Saint Joseph’s University’s Cardiovascular Technology Certificate will equip you with the skills needed to succeed in a career treating ailments related to the heart and blood vessels. Designed for students who hold a college degree, this program prepares you to take the exam required to become a registered cardiovascular invasive specialist.
Associate Degree in Cardiovascular Technology
Saint Joseph’s University’s Associate Degree in Cardiovascular Technology will prepare you for a career in treating ailments related to the heart and blood vessels. This program also offers the preparation necessary to take the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) exam.
Complete the cardiovascular technology associate’s degree, land a job and use tuition reimbursement offered by many healthcare organizations to pursue a bachelor’s degree down the line. Offered as a hybrid program, this 69-credit associate degree program can be completed in as little as two years.
If you already have an associate degree or higher or have completed a two-year, post-secondary allied health program, we invite you to explore our Cardiovascular Technology Certificate.
What is Cardiovascular Technology?
Cardiovascular technology encompasses a range of medical procedures and diagnostic techniques aimed at evaluating and treating cardiovascular diseases. Responsibilities of cardiovascular invasive specialists include assisting in cardiac catheterization procedures, stent placement and angiography to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions. Cardiovascular invasive specialists play a key role in electrophysiology studies, patient care, operating and maintaining specialized equipment used during procedures and enhancing patient outcomes.
What Sets Our Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) Program Apart
85% RCIS Exam Pass Rate
From 2015 to 2021, our students had an 85% average pass rate when taking the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) exam. Provided by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), the RCIS exam is taken by those who seek to become certified as a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist.
Preparation to Work Alongside Cardiologists
You will receive the preparation necessary to work alongside cardiologists and perform diagnostic, invasive and therapeutic heart and vascular procedures as well as:
- Diagnostic catheterizations
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
- Temporary pacemaker placement
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs)
- Atherectomy
- Peripheral Vascular
- Valve Replacement
Cardiovascular Technology Associate Degree Offered as a Hybrid Program
You will have the opportunity to pursue the associate degree in cardiovascular technology as a hybrid program, with some classes offered in-person and others offered online.
Hands-On Learning in the First & Only Learning Space of its Kind in the Lancaster Area
You will feel like you’re on the job from day one at our Center for Excellence in Practice, Lancaster’s newest and most advanced clinical simulation lab. The first and only learning space of its kind in the Lancaster area, the Center for Excellence in Practice is a 20,000-square-foot simulation space that provides the opportunity to work with students from other programs in realistic simulations that mirror real-life healthcare settings.
Guaranteed Clinical Placements Within Your First Year
You are guaranteed clinical placements at premier locations in Pennsylvania within your first year. You’ll have the opportunity to experience working in clinical settings with expert faculty, helping transfer knowledge and skills from the classroom to in-person patient experiences. You will learn critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving by engaging in realistic scenarios staged in real-world medical environments.
Taught by Experienced Cardiovascular Technology Faculty
You will learn from and work alongside faculty who have a breadth of experience working in cardiovascular technology. Many faculty members are current cardiovascular technologists or hold former positions in the field.
Why Study Cardiovascular Technology in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is home to top-tier hospitals, operating rooms and medical/diagnostic labs seeking cardiovascular technologists, including:
- Lancaster General Hospital
- Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Lehigh Valley Hospital
- UPMC
- Wellspan
- Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania – Penn Presbyterian
Program Details
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Saint Joseph’s Associate Degree in Cardiovascular Technology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT).
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Saint Joseph's University – Lancaster’s tuition structure includes both per-credit tuition and program-specific fees.
PER-CREDIT TUITION:
The cost of the Cardiovascular Technology Associate Degree is $670 per credit for the 2023-2024 academic year.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC FEES:
In addition to the per-credit rate, there are also program-specific fees for the following courses:
- When a student enrolls in CVT 212, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $4,185
- When a student enrolls in CVT 222, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $4,185
- When a student enrolls in CVT 230, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $4,185
For a detailed breakdown and additional information, visit our Tuition & Fees page.
