It’s official: The Grossmont College Cardiovascular Technology program is fully accredited for the next 10 years! “I have the certificate hanging on the wall in my office,” said Rick Kirby, CVT coordinator.

Normally, CVT programs receive a five-year accreditation. But the Grossmont program was so good that the accreditation team saw no alternative but to recommend Grossmont for a ten-year accreditation. The governing Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs agreed.

“When we met for the exit conference,” said Kirby, tongue only half in his cheek, “the first recommendation they made to the division dean was that all members of the CVT faculty receive a BIG pay raise.”

Grossmont was the first CVT program, 15 years ago, to receive accreditation from the governing CAAHEP, and word has gotten out.

“The class beginning in Fall, 2005, filled in December, 2004,” Kirby said. “There are 30 students on the waiting list to enter the program and we are aware of approximately 60 more who are working on their prerequisites. We accept 54 students in the fall each year.”

Graduates are recruited by local hospitals and medical facilities throughout California and the nation, including the prestigious Mayo Clinic.

The accreditation team did dislike one thing about Grossmont’s program. They can’t come back until the summer of 2014.