ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Educational opportunities are offered by the Dallas County Community College District without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, or disability. Admission of students to the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology (ICVT) Program are made in accordance with the clearly defined and published practices of El Centro College.

Admission requirements include:

• Decision as to qualification for AAS Degree or Certificate
• Completion of all requirements for admission as a full-time student to the college
• Attendance at a program information session
• Satisfactory scores on pre-entrance assessment testing.
• Meet TASP requirements
• Submission of a complete application packet to the Health Occupations Admissions Office during a designated filing period
• Submission of letters of reference
• Personal interview with the selection committee
• Meet the competitive criteria and be formally accepted into the ICVT program

The student must successfully complete each course in the degree plan before the Associate of Applied Science degree is granted. This degree plan includes support courses and prerequisites necessary to meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and CAAHEP guidelines for accreditation. It is accepted that the student will be well prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level invasive cardiovascular technologist..

Certificate Plan:
To be considered for admission into the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology certificate program, the applicant must qualify under ONE of the following categories:

1. Have earned an Associate or Bachelors Degree in ONE of the following health fields with a cumulative grade point average of 2.85 on the degree plan coursework: Radiologic Technology, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Laboratory Technology, or Nuclear Medicine Technology. Some other health fields may also be considered on an individual basis.
   
   NOTE: Students actively pursuing one of the above Associate or Bachelors Degrees may apply to the certificate program providing the degree will be conferred no later than May 31 of that acceptance period. Students who have been provisionally accepted must maintain a minimum 2.85 grade point average through the completion of their degree and must also submit official transcripts no later than May 31 verifying completion of the degree to be considered eligible for admission to the certificate program.
   
   
2. Have earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in a pure science discipline such as Physics, Biology, etc.
   

Certificate applicants must meet general admission requirements to the college as outlined in the college catalog.

The certificate applicant must also demonstrate basic knowledge, by coursework or testing, of basic electrocardiography and pharmacology to place them at the same level of competence as the students completing the Health Occupations Core Curriculum.

Certificate applicants must have completed at least two of the following common learning courses with a minimum grade of "C" or higher:

ENGL 1301 - Composition I
MATH 1314/1414 - College Algebra*
SPCH 1311 - Introduction to Speech Communication

* MATH 1314 or MATH 1414 are subject to a five-year time limit.

A certificate applicant who has not completed two of the above three common learning courses will be allowed to apply to the program by the March 31st application deadline. However, the applicant must be enrolled in those courses during the Spring semester and must complete those courses with a minimum grade of "C" or higher by May 10 to be considered in the final selection for the class.

The college guidelines on transfer of credit and advanced placement are followed. If equivalent courses were completed at a college or university outside the Dallas County Community College District, catalog course descriptions are required to verify transferability. If you have questions concerning these common learning courses, you are encouraged to contact Pamela Farley, Admissions Advisor, Health Occupations Admissions Office at 214.860.2029.

Students in the Certificate option program must successfully complete each course with a grade of "C" or better in the second-year level of the program before the Certificate of completion is awarded. It is accepted that the student will be well prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level invasive cardiovascular technologist after graduation from the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program.
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Applicants to the ICVT Program must meet college admission requirements as outlined in the El Centro College Catalog. The applicant must be a high school graduate, have successfully completed the General Education Development (GED) certificate, or be enrolled in a high school Tech Prep Health Cluster course or articulation agreement with the College.

If you are not currently enrolled in El Centro College, please contact the college Admissions Office (214.860.2311) to complete an application for college admission, or using your Internet browser, download and print a DCCCD college application for admission form. Adobe Acrobat must be installed on your computer to download this form.
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All prospective students are required to attend an information session. Information sessions are scheduled throughout the year and no reservation is required. Please bring the information packet with you to the information session. The packet may be downloaded (The file is in PDF format; and requires Acrobat Reader software, downloadable from www.adobe.com). Program guidelines are subject to change annually. Students are advised to contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office to verify they have received the latest information packet. You may also call the El Centro Health Occupations Admissions Office (214.860.2272) or e-mail Patsy Jones-Strawther (pfj5310@dcccd.edu).
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Potential applicants who are TASP exempt and have completed ENGL 1301 and MATH 1314 with a minimum grade of "B" are not required to complete further assessment testing. Students who have earned a grade of"C" in one or both of these two courses must achieve minimum scores on reading comprehension and/or mathematics assessment testing in order to apply to the ICVT program. A testing referral slip from the Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A140) may be required.

All prospective students MUST achieve minimum assessment scores in reading comprehension and math skills. Students who are TASP exempt through previous coursework (including English and Math courses), previous degrees, or the "B or Better" provision are NOT exempt from reading comprehension and math assessment testing.

A testing referral slip from the El Centro College Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A-140) is required to test. It is not necessary to make an appointment to complete assessment testing. For Assessment Center hours, please call 214.860.2178 at El Centro College. For further assistance regarding assessment testing, please consult the Health Occupations Admissions Office (214.860.2242).

