About Us
The Cardiovascular Perfusion Program is an intensive, full-time, 17-month (4 semester) program consisting of a rigorous academic schedule and intense clinical education.
Classes start each year during spring semester.
All program face-to-face classes are held at Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus hospital located at 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195, in the Sydell and Miller Family Heart, Vascular, & Thoracic Institute, building J.
Students completing the program will graduate with a certificate in Cardiovascular Perfusion and will be eligible for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion certification examination.
Accreditation
The Cardiovascular Perfusion Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Committee-Perfusion Education.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 113th Street N., #7709
Seminole, FL, 33775-7709
727.210.2350
State approval
The Cardiovascular Perfusion Program is approved and registered by the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3332 (School Registration No. 2165). For questions related to the State Board approval, please contact:
Cleveland Clinic School of Health Professions
9500 Euclid Ave./JJ21
Cleveland OH 44195
216.444.5678
Mission
The mission of the Cardiovascular Perfusion Program is to develop highly trained, professional perfusionists capable of successfully performing clinical perfusion techniques to meet the specialized needs of patients to perform clinical research to advance the field of perfusion and to contribute to the education of others.
Program goals
- To prepare competent entry-level perfusionists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
- To provide a base knowledge of perfusion theory, the skill to implement that knowledge and proficiency in its application in accordance with the needs of healthcare providers and employers.
- To provide students with the knowledge, skills and experience to work cooperatively and safely with a healthcare team to perform perfusion techniques to ensure quality patient outcomes.
- To prepare students to assess perfusion related patient and clinical situations accurately and act appropriately.
- To prepare students to qualify for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion certification examination.
Program objectives
At the completion of the Cardiovascular Perfusion Program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate clinical skills in cardiopulmonary bypass and mechanical circulatory devices
- Demonstrate clinical skills in autotransfusion, blood conservation, and blood product management
- Demonstrate clinical skills in laboratory analysis of blood gases, hematocrit, and coagulation
- Integrate perfusion theory to clinical applications
- Demonstrate acquired knowledge of various perfusion equipment and supplies used in the healthcare setting
- Demonstrate acquired perfusion knowledge and general medical knowledge
- Respond appropriately during crisis management
- Effectively manage a catastrophic event such as device failure or air emboli
- Conduct themselves in a professional manner and function effectively as a member of the healthcare team
- Pass the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion’s Perfusion Basic Science Examination (PBSE) and Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination (CAPE) meeting AB-CP outcome thresholds
Contact information
Christopher Koehler, CCP
Program Director
Cleveland Clinic 9500 Euclid Ave. J4-604
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.444.3895 or 216.444.9215
Email: [email protected]
Admissions
Admissions requirements & disclosures
In addition to program-specific admissions requirements and procedures, applicants are encouraged to review requirements and disclosures outlined on the School of Health Professions’ Admissions page.
School of Health Professions catalog
Additional information can be found in the School Catalog, including school-wide policies and procedures, program-specific information, and course descriptions.
Technical standards
Perfusionists require certain physical requirements to meet the demands of the profession. They must be able to transfer and move patients. Perfusionists must be able to work in a stationary position for extended periods. They must have the ability to work within guidelines of universal safety precautions, using protective gear. In the workplace, they must be willing to rotate 24-hour coverage (on-call) and be able to work under stressful conditions. They may be required to travel in an ambulance, small airplanes or helicopters for organ procurement.
In addition, students must possess the integrity, intelligence and personal and emotional characteristics to become an effective healthcare professional. The following represent a more detailed description of the physical requirements to succeed in the program.
Sensory and motor skills - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:
- Move, manipulate, and transfer patients in a safe manner
- Move clinical equipment in a safe and controlled manner
- Demonstrate basic clinical skills related to the use of extracorporeal equipment, circuitry, and ancillary clinical patient care devices and equipment
- Execute quick and purposeful movements during emergency treatment of patients
Communication - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:
- Possess excellent communication skills in English
- Produce and transmit patient information to members of the healthcare team
- Communicate with patients effectively with compassion and empathy
- Possess demonstrated reading skills at a sufficient grade level to accomplish curricular requirements
- Provide effective care to patients
Intellectual - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:
- Measure, calculate, interpret, analyze, question, compile and evaluate information from various modalities to effectively evaluate extracorporeal equipment and treat patients
- Comprehend spatial relationships of structures and models
- Comprehend relationships between patient care parameters and anticipate cause and effect responses based on their actions and inactions
- Learn through a variety of teaching modalities including classroom lecture, cooperative learning, small group activities, medical simulation and laboratory exercises, individual and group presentations, and the use of technology assisted learning
- Make rapid decisions in life threatening situations where problem solving and critical thinking are required
Behavioral and social attributes - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:
- Demonstrate emotional stability
- Exercise good judgment, prompt completion of all responsibilities related to care of patients and participation on a patient care team
- Develop mature and effective relationships with co-workers and patients
- Perform problem solving skills in a timely manner
- Tolerate physically demanding workloads
- Function effectively under stress
- Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in an environment of uncertainty inherent in the clinical practice of cardiovascular perfusion
- Practice in a safe manner
- Respond appropriately to emergencies
- Treat all patients, families, colleagues, and other members of the health care team with dignity and respect
- Demonstrate honesty, integrity, dedication, compassion and motivation
- Accept constructive criticism and respond appropriately with an acceptable modification of behavior
Observation - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:
- Visualize information presented in images from paper and projections such as PowerPoint slides and video
- Observe laboratory, lecture and clinical demonstrations
- Observe patients and members of the healthcare team accurately at a distance and close
Requirements
Applicants must submit evidence of the following before the application deadline:
- Completion of a bachelor’s level or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Completion of the following prerequisite coursework:
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II, with labs, 8 credit hours
- Biochemistry, with a lab, 4 credit hours
- Biology I & II, with labs, 8 credit hours
- Chemistry I & II, with labs, 8 credit hours
- Pharmacology, 1 credit hours
- Physics I & II, with labs, 8 credit hours
- Statistics, 3 credit hours
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses, with “B” letter grade or higher preferred for each course.
