Curriculum

Trainees in The UTHealth Cardiovascular Perfusion Program at McGovern Medical School will be required to complete a full-time 12-month program composed of academic and clinical training.

The program runs concurrent didactic and clinical schedules to meet the requirements graduates require to sit for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion’s board exam. The exam is composed of two parts, the Perfusion Basic Science Examination (PBSE) and the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination (CAPE). Graduates should be eligible for the PBSE provided they meet the criteria. Candidates are not eligible to take the CAPE until after graduation and have performed 40 cases outside of perfusion school. The criteria for both are detailed below.

The criteria for application to take the Perfusion Basic Science Examination (PBSE) are as follows:

1. The applicant must fulfill one of the following criteria:
   • The applicant must have graduated from, or be currently enrolled in, an accredited cardiovascular perfusion education program, and anticipating graduation prior to the date of the examination; or
   • The applicant must have been admitted to the examination process before April 15, 1981, or have been previously certified by the ABCP.
2. Applicants for the examination must have the following on file in the National Office prior to the examination:
   • A current official transcript of credits from the accredited school of cardiovascular perfusion, indicating date of graduation.
   • A written statement of satisfactory clinical competency from the Clinical Competency Committee of the school.
   • Documentation of a minimum of 75 cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) cases performed during the education program. A minimum of 10 clinical pediatric cases requiring cardiopulmonary bypass must be observed or performed for the certification process. Pediatric cases performed may count toward the 75 minimum cardiopulmonary bypass case requirements; observational pediatric cases do not count toward the 75 minimum cardiopulmonary bypass case requirements.
     • Credit will be considered for perfusion experience only when the following criteria are met:
       • The student performed all seventy-five (75) cases, after 08/01/24, within the United States of America, U.S. Territories, and/or Canada.
       • The student participated in the preoperative planning and selection of equipment used during the perfusion.
       • The student performed those technical manipulations that constituted the essential parts of the procedure itself.
       • An instructor must be physically present during cardiopulmonary bypass cases and that instructor must be a Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP).

The criteria for application to take the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination (CAPE) are as follows:

1. The applicant must fulfill one of the following criteria:
   • The applicant must have graduated from, or be currently enrolled in, an accredited cardiovascular perfusion education program, and anticipating graduation prior to the date of the examination; or
   • The applicant must have been admitted to the examination process before April 15, 1981, or have been previously certified by the ABCP.
2. Applicants for the examination must have the following on file in the National Office prior to the examination:
   • All documentation as needed for the Perfusion Basic Science Examination; and
   • A clinical record itemizing 40 independent clinical perfusions after graduation from the accredited school of perfusion.

Courses

Semester	Contact Hours	Course Title
SEMESTER I	3	Anatomy and Physiology I
	3	Principles and Practice in Perfusion Technology I
	2	Pathophysiology of Perfusion Technology I
	4	Clinical Practicum I
Total Semester I Hours	12
SEMESTER II	3	Anatomy and Physiology II
	3	Principles and Practice in Perfusion Technology II
	2	Pathophysiology of Perfusion Technology II
	4	Clinical Practicum II
Total Semester II Hours	12
SEMESTER III	3	Pharmacology in Perfusion I
	1	Principles and Practice in Perfusion Technology III
	2	Research in Perfusion/Case Report
	4	Clinical Practicum III
Total Semester III Hours	10
Total Credit Hours	34

2025 Academic Calendar

Event	Date
First Day of Class	January 6
Semester I	January 6 – May 2
Memorial Day	May 26
Semester II	May 5 – August 29
Independence Day	July 4
Semester III	September 1 – December 12
Labor Day	September 1
Thanksgiving	November 27
Research Presentations	December 8 - 12
Graduation	December 19