Invasive Cardiovascular Technology

Accreditation

St. Philip's College is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees and certificates. Contact information for the Commission on Colleges is, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of St. Philip's College.  For more information on institutional accreditation please click here. 

The Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Contact information for CAAHEP is, 9355 113^th Street N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775-7709 or call 727-210-2350 for questions about the program's accreditation.  For more information on programmatic accreditation please click here.

Program Credentialing 

Graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) credential offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), but only after satisfying the requirements set forth by CCI. **Please refer to CCI’s RCIS credentialing requirements for further guidance. Furthermore, qualified techs that meet credentialing and facility requirements to work in the cardiac cath lab, may apply for a Limited Medical Radiologic Technology (LMRT) License (**State of Texas requirement to operate radiographic equipment within the lab). 

Graduation, certifications, and credentials are separate skill identifiers and are the responsibility of the individual student.

THECB Statutory Requirement Program Effectiveness Data Chart

Application Window

• Applications are accepted January 1 – May 1 for Fall entry into the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program.

Admissions Requirements

• Students must first apply to St. Philip’s College and complete the general admission process.
• A separate program application is required for the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program.
• All prerequisite courses must be complete by the start of the program, but may be in progress during the application period.

Prerequisite Courses (Not required for ATC Track)

• BIOL 2401 – Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIOL 2402 – Anatomy & Physiology II
• MATH (college-level)
• ENGL 1301 – Composition I
• Reading/Writing readiness

Application Steps

1. Apply to St. Philip’s College.
2. Submit the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program application between January 1 – May 1.
3. Complete all prerequisite courses (may be in progress at application).
4. Attend the mandatory program orientation if selected.
5. After admission, program faculty will determine placement into:
• Certificate I (new students),
• Certificate II (continuing students), or
• Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) (students with an AAS or higher in an allied health field).

Selection Process
Admission is competitive and based on a point-ranking system that considers multiple factors:

• Academic Performance
• GPA in prerequisite science courses (A&P I and II)
• GPA in Math and English prerequisites
• Completion of all prerequisites at time of application (bonus points if finished, not just in progress)
• Overall GPA
• Professional Background
• Cath lab or direct patient care experience
• Related healthcare certifications or advanced degrees
• Application Materials
• Strength of recommendation letters
• Interview
• Demonstrated professionalism, communication, and readiness for a clinical environment

Applicants with the highest combined scores are offered admission. A waitlist may be used if seats become available.

Additional Requirements

• All admitted students must meet clinical site requirements, including:
• Current immunizations
• Criminal background check
• Drug screening

Students are required to attend clinical rotations as an integral part of the training program. Clinical sites are located around the San Antonio area and students are expected to travel up to 100 miles to clinical sites.

Some of our clinical affiliates include:

• Methodist Healthcare System
• Baptist Health System
• Central Texas Medical Center
• Rhythm Endovascular & Heart Institute of Texas
• University Health System
• Christus Santa Rosa Health System
• South Texas Cardiovascular and Rhythm Center
• Veterans Affairs

The following resource link has been provided to assist you in gathering and completing the necessary requirements PRIOR to attending the program and for student life:

Selection Process Scoring Rubric (Unified)

No person shall, on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law, or persons who have opposed discrimination or participated in any complaint process on campus or before a government agency, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in employment or under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by the College District. H.1.1