Perfusionist (Perf)

• Students should take a college preparatory curriculum.
• Helpful high school courses include Health, Anatomy & Physiology, Calculus, Biochemistry, and Physics.

• At Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) applicants must have earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in a medical background with an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8. MSOE is the only perfusion education training in Wisconsin.
• For a Master of Science in Perfusion at MSOE, 43 credits are required, including a master’s thesis, and 18 credits of didactic and supervised clinical work.
• At MSOE, for the Master’s program, the Perfusionist is involved in cardiopulmonary bypass, patient monitoring, blood conservation (cell salvage, modified ultrafiltration and plasmapharesis), intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP), ventricular assist devices (VAD), total artificial heart placement (TAH), selection of equipment and biomaterials, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
• At MSOE, for the Master’s program, a student’s case load is typically at least 100 procedures, including a strong pediatric experience. This count only includes those cases in which you are acting as the primary Perfusionist.
• Rush University Perfusion Program in Chicago offers a BS in Perfusion Technology. Entrance into the program requires completion of 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours of undergraduate credit emphasis on science, GPA>2.90.
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics offer a 20-month post-baccalaureate certificate program.

Educational Institutions

Milwaukee School of Engineering

• In the United States, only 17 schools have programs to educate students for a career in perfusion. All these schools combined graduate about 140 students per year. The programs vary in their entry requirements and in length.
• Program graduates may earn a Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s Degree, or a Certificate in Perfusion Science.
• Certification by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) is usually required for employment.
• To be Certified one must graduate from an accredited cardiovascular perfusion education training program AND pass a 2-part exam. Prerequisites for taking Perfusion Basic Science Examination (Part 1) is to document (75) clinical perfusions performed prior to graduation. Prerequsites for taking Clinical Applications in Profusion Examination (Part 2) is to document (50) independent clinical profusions after graduation.

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
6 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite 110
Littleton, CO, 80120-8031
303/694-9262
www.arcst.org/

Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals
PO Box 2007
Midlothian, VA, 23113
804/632-0078
www.acp-online.org/

American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
2903 Arlington Loop
Hattiesburg, MS, 39402
601/268-2221
www.abcp.org

American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology
330 N Wabash Ave, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL, 60611
312/321-5156
www.amsect.org

Cardiovascular Credentialing International and National Board of Cardiovascular Testing
1500 Sunday Dr., Suite 102
Raleigh, NC, 27607
919/861-4539 or 800/326-0268
www.cci-online.org

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park St.
Clearwater, FL, 33756
727/210-2350
www.caahep.org/

The Society for Vascular Ultrasound
4601 Presidents Dr., Suite 260
Lanham, MD, 20706-4831
301/459-7550 or 800/788-8346
www.svunet.org