PCCTI in Chicago

Hello has anyone attended PCCTI? It is a small IT and Healthcare Institute located in Chicago and Oak Brook IL. Their pretty popular for LPN program, i checked out their site pccti.com and saw that they offer DMS and Ultrasound courses. Anyone would like to share the experience?

I am thinking of going to PCCTI also for their DMS program. I'm 4 months pregnant though and I also need A/P class. If I decided to go, I might go to the downtown facility.

Mary in Glenview, Illinois said: I am thinking of going to PCCTI also for their DMS program. I'm 4 months pregnant though and I also need A/P class. If I decided to go, I might go to the downtown facility.

I will be in that class - next month - hope it is all they promise

Nancy in Chicago, Illinois said: I will be in that class - next month - hope it is all they promise

Look up the ARDMS site to see what prerequites you will need to become a certified sonographer and then see if PCCTI has the qualifications you will need to get where you want to go.

don't do it, you're wasting you're time. you will have trouble getting a clinical site. if it's not CAAHEP approved, don't even bother.

to look up CAAHEP approved schools:
www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited_Program.aspx

I was VERY close to signing up for the DMS program until I thought deep and hard about the pro's and con's. I realized that after 1 year, you have to work for one year (even if you have your bachelors) and then take the boards. I'm sorry but waiting one year--no matter how much you review will not prepare you correctly for the boards. Also, you have to be the one to find that clinical site yourself after that first year--do you realize how difficult that will be when the program is not CAAHEP approved. So don't waste your time in that program. I stuck to LPN and am very glad I did.

Yes, I have heard all these objections - however, very few schools are CAAHEP certified in Illinois and the ones that are take only a small number of students. The demand is very great, especially in the Chicago metro area. I know there are online schools as well but cant imagine that these would prepare the students very well.

Nancy in Chicago, Illinois said: I will be in that class - next month - hope it is all they promise

They are not ARMDS qualified....went that route and they were expensive....you have to find your own clinical site....there was a student in our information session at our college that had a nightmare about PCCTI...hospitals won't take people (for clinicals) who are not affiliated with an accredited program...I backed out and realized that finding a program that offered clinical sites was the way to go.

What did you find? There are only about 4 schools in the Chicago area that i know about - Triton, College of DuPage, Northwestern Hospital, Rush - they only take about 15 students, start once a year - also many non-accreds like MCI, East-West University that has an arrangement with Citi-College of Allied Health, couple others - one or two accreds in Springfield, and downstate. Also, the accred schools are during day hours, so if you have to to work you can't take them

I go to PCCTI for DMS and a few students have dropped out due to having to find their own clinicals. I am planning to call a few private offices to see if i can do it there. I would prefer to not have to drop out and start all over again and be on a waiting list for the next three years. Has anyone gone through this before?? Any advice?? It would be greatly appreciated

Danteri in Chicago, Illinois said: What did you find? There are only about 4 schools in the Chicago area that i know about - Triton, College of DuPage, Northwestern Hospital, Rush - they only take about 15 students, start once a year - also many non-accreds like MCI, East-West University that has an arrangement with Citi-College of Allied Health, couple others - one or two accreds in Springfield, and downstate. Also, the accred schools are during day hours, so if you have to to work you can't take them

Hello....well I have been working toward classes at Triton College....I recently got accepted, so I found the light at the end of the tunnel!! It is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, I worked pretty hard for it.

how long did it take for you to get accepted into the Triton program?? when did you start your pre-req's

I would not ever take any class at PCCTI ever again.. This school is only accredited by NCA..it will not get you anywhere. I regret takin a class in this school. its very hard to look for a job and they are very behind on the everything. Some staff members are very rude. If u ever ask them a question they reply very rudly & don't even give u proper answers, they don't reply to your phone calls or e-mail no point of drivin there casue your questions still won't be answered. You have to search for ur own clinical site becasue hospitals they find might not even let you touch their patients so u basically go to a hospital as a volunteer, which i can do anywhere..there is no way on getting any hands on practice from this school unless u do the clinicals in school on other students who aren't even sick..SOUNDS STUPID!!!GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ARE GOING TO PCCTI..

jessica in Chicago, Illinois said: I would not ever take any class at PCCTI ever again.. This school is only accredited by NCA..it will not get you anywhere. I regret takin a class in this school. its very hard to look for a job and they are very behind on the everything. Some staff members are very rude. If u ever ask them a question they reply very rudly & don't even give u proper answers, they don't reply to your phone calls or e-mail no point of drivin there casue your questions still won't be answered. You have to search for ur own clinical site becasue hospitals they find might not even let you touch their patients so u basically go to a hospital as a volunteer, which i can do anywhere..there is no way on getting any hands on practice from this school unless u do the clinicals in school on other students who aren't even sick..SOUNDS STUPID!!!GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ARE GOING TO PCCTI..

