 2040 Cardiac Catheterization III 4 credit hours CAVT 2050 Cardiac Catheterization Clinical III 7 credit hours CAVT 2070 Cardiac Cath Registry Review I 1 credit hour Or
ECHO 2310 Pediatric Echocardiography 4 credit hours ECHO 2360 Echocardiography Clinical III 8 credit hours DMSO 1080 Sono Physics/Instrumentation Reg Review 1 credit hour Spring Semester
CAVT 2060 Cardiac Catheterization IV 11 credit hours CAVT 2080 Cardiac Cath Registry Review II 1 credit hour Or
ECHO 2370 Echocardiography Clinical IV 11 credit hours ECHO 2400 Echo Comprehensive Registry Review 1 credit hour
APPROXIMATE COST EXPECTATIONS
(AFTER CAVT SELECTION)
Physical Examination: approximately $60 (plus additional immunizations) – during 1st Semester, before midterm.
Drug Screen: approximately $35 – during 1st Semester, before midterm.
Criminal Background Check: approximately $50 - during 1st Semester before midterm. Liability Insurance: payable with CAVT 1021 or ECHO 1360 tuition – 1st Semester approximately $15.00
Uniforms: approximately $30 each; 3 required – during 1st Semester (most students purchase 4-5 over their clinical experience).
Required Supplies for Clinical: approximately $50 – during 1st Semester Required Registry Prep Materials: approximately $300– during 3rd Semester Expenses After Graduation Required To Apply For Licensure:
Registry Specialty Examination Fee: $350 – end of 4th Semester
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE PROFESSION
The mission of CGTC’s Cardiovascular Technology program is to provide educational opportunities to individuals in didactic and clinical environments that will enable them to obtain skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to graduate and become successful entry-level Cardiovascular Technologist specializing in Invasive Cardiac Catheterization or Non-Invasive Echocardiography.
Cardiovascular Technology is a health technology profession centered on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with cardiac diseases. A Cardiovascular Technologist performs examinations at the request or under direct supervision of a physician, is proficient in the use of analytical equipment, and provides a foundation of data from which a correct anatomic and physiologic diagnosis may be made.
Licensure Information: After a CAVT student has completed a formal cardiovascular technology program of study and receives an associate’s degree, they may be eligible to apply to Cardiac Credentialing International (CCI) for the specialty examination for their chosen specialty; Registered Invasive Cardiovascular Specialist (RCIS) or Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS). CGTC’s CAVT program has practice exams, computer labs, and books available to prepare students for this examination. Although CGTC CAVT program graduates will have received the knowledge and skills necessary to practice, the graduate cannot deliver patient care or usually obtain employment without successfully passing the specialty registry exam. Upon graduation from the CGTC CAVT program, the program chairperson, on behalf of the student, will submit to CCI verification of program completion. The student may then submit the application online to the CCI. In order to be eligible for the registry, the student must meet all qualification criteria set for by CCI, including passing the specialty exam. Although the student with a criminal history may be accepted by the CAVT program’s clinical sites for clinical practice, the CCI Board has the right to use the same criminal history to deny registry to a student, even if the student successfully completes the CAVT program. The decision to register a graduate of a CAVT program rests solely with Cardiac Credentialing International. CGTC is not a registry board and does not guarantee registry to its CAVT program graduates.
