AAS degree | 50-week program | CAAHEP accredited | Palm Harbor, FL

Invasive Cardiovascular Technologists assist physicians with cardiac catheterization procedures. The procedures are done to determine whether the patient has a blockage or heart disease. Cardiac Catheterization involves invasive procedures which can be used to treat blockages of blood vessels or heart valves without the need for heart surgery.

Program Description

The program is designed to develop health care professionals who, through the use of specific high technology equipment and at the discretion of a qualified physician, perform procedures on patients leading to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease.

Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist students receive classroom lectures and lab training at our Palm Harbor, FL campus. ICT students also receive an extensive clinical rotation at several local hospitals that specialize in cardiovascular procedures. Students are provided with a great deal of hands-on experience while working with prominent diagnostic interventional cardiologists!

Students are given many opportunities to observe diagnostic and interventional catheterization laboratories in action. They are allowed to observe:

Diagnostic angiography studies

PTCA procedures

Pacemaker implantations

Invasive vascular procedures

ICT students are required to complete a 50 week day program. Graduates of the ICT program receive an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree and CPR/ACLS certification from the American Heart Association..

*The listing of credits is not meant to imply that credits can be transferred into college or other private career school programs. Transfer credits are at the sole discretion of the receiving school.

Certification & CAAHEP Accreditation

The Invasive Cardiovascular Technology (ICT) program at Central Florida Institute in Palm Harbor is accredited by the Commission Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT)

Credentialing for cardiovascular technologists is available from Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)* Test prep lectures and questions are integrated into the program's curriculum.

*This program prepares students for certification testing, although there is no guarantee of passing the certification test and passing the test is not a graduation requirement.

Employment & Earnings

The Department of Labor lists the mean annual wages of Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians in 2010 were $54,550 in offices of physicians and $49,740 in general medical and surgical hospitals. They also point out that healthcare employers are interested in certified Cardiovascular Technologists, so job prospects should be best for Cardiovascular Technologists with formal training (such as that offered at Central Florida Institute).

According to the United States Department of Labor, the employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to increase 24 percent through the year 2018. Want to learn more about ICT employment? Check out our employment map!

Graduates of the Invasive Cardio Tech program are employable in facilities such as:

Hospital Cardiac Departments
Outpatient Cardiac Catheterization Labs

Prerequisites

Students enrolling in Associate of Applied Science Programs will take the CPAt Scholastic Level Exam, which is recognized and approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Please call our admissions department for a copy of the application process. 1-888-831-8303

A criminal background search may be conducted on students enrolling at Central Florida Institute.

CFI Graduate Stories

"Going to CFI has been a wonderful experience. I've made a lot of new friends and came out with a great rewarding career!" -Alan R., ICT Graduate

"Coming to CFI was the best thing that has ever happened to me. There's no better feeling then fulfilling your goals and dreams. My aunt April always admired me for being determined, bright, and caring. She always said that I would make it and be successful and now I know I will." -J. Walker, CFI Graduate