Vascular Technology Program

 

Department of Medical Imaging Sciences
School of Health Related Professions
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

 

Opportunities in Vascular Sonography
Vascular sonography is a growing ultrasound field. Healthcare facilities regionally and nationally are facing severe shortages of technologists. Technological advances in imaging sciences are creating the need for educated people willing to accept greater responsibilities. The need is even more pronounced in ultrasound fields where the ultrasonographer has much greater responsibilities than technologists in other imaging specialties. Career opportunities for Vascular Technologists are excellent.

The Rutgers Vascular Sonography Program
The Vascular Sonography Program, as one of less than 30 such accredited programs in the United States, is an upper division, undergraduate program leading to a B.S. in Allied Health Technologies or a 15-month certificate. It is offered at the Newark campus of Rutgers School of Health Related Professions (SHRP). Medical direction for the program is provided by the Division of Vascular Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Whether the program is taken for a B.S. degree or certificate, the professional program track is full-time, starting in the Fall of each year. It provides a strong education in vascular anatomy physiology and pathophysiology, then covers didactics in medical and surgical therapeutics to support the role of the technologist in helping the management of vascular patients.

Classroom instruction provides the knowledge base but strong clinical training is essential to develop a successful graduate. We pride ourselves in graduating students that are immediately able to be productive members of a Vascular Lab. Approximately three quarters (3/4) of the program hours are spent in the clinical phase, under the direction of experienced technologists. The clinical training is gained at one of twelve Vascular Laboratories affiliated with the program. Students have found this to be an intense but gratifying educational experience which has allowed them easy entrance into a highly technical field with excellent career opportunities.

Program Track - B.S. Allied Health Technologies
Students are able to earn a bachelor’s degree through a Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health Technologies. This is a joint degree offered by Rutgers SHRP in cooperation with six New Jersey colleges and universities:

• Georgian Court College, Lakewood, NJ
• Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ
• Felician College, Lodi, NJ
• New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ
• Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ
• Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
• Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, NJ

Students spend the first three years at one of the partner institutions, pursuing a liberal arts study, concentrating in biology. In their senior year, they enter Rutgers SHRP for the Vascular Sonography concentration. The Vascular sonography component focuses the biological science base onto a specific clinical education.

Program Track - Certificate
The Certificate program is for those interested in more immediate entry into a well-paying, highly-employable career. The certificate is granted through the Rutgers School of Health Related Professions and provides students all the rights and privileges of graduating from a nationally accredited program.

Program Accreditation
The Rutgers Vascular Sonography Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Joint Review Committee on Cardiovascular Technology. Graduates are not required to be licensed. Accreditation offers significant benefit to the graduates of the program, guaranteeing a certain minimum standard for academic and clinical education by the Program and eligibility to sit for the National Registry examination (RVT). This is a voluntary registry that is very important for advancement.

For More Information

Contact the Rutgers School of Health Related Professions