We are thrilled to reintroduce you to Smith Chason College.

Over 20 years ago, our founders, Dr. Neville Smith, M.D., and Myra Chason, BS, BSN, RDMS had a dream of providing the best healthcare education to aspiring healthcare workers who wanted to make an impact on their community. That dream has fueled our growth over the years, from a small ultrasound college in Beverly Hills to four beautiful campuses across the west coast, over 10 medical imaging and nursing degree and diploma programs, and over 1,500 active students and 5,000 plus alumni.

Our family has grown together.

Formerly West Coast Ultrasound Institute (WCUI), Smith Chason College has evolved to meet our mission of turning our students’ passion into real skills and knowledge by growing our team and our programs to meet our founders’ original goals.

Our experienced instructors are educating the next generation of sonographers, and MRI technologists under our WCUI School of Medical Imaging, and the next registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and licensed practical nurses under our Smith Chason School of Nursing.

Together, our supportive Smith Chason College faculty and staff will be here to guide our medical imaging and nursing students on their journey to success.

We will continue to provide the same education you come to expect from WCUI and Smith Chason School of Nursing. As always, we will continue supporting our students’ goals so they can enter or return to the evolving workforce with confidence.

Today, we celebrate this growth and the legacy of our founders and welcome you to the Smith Chason College legacy.

Our WCUI School of Medical Imaging offers Bachelor, Associate, and advanced diploma programs in sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These programs are led by medical imaging experts who can help prepare our students to join the field as entry-level sonographers and MRI technologists.

Programs:

  • Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography
  • Bachelor of Science in Adult and Pediatric Cardiovascular Sonography
  • Academic Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Academic Associate of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography
  • Academic Associate of Science in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Short Diploma Program

Our Smith Chason School of Nursing offers Associate degree and diploma programs in nursing. Our nursing programs are developed by nurses for nurses to support them on their nursing profession journey.

Programs:

  • Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN ) – RN Program
  • Vocational Nursing
  • Practical Nursing

Our Locations

Los Angeles, CA

Ontario, CA

Phoenix, AZ

San Marcos, CA

With four beautiful campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and our newest location in San Marcos, CA, Smith Chason College is ready to educate our students across the west coast.

By combining the use of our ultrasound and nursing labs and experience in off-site hospitals/clinics we can meet our mission of providing an excellent education for our students. Computer labs, Learning Resource Centers, and student lounges help round out lab and classroom training.

Our Mission

The mission of Smith Chason College is to transform our healthcare communities as we transform the lives of our students. We nourish students’ passion to provide excellent, compassionate, inclusive, and equitable patient care. The central focus of Smith Chason College is to promote and enhance student learning, foster personal achievement, and develop professional competence.

Smith Chason College, formerly Triad Education and West Coast Ultrasound Institute, is nationally accredited by ACCSC, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Our History and Story

From the beginning...

1998
January 1

Founded in 1998

Founded in 1998
Our founders Dr. Neville Smith and Myra Chason, BS, BSN, RDMS shook up the education world in Beverly Hills, California by opening their first campus in 1998, formerly known as West Coast Ultrasound Institute, Inc. (WCUI). The school begins by focusing on offering diagnostic medical sonography and cardiovascular sonography programs. Together, our founders cultivated a new way of educating and entertaining students to keep them on track.
2001
January 1

Accredited by ACCSC

We are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)

2002
January 1

Department of Education Approval

We are approved by the Department of Education to participate in Title IV Financial Aid programs.

2006
January 1

New California Campus & New Vocational Nursing Program

The Ontario, California branch campus opens and we launch new programs in nursing. We introduced our School of Nursing and began offering Vocational Nursing programs at our California campuses. The success of our VN students has inspired us to innovate and develop more programs to support their aspirations.

2009
January 1

New Campus in Phoenix, Arizona

We open our second branch campus in Phoenix, Arizona.

