Bachelor of Science in Vascular Ultrasound Program Details

• Program Overview
• Clinical Rotations
• Advanced Placement
• Accreditation Summary
• Licensure Information
• Transfer Guides

Vascular ultrasound program overview

PRE-ADMISSION: Students may apply for admission to the vascular ultrasound program by submitting an application, essay, recommendations and transcripts that document the required courses, grades and credit hours for review. After review, qualified applicants are invited to interview for the final decision to be accepted into the program. Please see the Admissions & Deadlines tab for prerequisite courses and credit information.

FIRST YEAR: Students start the program in September and participate in two semesters of classroom and student laboratory experiences. Students start learning to perform ultrasound exams in the student lab the first week of classes and continue to improve their skills throughout the program. First year students also rotate through the hospital lab to observe patient exams being done by professionals at Rush before they scan patients during the second year. All technical courses are taught by experienced credentialed registered vascular technologists (RVT).

SECOND YEAR: Students improve their skills by performing vascular exams on patients under supervision of an RVT in rotations through two to four clinical sites (vascular ultrasound labs) during the second year. Students also attend one course each semester, either at Rush or through the internet, primarily to write and present patient case studies. One course is also dedicated to preparing students to take the national credentialing examination offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) to potentially become an RVT upon graduation.

GRADUATION: Students that successfully complete the vascular ultrasound program at Rush earn a Bachelor of Science degree and are eligible to take the ARDMS credentialing exam (see www.ardms.org) to earn the RVT credential. Pass rates for Rush students have been excellent (92 to 100 percent the past 5 years). According to the ARDMS, if students from ultrasound programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) pass the ARDMS exams prior to graduation they will receive the RVT credential upon graduation.

JOB PLACEMENT: Job placement has been excellent for Rush vascular ultrasound graduates with a 92 to 100 percent job placement rate (vascular positions within 6 months past graduation) over the past 3 years. In addition, employers that submit job openings in vascular ultrasound to the program are forwarded to all program graduates. Approximately 18 job postings were shared in these emails between November 2016 and February 2017. Twelve job openings have been sent to our graduates via email from January 2018 to June 2018. Approximately half or more of these were located in the Chicago area. Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to increase 23 percent from 2016 through 2026 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – above the average for all occupations.

SALARIES: A 2013 survey of Rush vascular ultrasound graduates revealed that graduates from 2010 to 2013 received a mean starting salary of $64,396 in their first job after graduation. The 34 Rush graduates from 2004 to 2013 reported that their current mean salaries at survey time in 2013 was $74,838.* The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of diagnostic medical sonographers was $71,410 in May 2017.

* Poster presentation: French-Sherry, E, Pooley, TA. “Salary and Job Trends for Vascular Ultrasound Graduates” Society of Vascular Ultrasound 2014 Annual Conference, July 17, 2014.

Clinical rotations

Housing, living, and travel arrangements to the clinical sites are the responsibility of the student, although we have graduates each year as well as clinical instructors who are happy to assist with suggested areas for housing. Each year there may or may not be a chance for one to two students to be assigned to Chicago area only sites. This opportunity will be determined just before interviews begin in late December or early January, primarily depending on the number of clinical sites available that year, and will only be offered to the first one to two students accepted in the rolling admission process if it is offered.

Advanced placement

Advanced Placement (AP) _{As of 7/14/14}

Advanced placement in the vascular ultrasound program may be offered to any students who have passed an ARDMS exam (SPI or VT only) as seen below.

A. Advanced Placement for the ARDMS[i] SPI (Sonography Principles and Instrumentation).

Students must first be admitted to the program through the standard admissions process prior to requesting advanced placement in the program through a letter or email to the Program Director requesting this status.

Advanced Placement status may be approved for a student demonstrating proof of passing the ARDMS SPI (Sonography Principles and Instrumentation) exam. A“K” grade (credit by proficiency exam) may be earned for passing the SPI exam in the following courses:

Courses/Credits

a. VAS 320 Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles I – 1 K credit but AP SPI students must take Doppler and Color Ultrasound topics sections of this course for 1 regular credit.

b. VAS 325 Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles II - 2

c. VAS 320L Physics and Instrumentation Lab - 1

Advanced Placement SPI students must follow the remaining standard curriculum.

