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Cardiovascular Technology (CVT), A.A.A.S.

Partner of the Education Programs in Collaboration (EPiC) Consortium in association with the Michigan Community Colleges Association (MCCA)

The CVT program is offered through a partnership with other Educational Programs in Collaboration (EPiC) Consortium and funded through the Strengthening Community Colleges grant program. Each college within the EPiC Consortium enrolls students in the program under their admission criteria and each awards the degree according to that college’s completion requirements.

Program information

Students in the program complete CVT courses delivered in an online environment by one of the EPiC colleges within the consortium. Clinical education courses are arranged through the EPiC Consortium’s educational coordinator in collaboration with the CVT departments of affiliating hospitals. Throughout the program, students are provided with hands-on experience in cooperation with various hospitals under the direction of the Program Director, program faculty, clinical instructor, and technologists. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Board Certification Examination to become a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) administered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).

Cardiovascular Technologists (CVT) are highly skilled professionals trained to work alongside Cardiologists to perform invasive diagnostic and therapeutic cardiovascular procedures. Students will also develop skills in the preparation and monitoring of the patient during these diagnostic and therapeutic exams.

Clinical learning experiences are provided by affiliating hospitals. Didactic learning experiences occur through an online environment and in-person laboratory practice. Both are equally important to the development of the competent cardiovascular technologist.

Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) handout

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Program Courses and Requirements

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Program Admissions Requirements

  1. You must Apply to GRCC, if you're not a current student.
  2. Application Deadline:  Applications will be accepted year round. All received applications will be reviewed no later than June 1 for the following fall cohort.

Admissions to the CVT Program at GRCC is based on points and a face-to-face interview process. Points are awarded based on academic achievement and the completion of the required documentation.

  • Be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) Test.
  • Have a high school or college GPA of at least 2.0.
  • Demonstrate Math competency within the last 5 years.  Math competency must be demonstrated through the following ways: 
    • Math Placement Test (ALEKS) with a score of 30 or higher or
    • Completion of MA 098 or higher with a grade of C or higher
    •  If the ALEKS placement test score is less than 30, it is recommended that the student choose one of the following:
      • Utilize the ALEKS preparation and learning module provided in ALEKS. With this module students can review on their own at their own pace.  After a student is confident that they have sufficiently reviewed topics to refresh their prior knowledge, they can retake the assessment for a new placement.
      • Utilize tutorial support provided by GRCC in collaboration with the ALEKS preparation and learning  module provided in ALEKS. With this module students can review on their own at their own pace with a tutor.  After a student is confident that they have sufficiently reviewed topics to refresh their prior knowledge, they can retake the assessment for a new placement.
      • Register for MA 70 if a student wants dedicated class time with a faculty member to help them set goals.  In MA 70, students will utilize the ALEKS preparation and learning module provided in ALEKS, with this module students can review and learn topics in class and in the tutorial lab.  After a student is confident that they have sufficiently reviewed topics to refresh their prior knowledge, they can retake the assessment for a new placement.
  • Reading and writing requirement competency must be demonstrated through any one of the following ways: 
    • EN 101 with a grade of C or better or
    • Score of 26 on ACT or 400+ on SAT within the last five years  or
    • Blackboard essay scores of 40 or higher within the last five years.
  • Earn a grade of C or higher within two attempts in the following courses (a withdrawal is considered an attempt):
    • BI 117: General Human Anatomy and Physiology
    • *Must be completed within 7 years of program acceptance. 
  • In order to be eligible for admission into the CVT program, students must have successfully completed any required foundational courses with a grade of at least C.
  • In order to be eligible for graduation, CVT program students must earn a minimum of “C-” in each CVT program course.

The entire packet must be delivered to GRCC Main Campus, Room 502 in the College Park Plaza Building.

Program Director – 502 CPP
Cardiovascular Technology
143 Bostwick Ave. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503

The packet can also be emailed to rachelmorairty@grcc.edu by the deadline. 

Note: There will be a required CVT orientation day in the beginning of August (time and place TBD) for students accepted into the program. You will be notified if you are accepted.

Clinical Education Access Requirements

The Cardiovascular Technology Program requires students to have the following vaccinations, CPR, and health insurance once admitted into the program.

  • TB test results, or Chest X-ray date and report* 
  • Hepatitis B series
  • Tdap
  • Date of Chicken pox or Varicella immunization
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Flu vaccine*
  • COVID - 19 Vaccine*
  • CPR - American Red Cross:  BLS/CPR for Health Insurance or American Heart Association:  BLS provider only must also be completed.  No other types of providers will be accepted
  • Health Insurance - proof of documented and maintained through the duration of the program.

*A flu immunization and TB test or screening must be completed yearly. The TB must not lapse, and the flu vaccine must be acquired no later than November 1.

*GRCC medical exemptions will be addressed once in the program. However, the program cannot guarantee GRCC awarded exemptions will be accepted at every clinical site.

Contact Summer Madrid at summermadrid@grcc.edu for specific vaccination requirements.

Clinical Sites

  • Corewell Health -Grand Rapids (Formerly Spectrum Health)
  • Ascension Borgess Hospital -Kalamazoo
  • Bronson Healthcare -Kalamazoo
  • Trinity Health- Grand Rapids
  • Trinity Health -Muskegon
  • Hurley Medical Center - Flint

Additional Program Information

  • Graduates will be eligible to sit for Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) examination administered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). A felony conviction may affect the graduate’s ability to sit for examination. It is strongly recommended to contact CCI prior to program start or early on in the program for pre-application to determine a student’s eligibility to sit for the exam if previously convicted of a felony. Information regarding the RCIS exam application can be found at CCI’s website: cci-online.org.

Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)

3739 National Drive, Suite 202
Raleigh, NC 27612 USA
(919) 861-4539

  • Off campus Instruction Disclaimer

Off-campus Instruction Disclosure

Program Contact and Application Information

CVT, A.A.A.S. Application Process

Please contact:

Additional Information

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