2012
January 1

Awarded the ACCSC School of Distinction

Our Phoenix Campus receives the 2012 ACCSC School of Distinction Award.

2015
January 1

Our First Bachelor Ultrasound Programs Begin Enrolling

We launch and began enrolling for our Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography programs.

2017
January 1

A Year of Recognition

We’re ranked #20 in the Forbes 2017 Top 30 Two-Year Trade School list. Our Phoenix campus receives the 2017 ACCSC School of Excellence Award. We receive the 2017 ACCSC Excellence in Community Service Award.

2019
January 1

Our School Grows & Moves to Los Angeles

Our School Grows & Moves to Los Angeles

We expand and move our main campus from Beverly Hills to Los Angeles, California with a floor built out exclusively for our students.

2020
January 1

We Adapt & Implement A New Hybrid Education Model

We pivoted our educational model to an online format in March 2020 in response to the global pandemic to keep our student’s education moving forward. Today, Smith Chason College continues to utilize a hybrid learning model, with online didactic classes and in-person labs and clinicals.

February 1

More Growth & Move to a Modern New Phoenix Campus

Our Phoenix campus moved in the summer of July 2020 to a brand-new campus built to suit in the heart of the Bioscience Healthcare District.

March 1

A New Practical Nursing Program in Phoenix

2020, also saw the development of the Practical Nursing program at our Phoenix campus. A program built by nurses who understand the need to provide an exceptional nursing education to the next generation of Arizona nurses. The program was a success as we enrolled three full classes of nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

2021
January 1

A New Nursing Degree Program in LA (ADN)

We launch the first nursing degree program under the new name of our nursing school, Smith Chason School of Nursing. A dedication to our founders and the nurses across the country making a difference.

The new 24-month Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) at our Los Angeles campus is an exciting new program to support the growing need for RNs and support our nurses goals of advancement in their profession. The program was an immediate success enrolling several full cohorts and counting.

2022
April 1

New Campus in Northern San Diego

Spring 2022, we open our fourth campus in San Marcos, California to support, inspire, and educate the future sonographers and MRI technologists in the Northern San Diego community.

Institutional Approvals

ACCSC Accredited | Smith Chason College, formerly Triad Education and West Coast Ultrasound Institute, is nationally accredited by ACCSC, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Title IV Eligible | Through the U.S. Department of Education, each of the campuses are eligible to participate in student financial assistance programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

BPPE Approved | The California Campus are approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) to provide educational services in the State of California. Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. 

AZPPSE Approved | The Phoenix campus is approved to operate in the state of Arizona by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE).

Veterans | The Los Angeles and Ontario campuses are approved by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE) to enroll veterans and other eligible students. The Phoenix campus is approved by the Arizona State Approving Agency. The Los Angeles, Ontario and Phoenix campuses are approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code. San Marcos campus pending VA approval. The Phoenix campus is a certified Veterans Supportive Campus

Vocational Rehabilitation Dept | The Los Angeles and Ontario campuses are approved by the State of California Vocational Rehabilitation Department.

Title I Training | The Ontario campus is approved for Workforce Investment Act, Title I Training Funds.

Programmatic Approvals

BVNPT | The Vocational Nursing program at the Los Angeles and Ontario campuses is approved by the Board for Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT).

BRN | The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at the Los Angeles campus is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

AZBN | The Practical Nursing program at the Phoenix campus is provisionally approved by the Arizona Board of Nursing (AZBN).

ARMRIT | The MRI (Long) Diploma program and the Academic Associate of Science MRI program at the Los Angeles, Ontario, and Phoenix campuses are programmatically accredited by the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT).

Culture

Career Opportunities at Smith Chason College

If you desire flexibility in a career, and a company that provides opportunities for professional growth, and personal reward, please see our current openings. Smith Chason College provides a variety of opportunities to work in person, remotely, and hybrid depending on the position you are applying for. Campuses are easy to locate and access.