Students may present any combination of the following reading and math tests with the designated minimum scores to fulfill the assessment testing requirement. TASP, SAT, and ACT scores are valid for five years from time of testing to date of application. All other test scores are valid for two years from time of testing to date of application to the ECHO program. The College may require additional testing for TASP requirements.

Various assessment tests and the minimum acceptable scores for each:

READING COMPREHENSION		MATH SKILLS ASSESSMENT
TESTS	MINIMUM SCORES	TESTS	MINIMUM SCORES
DTLS Reading	29	MAPS Math Test 3	18
MAPS Reading	29	TASP Math	270
TASP Reading	230	ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra	75
Accuplacer Reading	78	COMPASS Algebra	70
COMPASS Reading	81	ASSET Intermediate Algebra	41
ASSET Reading	41	SAT Math	500
SAT Verbal	500	ACT Math	19
ACT English	19
Michigan Test (for students whose first language is not English)	80

If the applicant does not achieve minimum required scores on the retest, the applicant must complete one of the following options to be granted a third and final testing opportunity during that application filing period. The three options are:

• enrolling in developmental coursework
• submit documented proof of obtaining tutoring
• enrolling in the Continuing Education course "College Fresh Start" which grants access to the College Learning Center for self-remediation utilizing computer programs, video/audio tapes, etc.
  

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Effective fall 1989, the Texas Legislature mandated that all new students entering Texas public colleges and universities be tested for basic skills proficiency (reading, writing, and math). In most cases, a degree or certificate cannot be awarded until a student has passed the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP).

Students who have not earned at least three (3) credit hours of college-level coursework prior to Fall 1989, and who have not passed all sections of TASP, are considered "TASP vulnerable". It is in the student's best interests to resolve TASP issues prior to applying to the program. A student cannot be awarded a degree or certificate of completion for a Health Occupations program until TASP requirements are satisfied.

Assessment testing requirements does not reflect complete TASP policies or procedures instituted by the College or the State of Texas. Passing TASP is not required to apply to the program. However, if developmental coursework is required and the student is accepted into the program, the developmental coursework is added to the student's courseload. Developmental course requirements fall under the jurisdiction of the College Counseling Office. To determine your TASP status, please see a counselor in the College Counseling Center (214.860.2084).
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For the Associate Degree option, the first year consists of the Health Occupations Core Curriculum (HOCC); and enrollment in the HOCC and other required courses is open (no application required).

The ICVT program does not formally accept students until they have completed the Health Occupations Core Curriculum and other prerequisites (AAS Degree plan) or have a prior Health Occupations degree (Certificate plan). All potential students apply to the specialized ICVT career track during the spring semester. All support courses and admission requirements are expected to be met by both AAS Degree and Certificate plan students. Students accepted into the ICVT program begin the ICVT-specific courses in June.

The completed application packet should be submitted to the El Centro College Health Occupations Admissions Office on or before the application filing period deadline in March. Note that this process is separate from applying for general admission to the college. If you are not currently enrolled in El Centro College, please contact the college Admissions Office (214.860.2311) to complete an application for college admission, or using your Internet browser, download and print a DCCCD college application for admission form. Adobe Acrobat must be installed on your computer to download this form.

Students should submit the following materials to to apply to the program:

• Completed application form (form is obtained at the information session) including essay

• Signed "Statement of Student Responsibility" form (included with the application form)

• Assessment test results indicating successful achievement of required minimum reading and math scores. These scores are obtained from the Assessment Center at the time of testing. The date of testing must also be indicated with the assessment test scores.

• An official transcript from each college attended must be submitted including a transcript from any Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) campuses (only one DCCCD transcript is required). Only courses reflected on official transcripts will be considered in the ranking process. If student has completed courses equivalent to ENGL 1301 or SPCH 1311 at a college outside the DCCCD, a catalog course description for the course(s) must be submitted. For certificate applicants, transcripts must verify prior degree completion and a cumulative GPA of 2.85 on the final transcript of the institution conferring the qualifying degree.

Allow six to eight weeks to receive official transcripts from colleges outside the DCCCD. Allow at least one week to receive a DCCCD transcript. If you have taken courses at more than one college in the DCCCD, only one DCCCD transcript is needed.

All science courses submitted must be completed no more than five years prior to program admission to the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program.

SPECIAL NOTATION REGARDING OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
Grade reports, official or unofficial degree plans, student update or information forms, memos from instructors, and other such documentation will not be accepted as substitutes for official transcripts. Only courses reflected on official transcripts will be considered as completed coursework.

If a college or university outside the DCCCD will not release an official transcript directly to the student, the transcript must be mailed directly to Patsy Jones-Strawther at the address below. If the transcripts have previously been mailed to the El Centro College Registrar's Office, the student should request a stamped photocopy of their transcript from the Registrar's Office to include with their Medical Assisting application materials. Please note that the student is solely responsible for ensuring that his/her transcripts are received in the Health Occupations Admissions Office by the filing deadline. Therefore, it is to the student's advantage to obtain transcripts personally if at all possible for submission with the rest of the application materials.

