Editing Perfusionist (section)

===United States===
{{See also|American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion}}
In the [[United States]], a four-year [[bachelor's degree]] is a prerequisite for admission into an accredited perfusion program, typically with a concentration in [[biology]], [[chemistry]], [[anatomy]] and [[physiology]], varying depending on specific perfusion program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Perfusionist |url=https://explorehealthcareers.org/career/allied-health-professions/perfusionist/ |website=Explorehealthcareers.org |publisher=Liaison International |accessdate=12 February 2019}}</ref> As of 2022, there are 18 accredited perfusion training programs, of which ten are [[master's degree]]s, seven are [[Professional certification|certificate programs]], and one is a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commission on Accreditation |url=https://www.caahep.org/Students/Find-a-Program.aspx |website=CAAHEP |publisher=CAAHEP |accessdate=12 February 2019}}</ref> Training typically consists of two years of academic and clinical education.<ref>{{cite web | title = Career Perfusionist: [2] Training & Education | publisher = Perfusion.com | date = 28 March 2012 | url = https://www.perfusion.com/career-perfusionist-training-certification/ | accessdate = 22 April 2020}}</ref> A perfusion student will typically begin his or her training in a [[Didactic method|didactic fashion]] in which the student will closely follow instructions from a certified clinical perfusionist in the confines of a cardiac surgery procedure. Academic coursework may be concurrent or precede this clinical instruction. Early in their clinical training, the perfusion student may have little involvement outside of an observational role. However, as time progresses, more tasks may be incrementally delegated to them. Upon graduating from a perfusion program, the graduate must begin the certification process. In the interim, the perfusion graduate is typically referred to as board-eligible, which is sufficient for employment in cardiac surgery with the understanding that achieving certified status is required for long-term employment. Most employers have stipulations on the duration of board-eligible status.

To become certified as a certified clinical perfusionist, a perfusionist must undergo a two-part exam administered by the [[American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion]]. The first part is the Perfusion Basic Science Exam and the second part the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Exam. The exam process is open to a perfusion student that has graduated or about to graduate from an accredited perfusion education program. In addition, a perfusion student must have participated in a minimum of 75 perfusions during the course of their training before sitting for the Perfusion Basic Science Exam and performed 40 independent perfusions after graduation before sitting for the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Exam.<ref name="ccp">{{cite web|url=http://www.abcp.org/certification_.htm|title=Certification|publisher=American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion|accessdate=1 April 2019}}</ref> Upon passing the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Exam, the perfusionist is designated a certified clinical perfusionist.

Following certification, perfusionists must be recertified every year by attaining minimum clinical and educational requirements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abcp.org/recert_clin.htm|title=Recertification- Professional Activity|access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref> Proof of fulfillment of these recertification requirements must be submitted to the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion and are mandatory to maintain certified status to use the designation.

[[File:Perfusionist opearting heart lung machine.jpg|thumb|250px|Perfusionist operating a modern heart–lung machine]]

As of February 2010, there were 3,766 certified perfusionists in the United States and approximately 300 certified perfusionists in Canada.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.abcp.org/cert_listing.htm
 |title       = Clinical Perfusionists Currently Certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion through December 31, 2010
 |publisher   = American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
 |accessdate  = 2010-02-15
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100213011801/http://www.abcp.org/cert_listing.htm
 |archivedate = February 13, 2010
}}</ref>