Cardiac Sonography Training in Virginia - VA

Cardiac sonographer training within the state of Virginia can last from 18 months to 4 years, as some programs are certificate programs, some offer associate degrees, and some, bachelor’s degrees. When entering cardiac sonographer training programs in Virginia, expect training that is specific to echocardiography, which will consist of lecture, skills lab and clinical hours. Foundation courses in medical terminology, patient care concepts, cardiac hemodynamics and anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the cardiac and vascular systems.

Some programs in Virginia offer as many as 1000 clinical hours of training, which provides hands-on experience to the cardiac sonography student. This usually takes place in medical facilities, such as the University of Virginia Medical Center, Saint Mary's Hospital, Lynchburg General Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital. Although licensure and certification is not required by Virginia to practice cardiac sonography in the state, some training programs include it at the end of the training period, giving students the opportunity to take a registry examination offered by either Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).  Employers tend to look more favorably upon graduates with credentials than they do non-credentialed graduates. Credentialing can also play a part in advancing in the field.