Invasive Cardiovascular Technology

About the Program

Learn procedures to diagnose and repair blocked arteries that could lead to a heart attack, and also learn to perform structural repairs to the heart.

Associate of Applied Science in Cardiovascular Technology 
Specialty: Invasive Cardiovascular Technology

As an Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist, you will be a member of the Cardiac Catheterization team and assist the cardiologist in performing procedures that diagnose and treat diseases of the heart and coronary arteries, as well as performing structural repair.

In the Cardiac Catheterization lab, you will gain experience in procedures like coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention using stents, balloons, plaque removal devices, and other tools, right heart catheterizations, and structural heart repair. You will take responsibility for your patients by preparing them for each procedure and providing direct patient care.

Your Educational Experience

As a student, you’ll learn in classrooms, skills labs, clinical settings, and online, thanks to the College’s emphasis on hybrid learning. You’ll learn material when it’s convenient for you, then come together in class to discuss what you’ve learned; or in skills labs, where you’ll apply that knowledge in a safe environment that can simulate nearly any medical condition you might encounter. You’ll gain more than 1,500 hours of hands-on experience in the classroom, skills lab, and clinical rotation – surpassing the requirements for licensure or of other programs. So you’ll graduate from Sentara College uniquely prepared for one of the most challenging and rewarding careers anywhere. This approach to education is what makes Sentara College of Health Sciences one of the top healthcare schools in the region, and will set you apart from all others.

Invasive Cardiovascular Technology at a Glance

• On-campus classes are held daytime, full-time Monday through Friday
• The Program is offered every August
• Graduate with your Associate of Applied Science degree in Cardiovascular Technology and be eligible to apply to sit for the registry examinations prior to graduation
• The CVT Program has a lab, complete with equipment and supplies, for practicing invasive and electrophysiology procedures, and cardiac or vascular ultrasound
• More than 1,500 hours of hands-on experience in skills labs, simulation, and clinicals
• Small clinical and class sizes with a ratio of 10 students to 1 faculty member
• Gain clinical experience in renowned Sentara facilities
• Now accepting applications for August 2025
• 2024-2025 tuition, fees, and total cost of attendance

The Sentara College Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) Program admitted its first class in 1982 in response to the need for qualified individuals to work in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital’s cardiac catheterization, cardiac ultrasound, and vascular ultrasound labs. Today, Cardiovascular Technologists in all specialties work throughout Sentara.

Career Opportunities in CVT

As a Cardiovascular Technologist, you will enjoy many employment opportunities across the country in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, imaging centers, operating rooms, clinical research laboratories, and the biomedical industry. Cardiovascular Technologists assist physicians and surgeons in performing many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures both in the hospital and in the outpatient setting. The highly specialized fields of Cardiovascular Technology are in high demand. 

To learn about this program's state authorizations and compliance disclosures, please click here.

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