Every accredited cardiovascular perfusion program in the United States - location, degree, length, GPA, and program director - in one clean, current place. Facts only. Always verify details directly with each program.
| Program | Location | Degree | Length | Min GPA | Key Requirements | Program Director | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwestern University Cardiovascular Science / Perfusion |
Glendale, AZ | MS Cardiovascular Science | 21 mo | 2.75 | Bachelor's degree, 2.75 GPA | Kyle W. Dana, DC, CP | midwestern.edu |
| University of Arizona Perfusion Sciences Graduate Program |
Tucson, AZ | MA Medical Pharmacology–Perfusion Sci. | 24 mo | 3.2 | 3.2 GPA + shadowing + research experience | Raymond Wong, PhD, CCP | pharmacology.arizona.edu |
| Keck School of Medicine of USCSeeking accreditation MS Perfusion Sciences |
Los Angeles, CA | MS Perfusion Sciences | 20 mo | 3.0 | Science BA/BS, 3.0 GPA, 3 LORs, shadowing | Julie T. Juliani, MHA, CCP, FPP | keck.usc.edu |
| Quinnipiac University Cardiovascular Perfusion (MHS) |
Hamden, CT | MHS Cardiovascular Perfusion | 20 mo | 3.0 | Bachelor's, 3.0 GPA, 2 yrs direct patient care | Michael Smith, PhD, CCP | quinnipiac.edu |
| Emory University (Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing) Cardiovascular Perfusion Science |
Atlanta, GA | Master in CV Perfusion Science | 21 mo | 3.0 | Science/health BA/BS, 3.0 cum + 3.0 science GPA | Erick McNair | nursing.emory.edu |
| University of Iowa (Carver College of Medicine) Perfusion Technology |
Iowa City, IA | MS / Perfusion Technology | 21 mo | — | Bachelor's w/ chem, biostats, precalc, physics, A&P | Thomas Rath, BS, MPS, CCP | perfusion.medicine.uiowa.edu |
| Rush University Cardiovascular Perfusion |
Chicago, IL | MS Cardiovascular Perfusion | 21 mo | 3.0 | Bachelor's, 3.0 GPA | Julie Collins, CCP | rushu.rush.edu |
| Northern Kentucky UniversityAccredited Mar 2024 MS Cardiovascular Perfusion |
Highland Heights, KY | MS Cardiovascular Perfusion | 24 mo | 3.0 | Bachelor's, 3.0 GPA | Jeremy Engel, DHSc, MHS, CCP | nku.edu |
| Lawrence Technological UniversityMichigan's only program MS Cardiovascular Perfusion |
Southfield, MI | MS Cardiovascular Perfusion | 24 mo | 3.5 | 3.5 GPA | Kevin McCusker, PhD, MSc, CCP, LP | ltu.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center Perfusion Program |
Omaha, NE | MS Perfusion Science | 21 mo | 3.0 | Bachelor's, 3.0 cum GPA | Scott Sanderson, MPS, CCP, LP | unmc.edu |
| Hofstra University Cardiovascular Sciences & Perfusion Medicine |
Hempstead, NY | MS Cardiovascular Perfusion | 24 mo | — | Bachelor's w/ Bio, Chem, A&P, Math, Physics | E. Delaney & J. Greco | hofstra.edu |
| SUNY Upstate Medical University Clinical Perfusion |
Syracuse, NY | MS Clinical Perfusion | 19 mo | — | Bachelor's; observation recommended | Bruce Searles, PhD, CCP, LP, CES-A | upstate.edu |
| Cleveland ClinicNot academically affiliated Cardiovascular Perfusion Program |
Cleveland, OH | Post-bacc certificate | 18 mo | — | Bachelor's from regionally accredited institution | Christopher K. Koehler, CCP | my.clevelandclinic.org |
| Thomas Jefferson University Perfusion & Extracorporeal Technology |
Philadelphia, PA | MS Perfusion | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | jefferson.edu |
| UPMC School of Cardiovascular Perfusion |
Pittsburgh, PA | Certificate / MS pathway | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | upmc.com |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)Dr. Shackelford's clinical home Cardiovascular Perfusion |
Charleston, SC | MS Cardiovascular Perfusion | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | musc.edu |
| Lipscomb UniversityRecent initial accreditation Cardiovascular Perfusion |
Nashville, TN | MS Cardiovascular Perfusion | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | lipscomb.edu |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center Cardiovascular Perfusion Technology |
Nashville, TN | MS Perfusion | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | vumc.org |
| Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital CV Institute Perfusion |
Plano, TX | Certificate / MS pathway | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | bswhealth.com |
| Texas Heart Institute School of Perfusion Technology |
Houston, TX | Certificate | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | texasheart.org |
| University of Texas Health Science Center Perfusion Program |
Houston/San Antonio, TX | MS Perfusion | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | uth.edu |
| University of Utah MS Cardiovascular Perfusion |
Salt Lake City, UT | MS Cardiovascular Perfusion | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | medicine.utah.edu |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Perfusion Program |
Milwaukee, WI | MS Perfusion | — | — | Bachelor's; see program | — | msoe.edu |
The ABCP gives the Perfusion Basic Science Exam (PBSE) twice a year - Spring (April) and Fall (October). Candidates need 75 documented clinical cases before they can sit. When a program graduates you determines how much time you have to accumulate those cases before the exam window opens.
Fall exam (October): Applications due July 1. Case records due October 5. Programs graduating May-August give students 2-5 months to accumulate cases before this window.
Spring exam (April): Applications due December 1. Case records due March 30. Programs graduating in winter/early spring may push students toward this tighter window.
Straddle: Programs 18-22 months long may graduate students close to either window. Some students wait for Fall; others push for Spring.
| Program | Length | Typical Start | Est. Graduation | Primary Exam Window | Case Accumulation Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 24 mo | Fall (Aug) | August | Fall (Oct) | ~2 months |
| Baylor Scott & White | 12 mo | Summer (Jun) | June | Fall (Oct) | ~4 months |
| Cleveland Clinic | 17 mo | Fall (Aug) | January | Spring (Apr) | ~3 months |
| Emory | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| Hofstra | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| Iowa | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| Lawrence Tech | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| Lipscomb | 22 mo | Summer (Jun) | April | Spring/Fall | 0-6 months |
| Midwestern (Glendale) | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| MSOE | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| MUSC | 21 mo | Summer (Jun) | March | Spring/Fall | 1-7 months |
| Nebraska (UNMC) | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| Northern Kentucky | Unknown | Fall (Aug) | Unknown | Verify | Verify with program |
| Quinnipiac | 24 mo | Fall (Aug) | August | Fall (Oct) | ~2 months |
| Rush | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| USC (Keck) | 20 mo | Fall (Aug) | April | Spring/Fall | 0-6 months |
| SUNY Upstate | 19 mo | Fall (Aug) | March | Spring/Fall | 1-7 months |
| Texas Heart Institute | 18 mo | Fall (Sep) | March | Spring/Fall | 1-7 months |
| Thomas Jefferson | 21 mo | Fall (Aug) | May | Fall (Oct) | ~5 months |
| UPMC | 20 mo | Fall (Aug) | April | Spring/Fall | 0-6 months |
| UT Health Houston | 12 mo | Fall (Sep) | September | Fall (Oct) | ~1 month |
| Utah | 24 mo | Fall (Aug) | August | Fall (Oct) | ~2 months |
| Vanderbilt | Unknown | Fall (Aug) | Unknown | Verify | Verify with program |
Source: AmSECT Perfusion Schools 2025 compilation; program websites; ABCP Examination Guidebook 2026. Graduation months are estimated from program length and typical Fall start dates. Some programs may offer flexible start dates. Always confirm directly with each program. The ABCP does not publish per-program pass rates - this table shows timing only, not outcomes.
With only ~23 schools and a few hundred seats a year, hundreds of qualified applicants get turned away every cycle. The Perfusion School Prep Series (PSPS) helps you fix your application and get in the next round - taught by a perfusionist with nearly two decades in the classroom.
Explore PSPS →