What class did you take there? Did you complete the course?

JOJO in Mount Prospect, Illinois said: I go to PCCTI for DMS and a few students have dropped out due to having to find their own clinicals. I am planning to call a few private offices to see if i can do it there. I would prefer to not have to drop out and start all over again and be on a waiting list for the next three years. Has anyone gone through this before?? Any advice?? It would be greatly appreciated

I also go to PCCTI..DMS program. I wouldn't drop out because you wouldn't get your money back (if you're on a monthly payment plan)..but if you went the Sallie Mae route..and paid in full you can threaten them saying that you want your 800 clinical hours GUARANTEED! Or the rest of your money depending on when you started..you can only do that if 50% of the class is still left.
The problem that we know of now is that, first PCCTI told us that our 800 clinical hours would be granted..and all of a sudden they said that they were only guaranteeing us 125hrs..not 800!! Yesterday, May 27th, the other DMS class before mine graduated but no one had their clinicals yet. I overheard a bunch of students crowding the office and asking about them...I would recommend asking for them NOW!!

JOJO in Mount Prospect, Illinois said: how long did it take for you to get accepted into the Triton program?? when did you start your pre-req's

Well I had a lot of gen ed's cleared out of the way over the years...those don't really expire. Last year's fall semester I took the rest of the classes to be accepted. So, this was my first time applying to the program, but I had a 3.8 GPA and all the classes done, so that was a big help. They accept roughly 30-35 students out of about 400. I would say it roughly took me 2 semesters to get all of my bio's, chems, and health classes out of the way. But, I took more than two classes at a time.

Danteri in Chicago, Illinois said: What did you find? There are only about 4 schools in the Chicago area that i know about - Triton, College of DuPage, Northwestern Hospital, Rush - they only take about 15 students, start once a year - also many non-accreds like MCI, East-West University that has an arrangement with Citi-College of Allied Health, couple others - one or two accreds in Springfield, and downstate. Also, the accred schools are during day hours, so if you have to to work you can't take them

Wow thans for lettin me know. I was gonna start school at PCCTI and I'm glad I know all this info before I start.

Does anyone know whether the Anatomy class is required to enroll in PCCTI or can we just test out of it with Hesii?

michael D in Chicago, Illinois said: Does anyone know whether the Anatomy class is required to enroll in PCCTI or can we just test out of it with Hesii?

Wow that is a big class and anyone who plans on being in ultrasound should have that class. It's a really important stepping stone to the bigger picture. I wouldn't test out of that unless you know it like the back of your hand

danteri in Chicago, Illinois said: What class did you take there? Did you complete the course?

My husband attended PCCTI from Aug '06 to May of '07 and spent $8000 for NOTHING!!! They never got him clinical time and he cannot take the boards until he does clinicals. It has been a year and he is stuck...they take your money and then don't help you. VERY DISSAPOINTING...him and his classmates worked very hard and now they're stuck. It was the ultrasound class.

karla in Lombard, Illinois said: I was VERY close to signing up for the DMS program until I thought deep and hard about the pro's and con's. I realized that after 1 year, you have to work for one year (even if you have your bachelors) and then take the boards. I'm sorry but waiting one year--no matter how much you review will not prepare you correctly for the boards. Also, you have to be the one to find that clinical site yourself after that first year--do you realize how difficult that will be when the program is not CAAHEP approved. So don't waste your time in that program. I stuck to LPN and am very glad I did.

Where was this LPN course you stuck to located? How about the CNA course?

Mary in Glenview, Illinois said: I am thinking of going to PCCTI also for their DMS program. I'm 4 months pregnant though and I also need A/P class. If I decided to go, I might go to the downtown facility.

What prompted your decision to attend the class at PCCTI?

