Dear Joan, Terry, Mark, et al.

This morning I received a call from an echo student who attends a local
community college, and wanted to attend a meeting the Florida State Chapter
of the ACP is holding here in Miami.  The student informed me that they are
required to have obtained 32 "SDMS" CEUs before graduation. This educational
program is an AS degree program that is two years in duration.  I find this
very offensive and on the verge of what I consider "monopolizing" when a
State run institution favors the "SDMS" credits over the ACPs. The ACP
credits are not only good for echo, but for nursing, radiology and
respiratory. After reviewing the all of these CEU programs, they are all
basically the same. I find nothing that makes the SDMS credits more valuable
than the others. The community college is a tax funded institution and
therefore should have NO bias.

Furthermore, I find the requirement of 32 CEUs in 2 years to be ridiculous.
Even those who are ARDMS certified are only required to earn 32 every 3
years. FYI, CCI requires 36 every 3 years. This is totally unfair to these
students, since the practitioners don't even have to meet such stringent
standards.

Maybe you all might educate me as to why this is, but until such time as I am
convinced that this is ethical.  I will be sending letters to both the
Florida Board of Education that governs this community college and the
college itself demanding justification for these mandates.

Now you all had to get me started...
Tony