Echocardiography Program Admission Criteria

Applicants to the Echocardiography Program must meet all admission criteria for Danville Area Community College.
Before being considered for admission into the Echocardiography Program, applicants must meet these criteria:
1. Degree or certificate and licensed/registered in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
2. Degree or certificate and licensed/registered in other Radiologic Sciences
3. Nursing degree (R.N.) and license
4. Other Health Profession Degree (examples: Respiratory Therapy, Medical Laboratory) and licensed/registered
5. Any Bachelor’s degree or higher.
6. If not a graduate of a Radiologic Sciences Program, the applicant must complete an observation session during a scanning lab at DACC. If an applicant is unable to come to DACC for the observation due to schedule/distance, he/she must type a 1-2 page essay covering the following topics:
  1. 1. Why do you want to be an echocardiographer?
  2. 2. What is the job description of/typical workday like for an echocardiographer?
  3. 3. What is the average salary in the U.S. for an echocardiographer?
  4. 4. What are the employment/career advancement opportunities for an echocardiographer?
7. Submit transcripts from all other colleges attended and a DACC application if transferring to DACC.
8. Program applications must be submitted by May 15 of the year the applicant wishes to enter the program.
Residency
1. Applicants who are legal residents of Community College District 507 will be given priority for admission provided all admission criteria are met. This is contingent on the completion of general education courses as stated above.
2. Official definition of residence and description of District 507 boundaries are available in the Registration and Student Services offices.
Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of the program, and must therefore, meet the technical requirements of the Echocardiography Program. Students may be assigned to a clinical site that requires a commute time of at least 1 hour each way.
Drug screening and current immunization status must be completed prior to the first day of classes. A medical history form and a physician’s exam must also be completed indicating the applicant meets the technical requirements of the echocardiography program regarding physical, emotional, and mental skills and abilities or that reasonable accommodations will be requested.
Students must adhere to DACC’s drug free policy and must meet the criteria of each clinical site utilized by the Program. Criminal background checks will be conducted on all students prior to entering clinical education.
Applicants must possess the ability to use the English language to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with individuals of all professional and social levels.
Typically, 10 students are accepted into the program. If qualified applicants exceed seat availability, the applicants will be selected according to their current degree or certificate. For example, those individuals with a background in Radiologic Sciences will be given first consideration, then those with a nursing degree followed by other Health Professions’ degrees, degrees in the sciences and finally those with other degrees. Grades in previous college courses, clinical education evaluations, timeliness of classes and district residency will also be considered as will cardiology experience. Applicants that are graduates of DACC's Rad Tech, RN or other qualifying health care programs are given preference.
Applicants accepted into the Program must respond with an acceptance or declination letter by the date specified on the acceptance letter. No response or a late response will be considered a declination, and the seat will be offered to the next qualified applicant.
If all seats are filled for the current year, remaining qualified applicants must submit another application the following year. Applications and waiting lists of qualified applicants will not be maintained from year to year.
Applications and observation/essay instruction links can be found at http://dacc.edu/depts/echo