Hello all...About a year ago I looked into PCCTI and even went to the Oak Brook facility and almost went through with the DMS program until I dug a little deeper to find that they are not accredited. Once I found out how much it was and how VERY important it is to be accredited, I quickly withdrew my application for a loan and made a phone call to some "manager" if you want to call them that, and point blank asked them if they were accredited, and they would not come clean and say no. They danced around the issue, and I just said how can you take my money and be o.k. with the fact that your ripping me off....they were speechless....and finally admitted they they were not. I'm so glad I didn't go through with it. I got accepted into a DMS program, that is accredited and is from a great reputable school, so I'm happy. But, whew....so glad my eyes were opened. Accreditation means so much....these hospitals only take students who are going to accredited schools, so these hospitals are already spoken for and that is the huge difference.

PCCTI is NOT a good school for ultrasound- I have finished the DMS program and they don't find you clinicals for a very long time or help you find a job- they never get back to you and are very rude---DON'T go there- it will be a waste of money, plus you need an accredited school for ARDMS and to get good clinical experience

I am a current student at PCCTI. Although the staff is less than helpful at times, the physican who teaches the course is GREAT, and that is what makes it worthwhile for me. Not only does he teach us the complicated material, he teaches us to be confident, as well. I have my B.A., and I have learned more the last 3 months than I ever did at the private university that I attended.
Although PCCTI is not the traditional junior college or university program, it is a vocational school. This is the nontraditional route for untraditional students who don't have the time or patience to take the traditional route. They told us at the beginning of the course that they will give us 125 clinical hours, but that we would have to get the rest ourselves, but that they would help us find places if we needed them to. There are other places to get your clinical hours besides hospitals, as a lot of songrams are done at private imaging clinics now. And most of the jobs that are out there require you to be a graduate of an ultrasound program (which PCCTI is) and requires you to be ELIGIBLE to be registered. This means that you have to have taken the coursework to become registered. Many places will give you a job without being certified. Yes, you need to study hard and take the test, but many jobs are looking at experience just as much as the actual certification.
I am not sorry I started PCCTI, and I hope I won't ever be! The best way to get answers is to talk to one of the doctors who actually teach the classes there. They will know the real and important answers. The staff is totally inept in answering questions, as most of us probably have more education than they do!

Would you allow me to email you directly? I have serious concerns with the program at PCCTI ( as do others in my class) and would like some feedback from others who are already in classes there -

Yes, I created a profile here.

How would I access your profile?

Hi
I'm planning to join this course and all the negative feed back is scaring me. If this institute is not accredited then how can we take the board exams? How does this affect us and will we be able to workin in any hospital?

thanks

Hi,
I would love to know what accredited school do you go to and what do you need to have in order to get admission, i mean like pre reqs. etc. I would really appreciate your time and help in getting me this information.

my last question is for student in Mokena, Illinois and for anyone else who has an answer to this. I don't want to go to the colleges because most of them require either a 2 year course in allied health which I don't have or there is a 2-3 yrs wait. I have a 4 yr degree but it was not obtained in the last five yrs so that means a lot of my credits will not be accepted either...so a lot of pre req work too. That means I'm looking at atleast 3 to 5 yrs in studies... that seems too long.

If you want to go to one of these private schools and not a junior college i totally understand. I was in the same position as you where most of my pre-req were over 5 years ago. The thing is with this type of program you have to work somewhere for a year full time to be able to take the ARDMS test. Which is really hard to find no hospitals will take you. You make try clinics or if you have a hook up somewhere. So it is a tough decision.

Thanks for your reply! Did you eventually take up this cours? My only hook up that I am banking upon is that my sister is a doctor and she said she would try to get me some hours in chicago if possible but she has promised me all the hours if I move to Atlanta where she currently resides. She even promised me a job already :). But is ok if I take my classrs here and finish my clinical hours elsewhere. Since they are two different states, will it make a difference? And can take the national board exams anywhere?

"The thing is with this type of program you have to work somewhere for a year full time to be able to take the ARDMS test"
What do you mean by this? Does it mean I have to work another year apart from the clinical hours (925 hrs), in order to take the ARDMS test? And since this institute is not accredited with CAAHEP can we still take the test?