*Prerequisites do not expire, but it is recommended that the courses were completed within the past 10 years to be a more competitive candidate.
Admissions process
Applicants to the Cardiovascular Perfusion Program must submit the following to be considered for acceptance:
- Application (there is a $20 application fee due at the time of submission)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Official college transcripts
- Signed Shadowing Form
- Pre-requisite Course Completion Document
Additionally, admission to the Cardiovascular Perfusion Program is a selective process that includes an interview.
Tuition & Fees
The total tuition for the Cardiovascular Perfusion Program is $32,000 (includes a $300 non-refundable tuition deposit).
A payment of $8,000 is due at the beginning of each term. For the 2025-2026 academic year, payments are due on the following dates:
- 1st Term – January 6 (first year)
- 2nd Term – April 28
- 3rd Term – August 18
- 4th Term – January 5 (second year)
Tuition refund policy
The Cardiovascular Perfusion Program issues refunds for tuition and other fees for eligible applicants and students as outlined in the School of Health Professions’ Tuition Refund Policy.
Cost of attendance
The cost of attendance for the Cardiovascular Perfusion Program is a budget comprised of direct and indirect costs. Tuition is a direct cost charged by the program. All others are indirect costs that a student may incur during the course of the program and is not paid to the program. These costs are subject to change.
|
Tuition |
$32,000 |
|
Books & supplies |
$1,245 |
|
App fee |
$20 |
|
Food & housing |
$23,805 |
|
Transportation |
$3,315 |
|
Personal |
$3,264 |
|
Total |
$63,649 |
Graduation Requirements
Students will be granted a Certificate of Completion as a result of the student meeting the following graduation requirements:
- Complete all didactic courses with at least an 80% grade on all tests, exams and assignments
- Complete the Clinical Final Exam with at least an 80% grade
- Successfully perform 150 perfusion cases which includes 10 pediatric observations or pump cases, according to established procedures
- Complete and present a case study
- Complete and present a senior project
- Completion of clinical attendance
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
The student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward graduation will be evaluated after the completion of each term of the program. Failure to maintain SAP may result in the student being dismissed from the program.
Program Outcomes
3-year program (2020 – 2023)
Enrollment
| Year | Number of Applicants | Number of Students Enrolled | Percent Students Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 45 | 6 | 13% |
| 2022 | 50 | 7 | 14% |
| 2021 | 54 | 8 | 15% |
Attrition/graduation
| Year | Student Attrition |
Percent Attrition |
Number of Graduates |
Percent Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0% | 6 | 100% |
| 2022 | 0 | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| 2021 | 4 | 50% | 4 | 100% |
Certification/AB-CP certification/First-time examinees
Basic Science Exam
| Year | Number of Graduates Taking the Exam | Number of Graduates Passing the Exam | Percent Passage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| 2022 | 7 | 5 | 71% |
| 2021 | 4 | 3 | 75% |
Clinical Application Exam
| Year | Number of Graduates Taking the Exam | Number of Graduates Passing the Exam | Percent Passage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| 2022 | 7 | 6 | 86% |
| 2021 | 4 | 3 | 75% |
6-month job (positive) placement
| Year | Placed Graduates | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 | 100% |
| 2022 | 7 | 100% |
| 2021 | 4 | 100% |
Academic year-based outcomes
|
Academic Year |
Retention Rate |
Exam Participation |
Exam Pass Rate |
Job Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2023-2024 |
100% |
83% |
100% |
100% |
|
2022-2023 |
100% |
88% |
100% |
100% |
Additional Information
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer shadowing opportunities?
Yes. Shadowing opportunities are based on availability and require onboarding through Clinician Nexus. Please email [email protected] for onboarding instructions.
When does the application cycle start and end?
Applications are accepted from January 1 to September 1 for matriculation the following January.
What is the admissions timeline?
Interviews in September with admissions decisions made by the end of September.
If I have a course in progress that exceeds the deadline, is that acceptable?
All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to the application deadline.
Are international applicants eligible to apply?
Cleveland Clinic and the School of Health Professions are unable to sponsor visas for international learners.
What degree is needed at the time of application?
Bachelor’s degree in any subject, so long as prerequisites are satisfied.
What are the prerequisites?
See the Admissions tab.
Do prerequisite courses expire?
No, however, we recommend that courses be completed within the past 10 years to be a more competitive candidate.
Does your program offer a certificate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree?
Upon completion of the program, graduates are awarded a certificate in cardiovascular perfusion.
Are students eligible for federal financial aid?
As a hospital-based certificate program, it is not eligible to award federal financial aid.
Is it possible to work while enrolled in the program?
Due to time commitments and variable scheduling, we recommend that students do not work while enrolled.
Do students travel for clinical rotations?
The entire program takes place in the greater Cleveland area. Students must live in the greater Cleveland area for the program's duration.
Profession Overview
Cardiovascular perfusion is an allied health profession that involves providing extracorporeal circulation in order to artificially support and temporarily replace a patient’s respiratory and circulatory systems.
Perfusionists use heart-lung machines and other technologies to maintain the health of patients during heart surgery and other medical procedures, working with and under the direction of anesthesiologists and surgeons.
The Cleveland Clinic School of Health Professions offers a certificate in Cardiovascular Perfusion. Students successfully completing the program are eligible to become certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion. (Note: Some states require perfusionists to be licensed - graduates are eligible for licensure in all states except New York)
