Further your career in cardiac sonography, exploring theory and clinical practice.

This fifteen-month Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Ontario College Graduate Certificate provides you with the essential theoretical knowledge and technical skills required to produce and evaluate sonographic images of the heart.

Cardiac ultrasound is an important, non-invasive diagnostic tool used to identify the anatomy and function of the heart. Working independently and in collaboration with healthcare teams, Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers capture, analyze and identify a variety of complex ultrasound images. These images assist cardiologists in the diagnosis and management of different heart diseases.

Through theory, simulation, and extensive clinical experiences, you learn to manipulate sound waves to create images of the human heart. You consider health and safety in your work and apply quality assurance for the safe and proper use of ultrasound in the clinical setting.

This program offers you the hands-on skills you need for success. You have two, 450-hour field placements where you enhance your technical, professional, interpersonal and patient management skills. These acquired skills help you to function as a member of a healthcare team.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to complete the Sonography Canada credential exam. To become a registered medical sonographer in Ontario, a graduate must write the Sonography certification examination. Graduates must also register with the College of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario (CMRITO) to be eligible to work in Ontario. Graduates may also register with ARDMS (American Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonography).

You may find employment as a/an:

• cardiac sonographer
• sonography educator
• medical technical salesperson
• application specialist
• medical researcher
• manager or supervisor in related fields

Careers

Graduates may find employment as cardiac sonographers, sonography educators, medical technical salespeople, application specialists and medical researchers, as well as managers or supervisors in related fields. Upon successful completion of the program, to become credentialed, a student must write the Sonography Canada certification examination. Graduates must also register with the College of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario (CMRITO) to be eligible to work in Ontario.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Act in accordance with applicable regulations and professional guidelines to meet the standards of practice.
2. Perform examination procedures and obtain diagnostic sonographic images to inform healthcare teams and practitioners.
3. Provide care that recognizes and respects the dignity, culture, and individuality of patients and involved parties to support a safe and inclusive environment.
4. Perform Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography duties in collaboration with multi-disciplinary healthcare teams to support patient care.
5. Communicate professionally with multi-disciplinary healthcare teams and involved parties using relevant terminology to ensure understanding and informed care.
6. Operate and maintain ultrasound equipment in accordance with industry standards to limit exposure and ensure patient safety.
7. Pursue and participate in professional development activities to maintain competency, industry credential and support quality patient care in diagnostic cardiac sonography.
8. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment, and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

DIAGNOSTIC CARDIAC SONOGRAPHY
Program Code 1693X01FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

a\Applications are available online at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application
process information: https://algonquincollege.my.site.com/myac360/s/

For further information on the admissions process, please visit:
Admissions - Registrar's Office https://algonquincollege.com/ro/admissions/

Program Resources

Clinical Placement Requirements:
Successful completion of clinical placement is a requirement for graduation from the Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography program. Clinical placement is completed over two 12-week terms. Placement start times are from May to August and September to November.

Please note: Every effort is made to accommodate student preferences for placements; however, due to the restricted amount of placements in this highly specialized field, students may be required to complete their placements in other areas across Ottawa or Ontario and may not have the option to select when their placements begin.

All related clinical expenses, such as travel, parking and accommodation for these experiences are the responsibility of the student.

If at any time during the program there is a break in the student's progress of one term or more, the student is required to enroll and pass a mandatory Continuing Education course to update practicum skills.

The student is responsible for the cost of the required Continuing Education course and must advise the Program Coordinator of their intensions to return to the program six weeks in advance of the start of the semester in which they would like to return. Returning status will be granted based on the availability of placement sites.

During the clinical practicum placement, if there are significant professional/safety infractions, students will be removed from the clinical site and pending the results of the investigation may receive an F grade for the clinical placement course.

Field Placement Eligibility:
To be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of Standard First Aid certification, CPR (BLS), Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS), and complete immunizations. Mask-fit testing and De-escalation course. Please note that students are responsible for all associated costs for their required eligibility documentation.

Police Records Check Documentation:
Although not an admission requirement, students must provide the College with a current Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS) prior to starting their clinical field placement and are responsible for any associated costs. If you register in the program without a clear PRCSVS and as a result are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to graduate and will be asked to withdraw.

Participation Requirements:
Students are required to participate in both patient and sonographer roles in the laboratory and clinical settings and in invasive procedures, specifically IV insertions. All laboratory and clinical components of this program involve working with individuals from diverse groups.

Certification Requirements:
The Canadian Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario has a number of requirements for registration that relate to past and present conduct of the applicant. Please follow the link for further details: www.cmrito.org/applicants/registration-requirements.