Panna in Bloomingdale, Illinois said: "The thing is with this type of program you have to work somewhere for a year full time to be able to take the ARDMS test"
What do you mean by this? Does it mean I have to work another year apart from the clinical hours (925 hrs), in order to take the ARDMS test? And since this institute is not accredited with CAAHEP can we still take the test?

yes you need full time paid work under a registered sonographer (who has their ARDMS), before you can apply for the exam (unless you already have a degree)

now this full time paid work is apart from the clinical hours and can you work full time without taking your exams? If you can then why take the exams and what do you mean by a "degree". I have a 3 yrs bachelors from India and 2 ys associates from COD in CIS, so does that count?

Panna in Bloomingdale, Illinois said: now this full time paid work is apart from the clinical hours and can you work full time without taking your exams? If you can then why take the exams and what do you mean by a "degree". I have a 3 yrs bachelors from India and 2 ys associates from COD in CIS, so does that count?

More hospitals are unwilling to employ people who do not have their registry exams, due to malpractice costs. In some parts of the country it is impossible to gain employment if you do not graduate from an accredited school or have your registry exams. You would have to get your Batchelors assessed by an agency, who will convert it into American college credits. Degrees in the US are 4 years long, but with your associate degree you should have enough credits.

SO if my credits equate to a 4 yr degree which 99.99% they will, then am I good to take these exams inspite of the fact that this institute is not accredited. (assuming I have completed the required 925 hrs). Do I still need to work that 1 yr of paid full time work under a sonographer?

Thank you so much for your time. Do you work/ study in this field?

Panna in Bloomingdale, Illinois said: SO if my credits equate to a 4 yr degree which 99.99% they will, then am I good to take these exams inspite of the fact that this institute is not accredited. (assuming I have completed the required 925 hrs). Do I still need to work that 1 yr of paid full time work under a sonographer?

Thank you so much for your time. Do you work/ study in this field?

IF your credits equal the degree you also need the course to be over something like 1680 hours long (1 year full time).THe institute will advertise that it's graduates who hold batchelor degrees can take the ARDMS immediately (they usually do anyway). If they don't you still need to work 1 year before taking the exams.

You mean to classes need to be 1680 hours? Or the clinicals alone need to be so many hours. And is the one more year of work apart from the classes and clinicals? Is there a web site that clearly defines the guidelines for taking these exams?

Thanks.

Panna in Bloomingdale, Illinois said: You mean to classes need to be 1680 hours? Or the clinicals alone need to be so many hours. And is the one more year of work apart from the classes and clinicals? Is there a web site that clearly defines the guidelines for taking these exams?

Thanks.

The whole course length (classes and clinicals) needs to equal 1 full year. Look at the ARDMS website under prerequisites for examinations

I have a question.I wanna enroll me in a DMS school close to Chicago.Which one do you think I should take?Oak Brook is now accreditate or no?

No oakbrook is not accredited, it is only accredited by NSA which does not mean much.

I have attended PCCTI. I have done 9 months of ultrasound training and 125 hours of supervised clinicals with them.
Excellent school, highly recommended

Can anyone tell me how the PCCTI and MCI Cardio-tech classes are?
I have been an EKG tech for 5 years and wanting to get certified now. Please let me know which is the best school for this and how well the classes are taught or should I go somewhere else????
Thanks

I have attended DMS course in Chicago location of PCCTI. Quality of instruction was of very high quality. PCCTI has wonderful latest GE Logiq 5 pro and Accuson machines. Location is fully equipped with high end technology in each class rooms. They have very helpful staff and the manager is always on his toes willing to help the students all the time.
I was given career assistance, we had a very productive workshop and I was also provided clinicals which helped me gain employment. I would recommend PCCTI to serious candidate who wants to get into Sonography field.

Some of you are talking about CAAHEP accredited school. Yes, it may be one of the pre-requisites of ARDMS as they have several of them. Have you checked how many CAAHEP accredited schools are really out there? hardly 3-4 in the state of Illinois.
People who are referring to exams as boards is wrong, first you need to educated yourself, there is no such this as boards.
To get somewhere in life, you have to work hard and make some sacrifices.

I attended PCCTI and graduated successfully, had ample use of the DMS Lab, my instructor helped me create a portfolio which is helping me in job search and I did have to wait a little bit but I was provided clinicals.
The school has everything out in the open, on their website, in their enrollment agreement, they have been teaching this program for several years, why don't you people clarify what y ou need to rather than accusing the school for no fault of their's. They state exactly what their program is, what is required and what is involved. I think it is a wonderful school and one of friends is attending LPN program at PCCTI.

