All applicants must meet the following criteria: 1) Have a high school diploma or general education diploma at the time of application. 2) Fulfill one (1) of the qualifications of the exam for which you are applying. See qualifications listed in the tables below. 3) Provide typed documentation to support the qualification prerequisite under which you are applying. Required documentation for each qualification prerequisite is listed below. CCI reserves the right to request additional information.
| Qualification Prerequisite (All applicants must fulfill one of the following) |
Supporting Documentation |
|
RCCS1
Two years of full-time or full-time equivalent work experience in cardiac ultrasound at the time of application. The applicant must have performed a minimum of 600 cardiac ultrasound studies at the time of application. (It is anticipated, but NOT required, that the successful candidate will have performed a minimum of 150 adult congenital/pediatric studies per year in the two years prior to submission of the application.)
In the verification letter, the medical director(s) must confirm the number of studies performed during the applicant’s employment.
Effective June 30, 2023, the RCCS1 qualification prerequisite will be sunset. First-time RCCS applicants applying on or after July 1, 2023 must select from the qualification prerequisites listed below.
|
RCCS1
Employment Verification Letter (must confirm the number of studies performed during the applicant’s employment)
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RCCS235
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
One year of full-time or full-time equivalent work experience in cardiac ultrasound at the time of application.
AND
Performance of a minimum of 600 cardiac ultrasound studies* in the applicant’s career, which is defined as work experience and/or clinical experience gained during a formal educational program. (It is anticipated, but NOT required that the successful candidate will have performed a minimum of 150 adult congenital/pediatric studies per year in the two years prior to submission of the application.)
In the verification letter(s) the medical director(s) and/or program director(s) must confirm the number of studies performed during the applicant’s employment and/or during the academic program.
|
RCCS235
Completion certificate and/or educational transcripts
AND
Employment Verification Letter
AND/OR
Clinical Experience Letter (only required for applicants submitting verification of the number of studies completed during a formal educational program)
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RCCS4
A graduate of a programmatically accredited program** in adult congenital or pediatric cardiac ultrasound.
|
RCCS4
Completion certificate and/or educational transcripts
AND
Student Verification Letter
Students applying to take examination prior to graduation will be required to submit this documentation.
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RCCS5
A graduate of a NON-programmatically accredited program in adult congenital or pediatric cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) which has a minimum of one year of specialty training and includes a minimum of 800 clinical hours in the specialty in which the examination is being requested.
IMPORTANT: If an individual’s clinical hours were completed after graduation or if the hours are not a requirement for their educational program, then those hours WOULD NOT count toward the 800-hour minimum under qualification RCCS5. All clinical hours must be earned in a setting in which patients are being tested or medically treated.
|
RCCS5
Completion certificate and/or educational transcripts
AND
Student Verification Letter
AND
Clinical Experience Letter
Students applying to take examination prior to graduation will be required to submit this documentation.
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RCCS6
Active ultrasound credential holders with six (6) months of full-time or full-time equivalent work experience in adult congenital or pediatric cardiac ultrasound. The applicant must have participated in a minimum of 100 adult congenital or pediatric ultrasound studies* at the time of application.
In the verification letter, the medical director(s) must confirm the number of studies performed during the applicant’s employment.
|
RCCS6
Copy of wallet card showing date earned and active through date of ultrasound registry credential
AND
Employment Verification Letter (must confirm the number of studies performed during the applicant’s employment).
AND/OR
Clinical Experience Letter (only required for applicants submitting verification of the number of studies completed during a formal educational program) |
* If an individual’s studies were conducted during a formal educational program, then those studies completed WOULD count toward the minimum cardiac ultrasound studies under qualifications RCCS235 and RCCS6.
** 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.