Cardiac & Vascular Ultrasound Program

This 12-month accelerated program provides comprehensive training in both cardiac and vascular sonography. Students engage in over 35 hours per week, totaling 1,680 hours, including 828 clinical hours. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on experience, allowing students to begin scanning real patients in the first week. The program is available at both the Phoenix and Tucson campuses, with start dates in January and July.

Established in 1982, the Arizona Heart Foundation School of Cardiac Ultrasound is one of the premier programs in the United States dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s sonographers. The program has evolved to include the ever-changing field of vascular sonography and is now known as the AHF School of Ultrasound. The program is designed to meet and exceed the minimum clinical clock hour requirements recommended by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).

Program objective. The program offers an in-depth clinical experience that will enable students to produce accurate, high-quality echocardiographic images through classroom instruction, hands-on experience with patient models, anatomical lab opportunities, and clinical rotations. Students will have the opportunity to learn the distinction between normal and abnormal cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, and gain an understanding of basic pathology and cardiovascular diagnostic procedures.

The Arizona Heart Foundation was established in 1971 by Edward B. Diethrich, MD, in Phoenix with a mission to combat heart disease through education and public awareness, and later expanded into educational programs including the AHF School of Ultrasound. Why choose the Arizona Heart Foundation School of Ultrasound:

• Institutionally accredited by ABHES.
• Proven success — educating sonographers in Arizona for over 40 years.
• Accelerated 1-year programs, with cardiac and vascular programs offered.
• 90% placement rate post-graduation.
• Begin scanning on day 1, and learn and scan real people and patients.
• Low student-to-ultrasound machine ratio.
• Get on-the-job experience.
• Qualifies you to sit for credentialing exams upon completion of the program.

You must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED. The school will review any transcripts or certificates from previous education and training.

Students must participate in all components of the program, including reporting to clinical sites as assigned. Additional expenses students should plan for include a $200 one-time registration fee, a fingerprint clearance card, a background check, a 12-panel drug screening, a current BLS or ACLS card, medical insurance, any testing requirements for clinical sites, and housing for non-local clinical sites. Only available start dates are shown on the online application; if a start date is not shown, the program is full. Applications are currently closed, and applications for the July 2027 start dates will open April 1, 2027.

The program is 52 weeks and comprises 1,680 clock hours, at 35+ hours per week, including 828 clinical hours. Students must participate in all components of the program, including reporting to clinical sites as assigned.

Start months. Phoenix campus (1313 E Osborn Rd, Suite B-225): January and July. Tucson campus (310 S Williams Blvd, Suite 250): January and July.

Hours. Classroom sessions and clinical rotations average 35–40 hours per week. Hours vary, but typically the Cardiac and Vascular day programs run 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM in Phoenix and 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM in Tucson, Monday–Friday. When your clinical rotation begins, the schedule is built around 8-hour clinical days and start times can vary based on your assigned facility; almost all clinical rotations happen between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday.

Program costs. Cardiac & Vascular Ultrasound Program: $34,900. DMS & Vascular Ultrasound Program: $34,900. Cardiac Ultrasound Program: $29,900. Programs include textbooks, equipment, supplies and a one-time national certification exam fee.

Additional expenses: a $200 one-time registration fee, fingerprint clearance card, background check, 12-panel drug screening, current BLS or ACLS card, medical insurance, any testing requirements for clinical sites, and housing for non-local clinical sites.

Tuition assistance. At this time the school does not offer Title IV, federally funded aid. It offers three competitive and customizable student loans through its financing partners Climb Credit and Edly.

The cost of the CCI registry exam is included in tuition, but if you do not pass the first time you are financially responsible for any subsequent attempts.

Cardiac ultrasound sonographers operate special imaging equipment to create images or conduct tests. The images and test results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. Sonographers and technologists may work closely with physicians and surgeons before, during, and after procedures.

Occupational outlook:

• $75,000 average sonographer annual salary.
• 90% placement rate.
• Specialized sonographers are expected to have the best job opportunities.
• Growing field — expecting an increase of 14% from 2018–2028.

Employment environment. Sonographers primarily work in hospital settings but can also work in physicians’ offices, medical and diagnostic labs, and outpatient care centers.

Passing the CCI registry exam is required to complete the program, which gives graduates a nationally recognized credential. The school works with all graduates to help them secure a job in the sonography field by posting job listings, networking and helping to construct resumes. AHF also offers a specialized Pediatric Ultrasound course for graduates and existing sonographers.

Students begin scanning in the first week and scan real people and patients. The faculty’s expertise, coupled with small class sizes, prepares students for the national registry exams and results in graduates with a discernible difference; the average Cardiac and Vascular class size is 20–22 students. More than 500 highly qualified sonographers have graduated since the inception of the program.

Clinical rotations are offered at hospitals, acute care facilities and outpatient facilities throughout the Continental U.S., with the main focus on sites in the greater Phoenix area and the state of Arizona. Sites can vary from year to year, and students must be prepared to go wherever they are assigned within the Continental U.S. to complete their clinical rotation.