Program Information

Description of Job for which Program Prepares Students

Cardiovascular technology is an allied health profession concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart and blood vessel disease. The cardiovascular technologist performs tests at the request of the physician to obtain information about that patient’s heart and blood vessel anatomy and function so the physician can make a diagnosis.  The profession of cardiovascular technology includes three areas of diagnostic evaluation: 1) invasive cardiovascular technology (diagnosis of heart disease by cardiac catheterization), 2) non-invasive cardiovascular technology (diagnosis of heart disease by the use of cardiac ultrasound, exercise testing, and electrocardiographic [ECG] testing, 3) non-invasive peripheral vascular technology (diagnosis of blood vessel disease using ultrasound testing).

The cardiovascular technology program provides the necessary classroom and clinical courses to allow graduates to work as electrodiagnostic, treadmill technologists, non-invasive cardiac sonographer and also provides an introduction to invasive cardiology.

Required Program Prerequisites

• Allied Health A010: Health Occupations
  • Must be completed at OCC
• Biology A221: Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • In-person lab required
  • Beginning Fall 2026, a minimum grade of B is required.
• Allied Health A111: Medical Terminology
  • Beginning Fall 2026, a minimum grade of B is required.
• Completion of 2026-2027 A.S. General Education

Associate of Science Degree

This is an Associate of Science degree program.  All associate of science degree general education requirements must be completed for graduation from the program. 

Does this program transfer?

Procedure for program admittance

All students must complete the course Allied Health A010 – Health Occupations in order to apply to the program.  Students are selected and admitted to the program on a first come, first serve basis following completion of Allied Health A010. (See Application and Admittance under “Allied Health” for further details).

Length of program

Program start

Employment possibilities upon program completion

Salaries

Courses within the program which students can take while seeking admission to the program (subject to catalog restrictions)

Spaces available

Background checks

All students will be required to submit an application for pre-clinical background/drug screen check. The background check will include Fingerprints - LIVESCAN, County Criminal Records (past 7 years), Residency History Search, Social Security Alert, Nationwide Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Registry (OIG/GSA), Nationwide Sexual Offender Registry and a California DMV report. The drug screening will include THC, cocaine, opiates, PCP, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methaqualone, propoxyphene and methadone. If requested by the clinical site, the results of the background/drug checks must be provided to them by the student.

Clinical requirements

• A physical examination
• Criminal background check clearance
• CPR
• HIPAA training, Blood borne pathogen training provided through Al H 115
• Student liability insurance

Students must adhere to appropriate required dress code which may include a laboratory coat, name tag, and other program specific requirements.

Clinical sites may require additional drug testing or other blood work. There may be exposure to hazardous materials or pathogens in the clinical setting. Students will adhere to all safety and precautionary measures.  The student receives no financial compensation for clinical experience, but does receive course units as a required class in the program.

Employment Prospects

Accreditation of Program

Licensure

Program Outcome

To prepare cardiovascular technologists or diagnostic medical sonographers who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession of adult cardiac sonography.