Applicants are required to meet the following criteria to sit for the ACS examination:
- Have a high school diploma or general education diploma at the time of application.
- Fulfill one (1) of the qualifications of the exam for which you are applying. See qualifications listed in the table below.
- Provide typed documentation to support the qualification under which you are applying. Required documentation for each qualification is listed below. CCI reserves the right to request additional information.
Qualification Prerequisite
All applicants must fulfill one of the following |
Supporting Documentation |
|
ACS1
A graduate of a programmatically accredited program in Advanced Cardiac Sonography.
|
ACS1
A copy of a graduate certificate
AND
Student verification letter from the Advanced Cardiac Sonography educational program director.
|
|
ACS2**
A graduate of a programmatically accredited program in cardiac ultrasound/echocardiography.*
AND
Hold an active echocardiography registry credential (includes but not limited to RCS, RCCS, or RDCS)
AND
Seven (7) years of cardiac ultrasound clinical experience as a registered echocardiography sonographer. It is anticipated, but not required, that the applicant have performed a minimum of 8000 echocardiograms in their career which is defined as work experience and/or formal clinical education program.
|
ACS2
A copy of a graduate certificate from the programmatically accredited educational program.
AND
Copy of wallet card showing date earned and active through date of registry credential (RCS, RCCS or RDCS)
AND
Employment verification letter which indicates time period of employment and primary duties of applicant, and clinical competence related to the field of cardiac ultrasound.
|
|
ACS3**
A graduate of a diploma, associate, or baccalaureate academic program in health science
(including, but not limited to, cardiovascular technology, ultrasound, radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, or nursing)
AND
Hold an active echocardiography registry credential (includes but not limited to RCS, RCCS, or RDCS)
AND
Seven (7) years of cardiac ultrasound clinical experience as a registered echocardiography sonographer. It is anticipated, but not required, that the applicant have performed a minimum of 8000 echocardiograms in their career which is defined as work experience and/or formal clinical education program.
|
ACS3
A copy of a graduate certificate
AND
Copy of wallet card showing date earned and active through date of registry credential (RCS, RCCS or RDCS)
AND
Employment verification letter which indicates time period of employment and primary duties of applicant, and clinical competence related to the field of cardiac ultrasound.
|
|
ACS4**
Hold an active echocardiography registry credential (includes but not limited to RCS, RCCS, or RDCS)
AND
Ten (10) years of cardiac ultrasound clinical experience as a registered echocardiography sonographer. It is anticipated, but not required, that the applicant have performed a minimum of 8000 echocardiograms in their career which is defined as work experience and/or formal clinical education program.
|
ACS4
Copy of wallet card showing date earned and active through date of registry credential (RCS, RCCS, or RDCS)
AND
Employment verification letter which indicates time period of employment and primary duties of applicant, and clinical competence related to the field of cardiac ultrasound.
|
* An accredited program is accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), United States Department of Education (USDOE), or Canadian Medical Association (CMA), that specifically conducts programmatic accreditation for cardiovascular technology, diagnostic cardiac sonography, or vascular technology.
** It is CCI’s goal to advance the standards for all cardiovascular professionals. CCI recognizes that the future demands for advanced-level sonographers will result in the need for additional education for sonographers who wish to earn the Advanced Cardiac Sonographer credential. CCI will continue to review the qualification prerequisites for candidates applying for the ACS examination. Through collaboration with the professional societies, educators, and the cardiac sonography community CCI will establish minimum educational standards for the Advanced Cardiac Sonographer credentialing program.