I AM AN ARDMS ACCREDITED SONOGRAPHER, AND SCHOOLS LIKE THIS NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN. THERE ARE ONLY 5 ARDMS ACCREDITED SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I AM A SUPERVISOR IN A HOSPITAL ULTRASOUND DEPARTMENT AND WE GET CALLS WEEKLY FROM PEOPLE AT SCHOOLS LIKE THIS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET CLINICALS FOR FREE. A HOSPITAL CAN NOT OFFER THIS DUE TO INSURANCE REASONS. IN ORDER TO EVER GET REGISTERED IN SONOGRAPHY YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELORS DEGREE OR 2 YEAR APPROVED ALLIED HEALTH DEGREE PLUS A PHYSICIAN OR SONOGRAPHER TO SIGN OFF ON HOURS FOR 12 MONTHS. NOBODY WILL DO THIS FOR ANYONE WITHOUT CLINICALS(THAT THE SCHOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE). TO GET A REAL ULTRASOUND JOB, THAT BY THE WAY WILL PAY 42-45$ PER HOUR YOU MUST BE ARDMS REGISTERED AND HAVE ATTENDED AN ACCREDITED PROGRAM. THIS IS A GREAT FIELD AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

Rita in Chicago,

WHAT PLANET ARE YOU LIVING ON? WHAT IN GOD'S GREEN EARTH DO YOU NEED A PORTOFOLIO FOR? IT'S CALLED A RESUME. I WOULD BET MY PAYCHECK YOUR NOT A REGISTERED SONOGRAPHER EITHER. WHAT CAN'T SIT FOR THE BOARDS?? WHAT HOSPITAL GAVE YOU CLINICALS?? WHAT AFRAID TO MENTION THERE NAME? YEAH RIGHT YOU GOT CLINICALS, MY A@#$%^ . YOUR PCCTI OR WHATEVER NAME THEY ARE USING THIS YEAR IS A JOKE. WERE'T THEY ALSO KNOWN AS MTI? YOUR SO CALLED SCHOOL IS NOTHING BUT A MAJOR RIPOFF. THEY ONLY DEAL IN HALF TRUTHS AND THEN TAKE EVERYONE'S MONEY. SCAMMERS LIKE YOU AND YOUR SCHOOL NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE STATES ATTORNEY FOR FRAUD. YEAH I SAID IT "FRAUD". YOUR SCHOOL IS NOT ACCREDITED AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR OWN CLINICALS AND WORK A WHOLE YEAR B-4 YOU CAN SIT FOR THE BOARDS.(IF YOU CAN FIND A REGISTERED SONOGRAPHER TO SIGN OFF ON YOU. MOST REPUTABLE SONOGRAPHERS WON'T DO IT. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SIGN THERE REPUTATION AWAY ON PCCTI. gIVE THE NAME OF THE HOSPITAL YOU DID YOUR CLINICALS AT. YOU SHOOT YOUR MOUTH OFF ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. YEAH I THOUGHT SO.

DO NOT TRY TO COME UP AGAINST ARDMS SONOGRAPHERS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL AND WHO HAVE PAID THERE DUES. WE ARE AN ELITE GROUP OF SONOGRAPHERS, WE ARE PROUD OF OUR SCHOOL,OUR REPUTATION AND OUR FIELD. YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR SOAPBOX SOMEWHERE ELSE HONEY. YOU ARE THROUGH HERE.

NO SCAMMERS ALLOWED

student in Mokena, Illinois said: Hello all...About a year ago I looked into PCCTI and even went to the Oak Brook facility and almost went through with the DMS program until I dug a little deeper to find that they are not accredited. Once I found out how much it was and how VERY important it is to be accredited, I quickly withdrew my application for a loan and made a phone call to some "manager" if you want to call them that, and point blank asked them if they were accredited, and they would not come clean and say no. They danced around the issue, and I just said how can you take my money and be o.k. with the fact that your ripping me off....they were speechless....and finally admitted they they were not. I'm so glad I didn't go through with it. I got accepted into a DMS program, that is accredited and is from a great reputable school, so I'm happy. But, whew....so glad my eyes were opened. Accreditation means so much....these hospitals only take students who are going to accredited schools, so these hospitals are already spoken for and that is the huge difference.

Hi, I am enrolled at Triton. I wanted to know did you have to wait 2-3 years to get accepted into the program and what would you say is the fastest way to get accepted. A high GPA?