Entrance requirements

***Please note changes made to entrance requirement to reflect current clinical experience in the area of Cardiac Sciences***

Note: Effective immediately, all health care workers who come into contact with patients at publicly-funded health care facilities or in the community, including at long-term-care facilities, will have to get the influenza vaccine or wear a mask during flu season. This policy affects all students who will be entering a clinical setting.

As such, you will be required to provide proof of your immunization or agree to wear a mask at all times through the flu season prior to being placed in your clinical studies.

• Completion of one of the following along with 2 years of recent clinical cardiac experience:
• Minimum 2-year Allied Health Diploma or Degree
• Minimum 2-year Diploma or Degree in Nursing
• Relevant B.Sc. with allied health experience

• 12 lead ECG interpretation skills are essential to be successful in this program. Successful completion of CARD 2201 or an equivalent course is required before term start. For access to CARD 2201, please complete a Special Approval Form [PDF] and submit to Cardiac Sciences prior to term start.

• Letter verifying 2 years recent clinical experience in the area of cardiac sciences.

Note: English language proficiency at an English 12 (B) level is required for Category B applicants.

Applicants who completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, United States or England will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).

Additional Requirements

Applicants will also be required to:

• Meet the above Entrance Requirements and supply official transcripts

• Complete a Clinical Verification Form [PDF] to confirm clinical site placement (required as part of the admission application). *Note: it is the responsibility of the student to secure a clinical site.

• Complete CPR "C" certificate

• Provide a completed Verification of Cath Lab Visit form [PDF] (not to be completed until all entrance requirements are met)

• Provide a Cardiovascular Physical Requirements Form [PDF] (not to be completed until all entrance requirements are met)

Note: Students will be required to provide a current immunization record prior to entrance into the clinical practicum. Necessary forms will be provided by the program area as part of the Practicum Application.

Provisional Acceptance

If you have been provisionally accepted to BCIT you will be notified through myCommunication and the following information will be required in order to be fully accepted into the program:

• Criminal Record Check [PDF]

Once these and any other outstanding provisions have been met, you will receive notification of your full acceptance.

BC provincial exams

Provincial exam marks are required for English 12, Communications 12, and Technical and Professional Communications 12. BCIT does not require provincial exams for Grade 12 Math and Science courses.

Apply to program

Please review Applying to Health Programs at BCIT [PDF].

Submit an application: online or by mail [PDF].

You can check the status of your application online at any time using the Student Information System.

Scheduled intakes

September and January each year.

PLAR

Transfer Credit
Please complete the transfer credit portion of the Program Declaration form. Attach official transcripts and course outlines for each course you are requesting review for transfer credit.

Challenge Exams
Challenge exams will be available for selected courses

Compressed Time Frame
Compressed Time Frame course credits are available for applicants who are currently working in the field of cardiovascular technology. Applicants must have a minimum of one (1) year clinical experience. Compressed Time Frame credits are subject to approval of the Program Head who must verify that clinical competencies have been met by the applicant. If the Program Head verifies the competencies have been met or exceeded by the applicant, credit will be granted for the clinical course which has been complete via Compressed Time Frame.

Application processing

September intake: November 15 of the previous year until June 1*

January intake: June 1 of the previous year until November 1*

Applications are considered for a specific intake.

*Or next business day

myCommunication

Within 2 to 3 weeks of applying to a program, you will be sent a letter in the mail confirming receipt of your application. The letter will identify your student number, BCIT e-mail address and instructions on how to login to your myBCIT account.

All official BCIT correspondence will be sent to your myBCIT account. Check myCommunication often during the application process and throughout your studies at BCIT.

You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within 2 to 8 weeks.

Tuition fees

Please see the Part-time Studies Fees page for information on tuition fees and refunds.

Program matrix

Check current availability of courses for this program.

Grading

Examinations

All students taking courses within the Cardiac Science Technologies program who live within a reasonable driving distance of BCIT will be required to take their exams on campus. This includes areas as far north as Squamish and as far east as Abottsford. This requirement is applicable to any student taking courses on a course by course basis or as part of continuing education, whether enrolled in the program or not.

Program structure

The program is comprised of eight (8) theory courses followed by three (3) clinical courses.

The eight (8) theory courses are each 12 weeks in length, and are offered in a distance learning format, in any one or more of three (3) terms, September to December, January to April and April to June each year. For each course, toll-free telephone access to qualified tutors is provided at allocated times each week. Examinations and assignments are sent by mail at regular intervals and prompt feedback is available from the tutor by phone, fax or E-mail. Ongoing self-evaluation is encouraged through provision of embedded learning activities in the text and review questions at the end of each chapter. In most cases registrants may take any combination of courses in the order they choose. Each course is self-contained, but integrated with the others to ensure common terminology, minimal repetition, common course format and a similar evaluation system.

The three (3) clinical courses are available in a continuous entry format. Students are requested to contact the Program Head for approval to secure a clinical placement. Clinical placements can be done at B.C.I.T. approved healthcare facilities which offer the student a mix of diagnostic and interventional catheterizarion experience.

NOTE: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO SECURE A CLINICAL PLACEMENT.

Apply for graduation

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit to Student Information and Enrolment Services.

Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.

All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.

Credential

Diploma of Technology
Cardiovascular Technology

Professional associations

The Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) program is endorsed by the Canadian Association of Cardiopulmonary Technologists (CACPT). The CACPT encourages all Canadian students enrolled in the BCIT CVT program to register with the CACPT as a student member. Subject to the bylaws of the CACPT, graduates are allowed to write the CACPT cardiovascular registration examination. Those who are successful obtain the designation RCPT(C) (Registered Cardiopulmonary Technologist [Cardiac]), which signifies the student has attained a specific level of standardized training in the cardiovascular specialty.

For information on the CACPT, contact:
Laura Seed
CACPT Education Chair
Tel. 416-864-5220
www.cacpt.ca

or write to:
CACPT
PO Box 848
Station A, Toronto, ON
M5W 1G3.

The following professional societies recognize various BCIT Cardiovascular courses:

• The Canadian Association of Cardio-Pulmonary Technologists (CACPT) (credits per course are pending)
• Cardiovascular Credentialling International (CCI) (credits per course are pending)
• American Society of Cardiovascular Professionals-Board of Technical Programs (ASCP-BTP)
• American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion(ABCP) (2 credits per course)
• Canadian Society of Cardiovascular Perfusion(CSCP) (credits per course are pending)
• Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT) (6 units per course credit).