FULL-TIME | WINNIPEG LOCATIONS DIACF-AD Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography - Echocardiography

Overview

• 13.5 month Advanced Diploma
• August entry date 
  
• Final Casper test sitting: For Fall 2024 start date - April 9, 2024
• Annual application deadline: April 15
• Clinical work experience
• Notre Dame Campus
• Due to high demand, this funded program is open to Manitoba residents only. Applications received from non-Manitoba residents for this program, will be cancelled and the application fee will not be refunded.
• If you have a criminal record, you may not be able to complete this program. If you are listed on a Child Abuse Registry or Adult Abuse Registry you will not be able to complete this program. See Admission Requirements for more info.
• For more information about admission requirements and how to apply, please review FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Description
Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography, also known as Echocardiography, is a technology involving the application of high-frequency sound waves on patients to aid in cardiac diagnoses. As part of the patient care team, Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers assess patients and provide information to Cardiologists for diagnoses and monitoring patients' health statuses.

The Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography program prepares students, through theoretical and clinical training, to conduct Echocardiography examinations, focusing on the heart. This content is cross-referenced to the national competency profile set up by Sonography Canada.

This is a specialized profession requiring a high degree of technical skills and hand eye coordination, and exceptional interpersonal skills.

As part of training, students will perform scans on each other therefore all students must be agreeable to participate in scanning procedures. 

Sonography Canada administers the Canadian credentials. To be eligible for the Canadian credential, graduates must successfully complete both the Sonography Canada's Canadian Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA) and the Sonography Canada written exams, including

1. The Core Sonographic Examination 
2. The Cardiac Sonographer Examination

All the costs for the Canadian credentials are the responsibility of the graduate (approximately $925 CDN).

Admission Requirements

• Carefully review the admission requirements 
• Review the Allied Health Sciences FAQs
• Successfully complete admission requirements 1 through 5 to ensure you can submit proof of completion.

• Your application will be cancelled without a refund of the non-refundable/non-transferable application fee if you cannot submit all required documentation within 15 days of applying.
• We require verification of your complete academic history including any public or private high school, college, university, or technical institutions you have attended.
• Only official post-secondary transcripts are acceptable for admissions. They must be issued within 6 months prior to your application date and sent directly from the post-secondary institution.
• If you are required to complete an English language assessment, do not submit your transcripts until requested to do so.  See Regular Admission Requirement 4 for more information.

• After completing admission requirements 1 to 5, submit an RRC Polytech application

• Submit proof of meeting admission requirements 1 to 5
• Submit an Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form (admission requirement 6)
• Complete the mandatory Casper Test (admission requirement 7)

1. Post-Secondary Education
• Submit proof of having successfully completed 18 or more credits of degree-level (1000 level or higher) post-secondary education including:
• 12 or more credits of Science
• A maximum of 6 credits of Arts and Humanities may be applied towards the required 18 credits
• A minimum grade of C+ is required in each course. However, grades of Pass, Complete or Satisfied will be accepted for courses completed in Winter 2020, Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 only.
• Degree-level (1000 level or higher) courses approved by the degree granting institution as meeting Science or Arts and Humanities requirements will be accepted.  However, Human Anatomy and Physiology (6-credits) and Medical Terminology (3-credits) cannot be used to fulfill this requirement
  and
2. Human Anatomy and Physiology (6-credits)
• Submit proof of successful completion of 6-credits of acceptable Human Anatomy and Physiology courses.  For a list of recommended courses, click here
• Courses must include a lab component
• A minimum grade of C+ is required in each course. However, grades of Pass, Complete or Satisfied will be accepted for courses completed in Winter 2020, Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 only.
• You must have completed the course(s) within the last five academic years of your application date. For example:
• If you apply to RRC for the Fall 2024 start date your course(s) must have been completed in the Fall 2018/Winter 2019 academic year or later
  and
3. Medical Terminology (3-credits)
• Submit proof of successful completion of 3-credits of Medical Terminology
• View RRC Polytech's list of recommended Medical Terminology courses
  A minimum grade of C+ is required. However, grades of Pass, Complete or Satisfied will be accepted for courses completed in Winter 2020, Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 only.
• You must have completed the course(s) within five years of your application date. For example:
• If you apply to RRC on January 15, 2024 your course must have been completed on or after January 15, 2019
  and
4. English Language Requirements (ELRs)
• Have I successfully completed 3 years of full-time high school (secondary) education in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country where English was the language of instruction?
• If YES, you meet English language requirements.  Apply and then submit your transcripts* for review
  or
• If NO, submit proof of meeting an ELRs option.  If you choose the English language assessment option, review this program's approved assessments and required levels.
  or 
• If you completed all of your education in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country in English but you did not graduate high school, submit your transcripts* for review. 
• * If your transcripts are from the USA or an ELR exempt country, we will assess an International Credentials Assessment Fee to be paid before your transcripts will be reviewed.
  and
5. First Aid Course
• Submit proof of current certification in the appropriate First Aid course.  To confirm which 16 hour course you need to complete for this program, click here
  *Emergency First Aid is not acceptable for this program
  and
6. Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
• Submit a completed Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
  and
7. Casper Test
• Successfully complete the following:
• Casper Test - an online situational judgement test that assesses personal competencies including non-academic attributes and people skills
  Final Casper sitting for Fall 2024 start date: April 9, 2024
• Visit RRC Polytech's Casper webpage for additional information and a list of Casper assessment dates
• Results will be used to select applicants with the highest potential for success
• You may complete the Casper assessment once per admission cycle (April to March annually)
• Your results will be valid for all applicable RRC Polytech programs applied to during the admissions cycle (April to March) and cannot be used for future admissions
• You are responsible for the cost of the Test
• Your Casper results will be submitted directly to RRC Polytech (you do not need to submit your results)
• Recommended assessment preparation:
• Casper Test Prep
• Casper Frequently Asked Questions
• Casper  support team 

Program Progression Requirements
Program progression requirements are not due within 15 days of applying and should be submitted after you start classes.

