About The Program

The Texas Heart Institute Cardiovascular Perfusion Program at Baylor College of Medicine promotes excellence in perfusion education and trains knowledgeable, skilled, and professional clinical perfusionists.

Program Goals

• Maintain an exemplary perfusion education program supporting clinical and didactic excellence necessary to effectively develop perfusion students’ cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
• Promote a positive educational environment for students to develop as competent, compassionate, and ethical allied health professionals.
• Foster a learning environment for program graduates to promote and maintain safe perfusion practices in providing the highest level of patient care.

Program Information

The Texas Heart Institute Cardiovascular Perfusion Program at Baylor College of Medicine offers a post-baccalaureate certificate in perfusion technology. The 18-month course trains students to use the cardiopulmonary bypass machine and other equipment associated with open-heart surgery. In addition, students receive extensive instruction in cardiopulmonary function and vast experience in the operating room. The Texas Heart Institute Cardiovascular Perfusion Program at Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Committee for Perfusion Education (ACPE), and graduates are eligible to become a Certified Clinical Perfusionist after they take the national certification examination, which the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion gives.

Perfusion Licensure

Prospective applicants for The Texas Heart Institute Cardiovascular Perfusion Program at Baylor College of Medicine should consult the licensing boards for states in which they may apply for licensure before attendance and are responsible for confirming that the program meets perfusion licensing requirements for that state.

Design of Program

Academic courses and clinical rotations are held concurrently. THI@BCM staff, clinical affiliate perfusionists, and various guest lecturers teach lectures. Scheduled lectures and exams are subject to change based on the needs of the hospital’s surgical schedule. Lectures can be scheduled Monday through Friday during the morning or afternoon. Clinical responsibilities require students to be present evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Students are also required to take call-in week-long segments multiple times during the year.

Students spend more than 60 hours per week at the hospital between academic classes and clinical rotations. Classes and exams may begin as early as 6:00 am, and a student might be at the hospital until 9 pm or longer for clinical procedures.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is payable in three installments invoiced at the beginning of each semester due in full by October 15 or April 15.  In addition, students will need approximately $40,000 – $45,000 to cover living expenses and health insurance for the 18-month period. The nature of our program makes it impossible for students to have jobs while in the program.

As we are a non-degree/non-credit bearing post-baccalaureate certificate program, federal financial aid is not available. This includes most student loans, grants, scholarships, funds, and any other kind of assistance that would typically be available.

CV1 Tuition Installment (Freshman)

CV2 Tuition Installment (Junior)

CV3 Tuition Installment (Senior)