Non-Invasive Vascular Study

About the Program

Use ultrasound waves to view structures throughout much of the body to diagnose cardiovascular disease.

Associate of Applied Science in Cardiovascular Technology
Specialty: Non-Invasive Vascular Study

As a Non-Invasive Vascular Technologist, you will evaluate blood flow within the arteries and veins of the body, other than those of the heart, to diagnose or rule out the presence of vascular disease. You’ll work without using injections or dye, thus making the procedures non-invasive. Vascular Technologists work with the following areas of the body: Arteries and veins of the arms and legs, the arteries of the neck and head, the arteries and veins of the kidneys, liver, and mesenteric circulation.

You’ll use two methods to assess patients: Physiologic measurements and duplex ultrasound. In physiologic studies you’ll measure the blood pressure of the arms and near the ankles and then use Doppler probes to view waveforms of the arterial blood flow to determine if there are blockages. Duplex ultrasound produces a sonographic image of the vessel as well as providing information about changes in the velocity of blood flow, which may be abnormal and characteristic of specific vascular disease processes, like blood clots, stenosis, or an aneurysm. 

As a Vascular Technologist, you will play an important and sometimes critical role in patient care. You will work one-on-one with the patient and create reports for the reading physician. Treatment will be instituted in part or entirely as a result of your efforts.

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.

Non-Invasive Vascular Study at a Glance

• 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 hemodynamic monitoring 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 8 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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