School of Echocardiography Admissions & Application

Application requirements

Saint Luke's School of Echocardiography’s diverse applicant pool attracts college or allied health school graduates, professionals seeking a career change, or health professionals with a desire to advance their health care education.

All coursework and degrees must be obtained from an approved institution of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and/or an approved Regional Accrediting Agency.

The program has a limited number of available positions and does not allow open enrollment options. Acceptance is not guaranteed.

• Application deadline: Jan. 30, annually
• Start date: September, annually

Educational tracts

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Be a graduate of a 24-month accredited allied health program
   1. Radiologic technology
   2. Respiratory therapy
   3. Physical therapy
   4. Nursing
   5. Other approved allied health programs
2. Have a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a regionally/nationally accredited institution
3. Be a part of our 2+2 affiliation program with Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU). In this program, students apply at NWMSU and complete their first two years of education at their Maryville, MO, campus. Then, after declaring sonography as their major, they can apply to our sonography programs here at Saint Luke’s. If accepted, they then complete their last two years of education with Saint Luke’s. At graduation, they are granted a Certificate from Saint Luke’s and a Bachelor’s degree from NWMSU. 

Prerequisite course requirements

• College Algebra, Statistics, or high-level math course
• College Physics or Radiographic Physics
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology

• Oral or Written Communications

   

• All prerequisite courses must be completed with a "C" or better

GPA requirement

• All applicants must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative college GPA

This GPA reflects credits from all institutions attended.

Job shadow (observation) requirement

All applicants must complete a 16-hour observation in adult echocardiography. The applicant must obtain documentation on letterhead from the institution where the observation is completed that is signed by the chief technologist or instructor. This documentation should include your name and the date and time you observed. 

Observation reflection paper

• All applicants must submit a 2-page, double spaced, typed job shadow reflection paper.
• At a minimum, the reflection paper must address the following:
  • Explain the exams observed during your job shadowing opportunities
  • The role of the sonographer
  • Characteristics possessed that would make you a successful student and a sonographer

To request a job shadow at Saint Luke’s, please contact us at 816-932-2716 or [email protected]. Observations are available Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

All prospective (shadow) students must show evidence of influenza vaccination.

References

All applicants must have two reference forms submitted directly by the referrer. References should be from a professional and of no relation to the applicant (ex. supervisor, manager, instructor, or professor). This reference should be emailed directly from the referrer’s professional email to [email protected], Tiffany Johnson. 

International student requirements 

Students applying at Saint Luke’s School of Echocardiography are required to have a reading, writing, and conversational knowledge of the English language.

Determine if you will be considered an international student

Applicants are considered to be an international student if English is not their native language (or if English is one of the official languages of their native country, but not necessarily the first language of the majority of the population). 

Students who have already been enrolled in courses at other US academic institutions without the completion of an English proficiency test are still considered foreign when applying to Saint Luke’s School Echocardiography. English proficiency must be demonstrated prior to applying for the program.

English language proficiency

All international applicants for Saint Luke’s School of Echocardiography whose native language is not English must demonstrate an established level of English language proficiency through the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) format.

International applicants who are native citizens of the following countries do not have to submit TOEFL scores: United States, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or the English-speaking provinces of Canada.

Applicants from other regions not listed above do need to submit TOEFL scores.

Test scores must be original forms sent directly from the administering agency to Saint Luke’s School of Echocardiography. Photocopies will not be accepted.

International student application requirements

Students for whom English is a second language must satisfy all of the following requirements in order to apply for the Saint Luke’s School of Echocardiography:

1. An official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) which evaluates how well you combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. 

Internet-based TOEFL Scores

Minimum Score:

• Reading: 23
• Listening: 23
• Speaking: 23
• Writing: 19
• Total Score: 88

2. Proof of U.S. Citizenship or lawful permanent residency.

3. Official Transcripts and Official Course by Course Evaluation of Foreign Transcripts by a U.S. Evaluation Service must be submitted with application.

Foreign education credentials evaluation (transcript evaluation)

All international applicants must have all foreign transcripts (high school and college) evaluated by World Education Services OR Educational Credential Evaluators. The evaluation must include course-by-course evaluation, grade evaluation, grade point evaluation, and indicate the degree earned in U.S. terms (bachelors, masters, etc.). An official copy of the evaluation is required.

Please note: Transcripts and grades earned outside of the U.S. must be evaluated, even if the transcript is written in English.

All three of the above steps must be submitted by the application deadline.

Skill standards

Students must meet the skill standards appropriate to ultrasonography. View the skill standards (PDF) to verify your qualifications.

Application

Applicant selection

The school accepts up to 4 students annually. Each applicant is scored based on:

• A cumulative 3.0 GPA, includes all post-secondary education
• Reference forms
• Prior clinical experience/health care experience
• Observation/job shadow
• Interview scores

The top 15 applicants who meet the admissions requirements will be selected for an interview with the admissions committee. The interview will be conducted using the behavioral-based interview method.

All applicants will receive written notification regarding their acceptance or denial of admission for the current program.

The echo program is a limited entry program. Qualified applicants are not guaranteed a spot.  Final decisions are made at the discretion of program leadership. Applications who accept a position in the program must pass a criminal background check and drug screen.  They must also provide documentation of degree or registry, CPR certification, MMR, Hep B, and other required vaccinations before final admissions into the program.

Application process

Applicants must submit the following:

• Online application
• $25 application fee (please make check payable to SLH School of Echocardiography)
• Official transcripts – High school and all post-secondary education transcripts required. All official transcripts must come from the honoring institution and should be emailed directly to the program at [email protected]. Copies will not be accepted. The application will not be processed until all transcripts are received.
• Reference forms (PDF) – Emailed directly from the referrer’s professional email to [email protected], Tiffany Johnson. Applicants must have two references who should be a professional who is not related to the applicant, such as a supervisor, manager, instructor, or professor.
• Observation/job shadow documentation – documentation from an outside facility must be on institution letterhead specifying date and time of observation along with applicant’s name. Letter must be signed by a lead sonographer or department manager for validation.
• Skill standards (PDF) – signed acknowledgement of our required skill standards
• Prospective Student Information Guide (PDF)

Email completed application to: [email protected], Tiffany Johnson. Call for questions 816-932-2788.