B. Advanced Placement for the ARDMSⁱ RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist) credentialing exam.

Students must first be admitted to the program through the standard admissions process prior to requesting advanced placement in the program through a letter or email to the Program Director requesting this status. Students accepted for Advanced Placement RVT status.

• Must show proof of earning the RVT credential through the ARDMS.ⁱ
• Requires a minimum of one year clinical full time employment as a vascular sonographer (minimum 35 hours per week for one year or pro-rated for part time work).
• May request full time status. Part time status is recommended to complete in 3 years.
• May be limited to 1-2 students each year.

TOTAL RUSH COURSE CREDITS

1) Minimum 36 credits from courses taken at Rush - 36

The total number of possible credits from Rush coursework above assumes that an experienced RVT AP student will pass lab skills proficiency exams as seen below to earn the K grade (credit by proficiency exam) for these courses. If the student does not pass the following Rush based proficiency exams, the following courses must be taken in the RVT AP curriculum. The AP part time schedule of coursework will need to be adjusted to accommodate these courses and program completion may take longer than the 3 years initially anticipated with the addition of these courses.

2) K grade credits (credit by proficiency exam) for Rush based proficiency exams - Maximum 7 K credits

Advanced placement RVT students may take up to 7 Rush based proficiency exams in order to earn the K grade credits for the following courses. If the student does not pass the proficiency exam at Rush for a certain course listed below, that course must be taken by the student at Rush as a part of their curriculum. This may extend the time for completion of the program. Course/Credits

a. VAS 330L Venous Ultrasound Procedures Lab - 1

b. VAS 340L Arterial Physiologic Procedures Lab - 1

c. VAS 350L Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Procedures Lab - 1

d. VAS 360L Abdominal Vascular Ultrasound Procedures Class and Lab (lab portion only) - 1

e. VAS 345L Advanced Vascular Procedures Lab – 1

f. VAS 310  Patient Care Practices - 2

3) K grade credits for RVT (SPI and VT) ARDMS CREDENTIALING EXAMS – 26

The remaining courses in the standard curriculum will receive a K grade for passing the RVT credentialing exam through ARDMS.

4) The total number of possible K grade credits that can be earned by qualified advanced placement RVT students is 33. A fee of $25 will be charged for each K grade earned in the program.

Accreditation summary

The Bachelor of Science in vascular ultrasound program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs: 9355-113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775. Phone: (727) 210-2350. Fax: (727) 210-2354 upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Licensure Information

Institutions are required to make public whether a program is designed to meet educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification that is required for employment in an occupation or is advertised as meeting such requirements. Institutions are required to make public, for each state, whether the completion of that program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a state for that occupation, did not meet requirements or has not made a determination.  These requirements apply to all programs offered via all modalities (distance education and not).

Students should review the specific academic requirements for the program in which they are enrolling, including those related to practicum/internship as well as pre-qualifications for licensure such as the need for a criminal background check. We highly recommend that students contact the applicable licensure board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning an academic program that results in licensure and prior to beginning any internship/practicum. Many licensure boards have additional requirements beyond successful degree completion to obtain a license. Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time. Changes in requirements can impact the program’s ability to meet educational requirements for licensure. Enrolled and prospective students are strongly encouraged to check with the licensing board(s) in their state of residence or in the state in which they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements. The College will periodically review the state requirements. The College of Health Sciences disclosure does not provide any guarantee that any particular state licensure or certification entity will approve or deny a student’s application.

Licensure Information by State:

Transfer Guides

Vascular Ultrasound City Colleges of Chicago Transfer Guide
Vascular Ultrasound Triton College Transfer Guide

*  The transfer guides listed above are not comprehensive lists of eligible courses. For questions, email the CHS admissions office.