• Criminal Record and Adult and Child Abuse Checks
• This program requires students to submit current original/official versions of one or more of the following checks:
• Criminal Record Check (CRC)
• Provincial Child Abuse Registry Check (CAR)
• Adult Abuse Registry Check (AAR)
  
• If you have a criminal record you may not be able to complete the program
• If you are listed on an Abuse Registry you will not be able to complete the program
• For details on this program's requirements, when to obtain and submit the documents, review the Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
• These documents have expiration dates and should not be obtained prior to timeline indicated on the Applicant Declaration for Check Documents form
• For general information on why RRC requires these checks and for links to check providers such as the Winnipeg Police, visit our Criminal Record Checks webpage
• Submit your check documents to the RRC program contact listed on the Contact Information section of your program
  and
• Immunizations and Testing
• Review the Healthcare Program Immunizations information
• If you have questions about this requirement contact Health Services
• Submit your completed RRC Healthcare Program Questionnaire to RRC's Health Services

Who Should Enrol?

You may be interested in a career in Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography if you:

• Desire to work in a medical environment
• Are compassionate and motivated to help the sick and injured
• Have a strong academic background, especially in science
• Have an aptitude for effective communication
• Are able to cope with constant changes in technology and in your work environment
• Have an eye for detail, excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, and good spatial reasoning
• Have excellent hand eye coordination
• Have excellent people skills
• Understand the responsibility of your role within the diagnostic medical team
• Have good computer skills

When working in the health care profession, there are many physical and emotional demands.  As a Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, you must:

• Be in good physical and mental health, and be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time without resting
• Have the ability to lift 50 pounds
• Be able to push and pull, and bend and stoop routinely
• Have full use of both hands, wrists, arms and shoulders
• Have the ability to operate the scanner controls and the transducer simultaneously and effectively
• Be able to distinguish audible sounds
• Have the ability to identify colour distinctions in order to adequately view sonograms
• Demonstrate the use of safe and effective body mechanics while working with patients
• Be able to safely lift, transfer, and position patients, some of whom may be in a state of unconsciousness or who may be large and heavy and have limited or no weight bearing capabilities
• Be able to interact compassionately and effectively with the sick and injured
• Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals
• Have the ability to organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence

Additionally, you may:

• Experience repetitive strain injuries
• Be exposed to extreme patient injuries
• Be required to work extended hours
• Be exposed to infectious diseases, blood and bodily fluids, toxic materials, noise, allergens, and physical and emotional stress
• Encounter aggressive and agitated patients, visitors, and staff
• Experience physical and compassion fatigue

Program Outline

CO-OP/Practicum Information

The Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Program arranges clinical practicum placements for each student. Clinical practicum placements are located in a variety of accredited facilities throughout Manitoba. Students are responsible for travel, accommodation arrangements and costs to, during and from their clinical experience. Students continue with their didactic studies thru on-line learning while on their clinical placement and reliable internet access is required.  

Note: For clinical site assignment, students work with the program for clinical placements and rotations, however; there is no guarantee that a student will receive a clinical assignment from their preferred sites. Students must be prepared to attend their assigned placement at any of the clinical sites in the province. 

The following facilities are potential sites for the clinical education. 

Winnipeg clinical sites: 

• Children's Hospital, Winnipeg
• Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg
• St. Boniface General Hospital

Clinical sites outside of Winnipeg: 

• Brandon Regional Health Centre (Brandon)

Computer/Laptop Requirements

Online learning is a critical component of course delivery in all Red River College Polytechnic programs. To ensure each student has the tools they need to achieve their academic goals, all Red River College Polytechnic students require, at minimum:

1.  Off-campus access to a current computer with a webcam

2.  A high speed internet connection

• Recommended minimum speed: 10 mbps for download, 3 mbps for upload
• Slower internet connection speeds may result in audio and video issues. Please keep in mind that if others in your home are using the same internet connection at the same time as you are, you may also experience audio and video issues.
• Please refer to https://www.rrc.ca/future-students/computer-requirements/ for further information on Computer Requirements for Students.

Please note that any anticipated costs are not included in Books and Supplies estimates.

Recent Changes

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which documents and compares an individual's prior learning gained from prior education, work and life experiences and personal study to the learning outcomes in College courses/programs. For more information, please visit www.rrc.ca/rpl.

Graduation Requirements

Employment Potential

Echocardiography is practiced in major urban hospitals in Manitoba. In other provinces, there are also private clinics.

Some graduates are working in related teaching, management, and research positions. Others are employed as application specialists, technical advisors, or representatives for diagnostic imaging equipment and supply manufacturers.

In 2017, an entry level technologist in Manitoba could expect to make approximately $35.72 per hour as a starting wage.