| Frequently Asked Questions for all Ultrasound Programs |
| What is the schedule? |
|
Full Time
Days
Plan on Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm. (in some quarters there is a occasional scheduled day off)
There are no evening or weekend classes or clinicals. |
| When does the next class begin? |
|
For those who have completed all Pre-requisite & Core classes and who are on the waiting list:
Diploma General Ultrasound - RDMS - starts September 2007 completes March 2009
Diploma Vascular Ultrasound - RVT - starts September 2007 completes March 2009
AAT Degree Vascular Ultrasound - RVT - starts September 2007 completes March 2009
Diploma Echocardiography - RDCS - starts September 2007 completes March 2009
AAT Degree Echocardiography - RDCS - starts September 2007 completes March 2009 |
| How do I get on the waiting list? |
|
#1. Complete an application and send it in with $15.00
#2. Send a transcript from any school that you want to have considered for credit
#3. Complete all core & Pre-requisite classes
#4. Complete a request in student services for courses to be reviewed in order to qualify for the waiting list. |
| Can I get moved up on the waiting list based on my background? |
|
No.
The waiting list functions on a 1st qualified 1st served basis. As soon as the prospective student provides documentation that they have all of their core/pre-requisite classes or are in the last quarter/semester of their core/pre-requisite classes they can apply for the waiting list. No other factors are taken into consideration. |
| Will CVTC Accept my transfer classes? |
Transfer course acceptance |
| Some classes have a limited acceptance period. Click on the link to see the life spans of various courses. If the course work meets the life span test, CVTC student services departement will review your transcripts and let you know if the courses can be accepted. |
| What are the Medical Programs that are accepted for the Diploma programs? |
Pre-requisite Classes |
A programmatically accreditted medical program that is at least one full year in length. Transcripts must be evaluated individually to ensure that all pre-requisite & core classes were included in the training or have been taken additionally within the prescribed period.
The following list are the typical medical backgrounds for diploma ultrasound:
Radiologic Technology
Medical Assistant (from 1 yr programs)
Licensed Practical Nurse
Respiratory Therapist
Registered Nurse
Surgical Technologist
Other backgrounds that may also work include:
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Physical therapy Assistant
Paramedic (not EMT)
Chiropractor |
| What about Bachelor's Degrees? |
|
| CVTC will accept individuals who hold a baccaleaureatte degree into the diploma programs. Please carefully review the pre-requisite/core class list and the length of acceptance link. Student Services will review all transcripts and notify each person about the classes that will be accepted and those that will need to be taken, retaken or exemption tested. |
| Which Anatomy & Physiology Class should I take? |
|
| Sonographers live and die by our knowledge of Anatomy & Physiology. At this point in time, the Diploma students are allowed to take AHS 101 which is a 1 quarter A&P without a lab. The faculty strongly recommend that all students take both BIO 193 & BIO 194. This is a 2 part A&P which takes 2 quarters and includes a Lab. |
| Do men enter this field? |
|
| There are many men who are succesful in all of the branches of ultrasound. During some gender sensitive examinations male sonographers are encouraged to have female employee chaperones present. However, gender is not the main concern when employers are looking at an individual as a possible new employee. The main concern is experience and training. |
| Where will my classes be held? |
|
All classes are held at Coosa Valley Technical College in Rome, Georgia.
Clinic is scheduled by the clinical coordinator. We have clinical agreements with many hospitals and clinics between Birmingham & Athens, Atlanta & Chattanooga. When possible, we attempt to schedule DMS students to a site within 1 hour of their home. RVT & RDCS students, we try to schedule at a site within 2 hours of their home. |
| Can you tell me more about Clinicals? |
Information on clinical sites |
Clinical sites are selected by the Clinical Coordinator. The learning opportunities of each clinical site, needs of the student, match between student & clinical site personality, needs of other students and closeness to home are all partial considerations.
Students do not choose their site nor are they encouraged to actively canvass new sites. The requirements for a location to become a clinical site are quite specific. Students may suggest a site to the clinical coordinator who will investigate the possibility of adding an additional site.
Clinicals start the first quarter with a few "tag-along" days.
Second quarter clinic will be either 2 or 3 days each week with the other days being in class.
Each subsequent quarter has more clinic time and less class time.
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| I want to do more than one area (RDMS & RVT & RDCS) is it possible? |
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| The addition of more than one credential does make a person more valuable to some employers. It may add a little more to a person's salary. However, most employers prefer a master in the area that the sonographer is working in rather than a "Jack of all Trades". |
| Does CVTC offer job placement? |
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| There is a job placement office. However, our ultrasound students have not needed to use it. Almost every student has a job offer prior to graduation. These offers typically come from contacts made during clinical rotations. |
| What financial aid is available? |
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Financial aid is a very complex subject that is best answered by a conversation with the helpful folks in financial aid. 706-295-6936.