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Year# of StudentsGraduatedTook ExamPassed ExamGrad With JobGrad With Job within 6 moContinuing Ed202196635502020877677120191614131112111201815121212121202017111111101111020168775661201510666540
Curriculum
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Fall
Course Credits BIO 175 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4 ENG 100 - English Composition 3 MAT 160 - College Algebra 3 CSS 101 - College Seminar 3 PHI 210 - Ethical and Legal Dimensions in the Health Sciences 1 Total Credits 14 Spring
Course Credits BIO 176 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II 4 PHY 150/L - Physics w/ Lab 3 SOC 100 or SOC 200 - Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Diversity 3 HSC 100 - Medical Terminology 1 HSC 101 - Methods of Patient Care 1 Total Credits 12 Summer
Course Credits HSC 160 - Rhythm and 12 lead ECG analysis 3 CVT 204 - Cardiovascular Simulation Lab 1 CVT 205 - Cardiac Invasive Procedures 3 CVT 202 - Introduction to Radiation Physics and Safety 1 Total Credits 8 Total Year One Credits: 34
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Fall
Course Credits CVT 206 - Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology 3 CVT 207 - Advanced Procedures 3 CVT 217 - Cardiovascular Hemodynamics 3 CVT 212 - Cardiovascular Clinical I 6 Total Credits 15 Spring
Course Credits CVT 222 - Cardiovascular Clinical II 6 CVT 219 - Cardiac Arrhythmia Therapies 3 CVT 225 - Cardiac Pharmacology 3 CVT 216 - Cardiac Device Theory 3 Total Credits 15 Summer
Course Credits CVT 232 - Cardiovascular Clinical III 3 HSC 200 - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) 1 CVT 228 - Radiation Biology 1 Total Credits 5 Total Year Two Credits: 35
Total Program Credits: 69
On Average, How Much Do Cardiovascular Techs Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of a cardiovascular technologist in 2022 is $78,210.
Admission Information
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1. To be considered for admission, you must have graduated from an approved secondary school (or be on track to graduate), received a diploma from an accredited home school association or earned a GED.
2. High school or post-secondary college-level courses must include the following:
- At least four units of English
- At least three units of Social Sciences
- At least three units of Mathematics (Two (2) of which are at least the level of Algebra)
- Two (2) units of Science with a related laboratory or an equivalent (One (1) of which must be biology).
3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0-point scale in secondary or post-secondary education (whichever is more recent). However, the GPA requirement can be different depending on specific program requirements. Please see our undergraduate requirements or reach out to the Office of Admission for additional information.
4. A high school transcript with an official school stamp or an official GED transcript is also required. High school transcripts must include courses completed through your junior year as well as courses in progress during your senior year. If you’ve attended any post-secondary institutions, official transcripts for those institutions are required as well.
Additional Admission Factors for Consideration*:
In addition to the required items above, the admission team will consider the following factors when making an admission decision:
- Class rank
- Academic performance in post-secondary science and math courses
- Community service
- Healthcare-related service
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To apply for this program, complete an application online. SAT and/or ACT scores are optional but you can submit them if you think they’ll strengthen your application.
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There is no application deadline for this program. Here are recommended application submission dates:
February 1 – recommended application submission for Fall semester
August 1 – recommended application submission for Spring semester
Saint Joseph’s accepts students on a year-round basis, so any applications received after these dates will be considered for the next applicable semester. Contact the Office of Admission for information regarding space availability.
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If you are not a United States citizen, you must show proof of permanent resident visa status. Students educated in another country may be admitted if they:
- Satisfy general admission requirements
- Earn a minimum of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey
Students from English-speaking countries may choose to take the SAT or ACT instead of the TOEFL exam. An evaluation of foreign transcripts by the World Education Service or other approved agency is required.
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Transfer credit may be awarded for previous coursework. A course must meet the following requirements to be considered for transfer to Saint Joseph’s University’s Lancaster campus:
- Undergraduate courses with a grade of “C” or above
- Graduate courses with a grade of “B” or above (Pass/Fail grades are not eligible for transfer credit)
- Must be from a regionally or programmatically accredited institution
- The coursework must match the course offered at Saint Joseph’s University
- Some programs have a time limit for specific courses
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Saint Joseph’s is a military-friendly institution and offers assistance and services to veterans and their dependents who are utilizing educational benefits. Benefits include:
- Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
- Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
- Chapter 33 Post 911 GI Bill®
- Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Assistance
- Chapter 1606 National Guard or Reserves
- Chapter 1607 National Guard or Reserves (REAP) (*if eligible, must be utilized by November 25, 2019)
- Pennsylvania National Guard Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
- Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
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