Cardiac Sonography Training in Washington - WA

By Jennifer Williams, allied health world contributing writer
Published: December, 22 2010

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Cardiac sonographer training in Washington begins with reviewing and understanding all options. Keep in mind that most echocardiography schools in Washington have programs that can be completed online. A lot of students find it difficult to commit to traditional campus-based study, but this concern is often removed by attending online programs.

In order to choose a degree program, you have to know what will get you hired on as a cardiac sonographer in Washington. On that note, the majority of healthcare employers in Washington are looking for graduates with an associate degree or better, and most students in this state enter the field with a 2-year associate degree. With this degree plan, the first 12 months of study is typically dedicated general education courses, with a bit of medical preparation. However, the second year will be more career-specific. It is during this time that you will complete courses like:

Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology
Echo I and II
Cardiac Principles I and II
Patient Privacy and HIPAA
Cardiac Pathology

At the end of your degree program, you will able to participate in a clinical externship. This program allows students to work in a medical facility performing cardiac sonography. With hands-on practice, patient interaction, and assistance from experienced echocardiographers, this ultimately prepares students for employment and certification.

Currently, the Washington Board of Medical Examiners does not require licensure of cardiac sonographers. With that in mind, it is important to pursue other avenues of validation, such as certification from either the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).