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

This application process is for individuals who wish to become a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) certified Cardiovascular Technologist. Please make sure to review the exam qualifications and requirements prior to applying to the program.

Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) RCIS exam Qualifications

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. It’s recommended to complete all general education courses prior to program entry due to the didactic and clinical nature of the CVT program and full-time course load. We do not offer any part-time options at this time.

To be eligible for graduation and continuing semesters within the program, CVT program students must earn a minimum of “C” in each CVT program course.

Before you apply to the CVT A.A.A.S. program

You must Apply to GRCC, if you're not a current student.

All transcripts from other colleges or universities attended must be received by GRCC’s Enrollment Services June 1st, to be considered for the Fall admission process.

Pre-admissions requirements

Please review the entire list of requirements. All of these will need to be completed prior to program application submission. 

General Requirements

Be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) test.
Have a cumulative high school or college GPA of at least 2.0.

Math Requirements

Math competency must be demonstrated through any one of the following ways:

• Completion of MA 098 or higher with a grade of C or better within the last 5 years.
  
  OR
   
• Math Placement Test (ALEKS) with a score of 30 or higher within the last 5 years 

     
Reading and Writing Requirements

Reading and writing 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
   
• Accuplacer placement test scores of 249+ on the reading portion and 4+ on the written portion. https://www.grcc.edu/students/admissions-enrollment/placement-testing/a….

Biology Requirements

Earn a grade of C or better within 2 attempts in the following course(s) (a withdrawal or drop is considered an attempt):

• BI 117 (or equivalent transferred into GRCC) with a grade of C or better within the last 5 years
  
  OR
   
• BI 121 AND BI 122 (or equivalent transferred into GRCC) with a grade of C or better within the last 5 years.

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.

Written Arrangements Disclosures for Cardiovascular Technology at GRCC

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), requires colleges participating in federal student aid programs to make certain disclosures. In compliance with these federal laws, Grand Rapids Community College is providing information for specific programs offered at GRCC, which incur additional costs of attendance due to a portion of the program being completed at an off-campus location. The Cardiovascular Technology Program requires off-site instruction, which accounts for approximately 22% of the program courses and includes 936 externship hours at major hospitals in West Michigan. The off-site locations are located within a 115 mile radius of the GRCC’s main Grand Rapids campus. Students are responsible for transportation to the off site locations and any other costs associated with attending the off-campus location. Costs range from $1.00 to $34.00 per trip and may include mileage, parking, and other costs related to the off-site placement (e.g., uniform).

The following list includes possible sites where a student could be assigned to complete their off-campus requirements for the program. The following information is accurate as of March 2024. 

• Corewell Health -Grand Rapids
• Trinity Health- Grand Rapids
• U of M Health West- Wyoming, MI 
• Ascension Borgess Hospital -Kalamazoo
• Bronson Healthcare -Kalamazoo
• Trinity Health -Muskegon
• McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital 
• U of M Health-Sparrow Lansing 
• Corewell Health Lakeland- St. Joseph, MI
• Hurley Medical Center - Flint
• McLaren-Flint
• Henry Ford Hospital- Detroit

• 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

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

Please contact:

• Summer Madrid at summermadrid@grcc.edu, (616) 234-3154 
• Rachel Morairty, Program Director at rachelmorairty@grcc.edu, (616) 234-3360