NOTE: Students actively pursing an Associate Degree in a related health field must submit official transcripts current to date of application indicating coursework completed toward that degree and documentation verifying projected degree completion date. The student must maintain a minimum 2.85 grade point average during degree completion and must provide the Health Occupations Admissions Office with a final official transcript indicating the degree has been conferred no later than May 31. Failure to maintain a minimum 2.85 grade point average and/or submit documentation of degree completion by that date will void the student's application to the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program and will result in forfeiture of any provisional acceptance. Applicants completing common learning courses during the Spring semester must present documentation of the grade earned in those courses no later than May 10.

• A photocopy of catalog course descriptions for at least two of the three required common learning courses or their equivalent (ENGLISH 1301, SPEECH 1311, MATH 1314/1470) if the courses were completed at a college or university outside the Dallas County Community College District. Course descriptions must be copied from the college catalog that was in effect the semester the course was completed and course numbers must match the transcript. Courses presented for transfer consideration must be clearly marked on the photocopy. Do not mark or highlight courses on transcripts.
  
  
• Completed summary page from the application packet entitled "Why I have chosen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology as a career" which is your essay on your career goals, interest, personal experience, etc. in regard to a career in Invasive Cardiovascular Technology.
  
  
• The Statement of Student Responsibility form (included with the application form)
  
  
• Copy of the high school diploma or GED certificate if applicable

All application materials listed above, including reference forms mailed directly from the applicant's designated individuals, must be received in the Health Occupations Admissions Office postmarked no later than March 31.

The above materials must be placed in a 9"x12" envelope and submitted in person or by mail to: following address:

Patsy Jones-Strawther
Health Occupations Admissions Office
El Centro College
Main and Lamar
Dallas, TX 75202-3604

Telephone: 214.860.2242 or E-mail Patsy (pfj5310@dcccd.edu) if you have additional questions.

Students should contact the persons completing the letter of reference forms to ensure that these are submitted to the Health Occupations Admissions Office by the reference prior to the application deadline in March.

Once an applicant has submitted an application packet, the applicant will be allowed to change the order of his/her specialized career tracks (i.e., first, second and third choice) on their application form up until 4:00 p.m. on March 30. This must be done in person by the applicant in the Health Occupations Admissions Office. Verbal changes, faxed changes, and changes via proxy will not be accepted.
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Potential applicants to the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program are required to have reference letters submitted on their behalf. Enclosed with the application packet are three Personal Inquiry Waivers and three Prospective Student Information Reference forms.

An applicant should complete the waivers and mail each with a reference form to the three individuals whom the applicant has asked to serve as references. At least two of the three references must be from recent employers or instructors. No reference should be from a family member.

These individuals must return the reference forms directly to the attention of Patsy Strawther, Allied Health Admissions Assistant, in the Health Occupations Admissions Office. The reference materials must be received in the Health Occupations Admissions Office by March 31.
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There are 10 students admitted into the ICVT program each year and admission is competitive, based upon the following criteria:

• Cumulative GPA on all core curriculum/degree coursework (minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.85 on the degree plan coursework)
• Personal interview with the selection committee in April or early May
• Personal recommendation letters
• Summary page (one original and one photocopy of the summary page is required)

The above items will be rated on a numerical basis according to assigned percentages. If two or more applicants have the exact point total, the submittal date of the applicant's completed packet will be used to break the tie. Certificate applicants compete for available spaces on an equal basis with the Degree plan students.

A ranked list of applicants will be generated from highest point total to lowest point total and the class will be selected from the ranked list.

NOTE: Space is limited in the program. Completion of the core curriculum courses DOES NOT guarantee a student acceptance into the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program.

Students accepted to the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology certificate program will be notified of acceptance on May 15. Students who are accepted and who are actively pursuing an Associate Degree will receive a provisional acceptance to the program contingent upon maintaining a minimum 2.85 grade point average during degree completion and their submission of official transcripts no later than May 31 verifying degree and/or course completion. Failure to submit this documentation by that date will result in forfeiture of the student's acceptance to the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program.
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A student who receives an acceptance letter is required to return a confirmation form to the Health Occupations Admissions Office within a specified timeframe to accept their space in the class. Failure to return the confirmation by the specified date or failure to attend the scheduled registration/orientation seminar for the accepted class will result in forfeiture of the student's space in that class.

Should any accepted student decline or forfeit their space before Summer classes begin in early June, the next student from the ranked list will be contacted and offered that space in the class. Once this student has been contacted directly (or indirectly via voicemail, answering machine message, etc.), he/she must confirm acceptance within a 24 hour time period or forfeit acceptance to the class for that semester.

NOTE: Applications are not automatically "held over", therefore, students who are not selected for admission the semester for which they apply, or students declining their acceptance for that semester, must resubmit their application during the next filing period to be considered for the next admission opportunity. Once a student has been accepted for an imaging program (i.e. Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiology Technology, or Invasive Cardiovascular Technology) and has begun classes in that program, the student will not be allowed to change programs during that acceptance period.

Students are required to undergo a background check and drug testing before beginning the clinical rotations in June. Negative report(s) will prevent the student from completing the clinical portion of the program, resulting in failure to graduate.