Echocardiography / Sonography / Ultrasound training

echo · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

Hello!!

Just FYI to anyone looking for Echocardiography, Sonography, or Ultrasound training.....I found an on-line school for this type of course. It is www.academyofultrasound.com.

This school offers a very flexible schedule, strictly based on your time availability, so students are allowed to work full time (if need to) hours AND complete this program. This is perfect for those of us who have other obligations and responsibilites (such as children).

Check it out!
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Echo

www.academyofultrasound.com

hjhogle · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

Well, you should be tipped off to the fact that this "academy" is NOT an accredited program by the fact that the word is mis-spelled on their website. In addition, the link to "Accredidation" on the left is not functional.

You'd be better served to spend your money elsewhere.

For a list of ACCREDITED programs, try on the CAAHEP website here:
http://www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited_Program.aspx

For more information on ultrasound, try ARDMS here:
http://www.ardms.org/default.asp?ContentID=1&menubar=1

hjh, RT

echo · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

Im glad you checked out their site. Im sure that if they have made an error in their spelling then your letting them know would be greatly appreciated. I dont beleive they specialize in website development.

BTW they didnt claim to be accredited, at this time. In case you arent aware, their are several excellant schools of ultrasound that arent accredited yet. Also becoming accredited takes 2 years before you can apply for institutional accrediting and then you can apply to caahep to accredit your program. They havent been in business for the 2 years yet but they seem to have a very innovative format for training future techs. Not everyone can go to a traditional ultrasound school, depending on career and family commitments.

They seem to be very open to suggestions to improve their program and seem to be trying to produce well trained and qualified techs. Something that doesnt always come from being accredited. You can also still sit for a national registry without a caahep school diploma.

You should at least speak to them, before you rule them out as a choice. No program is for everyone.
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Echo

www.academyofultrasound.com

hjhogle · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:28 am Post subject:

If you're affilitated with this Academy, you'd do better to simply announce that and ask prospective students to visit the site.

hjh, RT

echo · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

I guess you can say I am affiliated with them, if you consider running a clinical facility and having a student, being affiliated.

From what I've seen so far their student has been well prepared to begin the clinical process. Very knowledgable in pathology and when strong scanning skills.

As I stated before no program is for everyone, but one should really get all the facts before they make sweeping judgements, of a program's ability to produce quality technicians.
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Echo

www.academyofultrasound.com

hjhogle · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

I don't think anyone mentioned student skills.

But I do think that, prior to any evaluation a student does of a prospective program, they should take note of accreditation status.

I would certainly not want to spend $$ and time on a course of study, only to find at graduation that it's more difficult for me to find a position because I am not eligible for certification. And those folks who attend programs that are not accredited are not eligible.

hjh, RT

echo · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

I'm sorry, but did you say you were a registered echocardiographer?

You might want to do a little research, before you once again make sweeping statements. Echocardiographers are not "certified" they are registered. Also unless you are aware of some changes made since I last checked with ARDMS or CCI, the two agencies that have registry exams, they both have prerequisites for candidates that attended a non accredited training program. You can see prerequite # 1 or #2 on ARDMS's website and #10 on CCI's website.

The readers here should also be made aware that as of this time, there are no CAAHEP accredited online sonography programs. Several of the schools accredited by CAAHEP are attempting to offer a hybrid variation of an online program. But the Academy of Ultrasound is the only one in Echo I am aware of. Maybe they will even be the first to achieve the CAAHEP distance education accreditation, since they are working on it.

On to better things, You dont seem to think skills are important? I don't think the cardiologists or patients would agree.
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Echo

www.academyofultrasound.com