Hope Grant is available for Diploma Programs
Hope Scholarship is available for qualified applicants in the Degree Programs.
PELL Grant is available to qualified applicants who have certain financial needs
No other school sponsored financial aid is available.
Some students have independently found outside grants.
Some students have contracted with hospitals for additional support with an agreement to work for that hospital afterwards. |
| I'm in High School, how do I get started? |
|
Think either Diploma or Degree.
Diploma students must be a graduate of a medical program at least 1 year in length or have a Bachelors' degree.
Diplomas are offered in all three areas: General, Vascular & Echocardiography.
If you want to do a diploma program:
#1 graduate from another program.
#2 make sure you have all the core/pre-requisite classes.
#2 apply for the Diploma program waiting list for the ultrasound area of your interest.
Degree students can enter directly from high school if their grades & test scores are high enough.
Degrees are offered in two areas: Vascular & Echocardiography.
If you want to do either of the Degree programs:
#1. turn in application.
#2. submit ACT, SAT scores or take the ASSET examination.
#3. start taking the core classes.
#4. apply for the AAT degree waiting list in either vascular or echocardiography. |
| Can you send me more information? |
Application |
| All of the information we might send is on this web site. You can print any page that you see and are able to download an application. |
| What about working while in school? |
|
| It is very difficult to work while in the Ultrasound programs. Most students have some type of part time employment but those few who work full time are quite stressed and do not do as well academically. Remember that Monday - Friday 8am to 4pm the student should plan on having school commitments. Once clinical has started drive time is added to that schedule. |
| How long is the waiting list? |
|
| The waiting list varies for each program. Student services can give you up to date information. 706-295-6702 |
| I'd really like to talk with a live human face to face. Can this be arranged? |
E-mail Patti Oliver |
The faculty of CVTC are extremely busy but do want to give good and correct information to every individual who wants to know more concerning Ultrasound.
Mrs. Patti Oliver is the resource individual for most incoming Health Occupations students. You can reach her @ 706-295-6882 or
CVTC has set up Health Program Information meetings for people who want more information either in general or for Ultrasound in particular. One of the Ultrasound staff attends or hosts each of these meetings. They are your best opportunity to tour the facillity, ask questions and get your questions answered face to face.
Allied Health Orientation Meetings
Coosa Valley Technical College
Rome, Georgia, 30161 |
| I don't live in Rome. Do I need to move? |
directions |
Coosa Valley Technical College does not offer any dormitories.
If you do need to move, housing in Rome is less expensive than housing in Atlanta. Even so, most students do not move to Rome but continue to reside in their home towns.
Classes are scheduled so that the students come to Rome two or three days in a row each week and then go to clinicals somewhere close to their home on the other days. Many students find they can carpool or stay over with a classmate. |
| Does working in the health care field count towards the pre-requisites? |
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Even though work experience is invaluable it does not count as a pre-requisite.
Example: Working as a medical assistant for ten years does not count as graduating from a programmatically accreditted medical assistant program. |
| I don't fit the criteria for entrance into CVTC's ultrasound programs. Are there other options? |
CAAHEP Accreditted Ultrasound Schools |
There are a variety of programs around the U.S.. Most require a background in Radiologic Technology. Some allow other medical backgrounds and a few accept students with a high school diploma.
Not all ultrasound programs are accreditted. When looking at other schools ask if they are accreditted by CAAHEP. Students who graduate from CAAHEP accreditted schools can apply to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers national certification examination immediately after graduation.
Currently there are five CAAHEP accreditted schools in Georgia:
Medical College of Georgia
Grady Hospital
Coosa Valley Technical College
Ogeechee Technical College
Samford Brown |
| I have already graduated from a medical program. What other classes will I need? |
|
This question can not be answered with certainty until we have transcripts in hand . However, the accompanying list is normally pretty accurate:
College based Radiologic Technology: No additional classes
Hospital based Radiologic Technology: English, Algebra, Psychology
Licensed Practical Nursing: Algebra, Physics
Registered Nurse: Physics
Surgical Technologist: Physics
Respiratory Therapy: Physics
Medical Assistant: Algebra, Physics |
| I'm transferring semester credits into a quarter credit system. Do my credits count 1 for 1? |
|
| 5 Quarter credits typically equal 3 Semester credits |
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