EKG Training Schools
Can you imagine working in one of the most important areas of health care? By choosing EKG training, you can prepare to join the skilled and dedicated professionals in the cardiology field. EKG training can help you obtain a comprehensive education and prepare you to play a contributing role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of heart conditions and other illnesses.
Also known as an electrocardiogram or electrocardiograph, an EKG is a test that monitors and records the electrical impulses and rhythms of a patient's heart. An EKG technician attaches electrodes to the patient's chest, arms, and legs and operates the EKG machine. Once the test is done, the technician prints the results and prepares them for delivery to a cardiologist, the patient's doctor, or other medical team members. The patient's physician then interprets the results and diagnoses any heart abnormalities.
EKG Training Schools
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EKG Technician Training
From performing routine preoperative testing to administering EKGs in an intensive care unit, you can learn to handle the various applications of heart monitoring.
How do I get started in this career?
There is no single path to becoming an EKG technician. However, most EKG technicians come to the job either while studying for or having already earned a degree in a related healthcare field, such as patient care or nursing. Such technicians usually receive on-the-job training from their employers, which usually takes about four to six weeks.
If you have not yet begun your post-secondary education, it is possible to complete a certificate program that takes one year or less. Most employers, however, prefer to hire people with multiple skills and at least an associate degree in allied health.
How long does training take?
Depending on your chosen program and your education and experience, obtaining an education can typically range from weeks to months. However, advanced degree programs can last between two and four years. You could also choose a program that combines EKG training with other specialized medical skills, such as phlebotomy or medical assisting, which may add additional time.
Is certification necessary?
While certification is not legally required, it is considered standard industry practice to obtain EKG tech certification. Certifying boards, including Cardiovascular Credentialing International, which offers the Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) designation, can provide you with the opportunity to prove that you possess the skills employers are looking for in new hires.
Where can I find job opportunities?
Most EKG tech jobs are in hospitals' cardiology departments. However, employment opportunities also exist in outpatient clinics, doctors' offices, medical imaging centers, and other healthcare settings. Obtaining certification and specialized skills, especially in Holter monitoring and stress testing, is the best way to secure opportunities as an EKG technician.
What is the job outlook?
The demand for healthcare professionals, including EKG technicians, is growing. This continued demand is because our aging population is retiring at an escalating rate, creating job openings within the industry and generating an increased need for healthcare services.
How much does an EKG technician make?
EKG technicians can earn from $36,620 to $105,140 a year. Salaries vary depending on the level of training, areas of expertise, and other factors. The median annual wage for the cardiovascular technologists and technicians occupation group was $66,170 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023).* In addition to on-the-job experience, the best way to increase earning potential in this field is to become certified in various areas of testing.
What additional training & career options are available?
It is rare for someone to work only as a basic EKG technician. Since employers like to hire people with multiple skills, it is common for EKG techs to go beyond their primary expertise.
Holter monitoring involves connecting patients to a portable, wearable EKG device that records their heart's activity for 24 hours. This type of EKG allows doctors to observe heart conditions that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to track in the short time a basic test takes.
Stress testing is a way to monitor a patient's heart performance while undergoing exertion. The technician connects the patient to the monitor, gets the patient's baseline reading and resting blood pressure, and starts the patient walking on a treadmill. Gradually, the technician increases the treadmill's speed, thus allowing for results that can help the doctor know if the patient's heart strains too much during physical activity.
Holter monitoring and stress testing can be learned in separate certificate programs that take one year or less. Many technicians may also have the option of on-the-job training for these specialties, which typically takes about 18 to 24 months.
Where to go from here?
As an EKG technician, you can play an important role in healthcare. If you're up to this exciting challenge, then exploring your options for training is a great way to begin. You could soon have a career that's all heart!
* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Some careers listed may be part of a combined occupation profile (visited October 23, 2024).