Most employers prefer their staff to complete an EKG certification program before applying for a job. EKG technician training requires less education than most other medical professions and can be a great first step for those interested in working in the healthcare field. The cost of the program does not cover the cost of the national exam and upon completion the student will be issued the required documentation to apply for the national exam.
Certifications can be a powerful tool to show employers you know your stuff. Fill out the form to request a call from an admissions counselor and receive more information about our programs. It’s important to note that if you have certification, you are more marketable to employers and are a stronger candidate for job positions.
CCT2 You must be currently employed or previously employed in the cardiovascular technology field or a recognized allied health field. CCT1 You must be currently enrolled as a student or graduate of a cardiovascular or allied health training program. This two-month, 70-hour certificate program will assist you in preparing for the National Healthcareer Association Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam. HCC’s 14 Centers of Excellence focus on top-notch faculty and industry best practices to give students the skills they need for a successful career.
Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material. This is a computer-administered exam, so you will not need to bring any personal items such as pencils, paper, study materials, or even calculators with you. If you do bring such items, you will be asked to leave them in a secure locker outside the testing room before the exam begins.
Preparation for CCI examinations can be overwhelming, and several options can assist you in your preparation. In addition, many employers prefer to hire technologists and technicians who have a Basic Life Support certification, which shows they are trained to provide CPR. The course is a comprehensive set of didactic lectures surveying fundamentals of transgender medical and surgical treatment.

To fulfill the requirements, you will need to take more than 51% of your coursework through multiple modalities (e.g. Online, Blended and/or Remote Learning). Employment opportunities include working with patients undergoing EKGs in hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices. A Certified EKG Technician (CET) produces recording or electromotive variations in a patient’s heart muscle, using electrocardiograph machine, to provide data for the diagnosis of heart ailments.
If the exam is not taken by the end of the extension period, the testing fee will be forfeited, and the applicant will need to reapply to take the test. If the applicant has made an appointment with Pearson prior to requesting the extension, the appointment must be canceled before CCI is contacted for an extension or refund. The 20 unscored questions are not identified and are randomly distributed throughout the exam to gather performance data.
The exam is available year-round, and candidates can schedule their test online or by phone through Pearson VUE. Reasonable accommodation, based on disability or religious observances, will be considered in accordance with applicable law and UTHealth Houston policy. The University maintains affirmative action programs with respect to women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and eligible veterans in accordance with applicable law. Our nine week program is completely online with live lectures done via zoom and coursework completed online in our LMS system.
Upon passing the CCI Certified Cardiographic Technician exam, candidates will receive the CCT credential, which demonstrates their competence and commitment to providing high-quality cardiovascular care. The CCT certification is valid for three years, and certified professionals must complete continuing education and professional development activities to maintain their credential. Many EKG technicians are trained on the job by senior EKG technicians or other cardiology professionals. You will have an opportunity to learn what students in an EKG tech program study.
Visit the Alamo Institutes to get started with a career that is right for you. Please use the information listed in the “How Can I Learn More” section to contact us to learn start dates and enrollment deadlines. According to Salary.com, the average annual EKG technician salary in the United States is $40,700 as of June 2022, but the range usually falls between $36,100 and $47,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 24 percent growth in the demand for EKG technicians between now and 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. To pass the CCI Certified Cardiographic Technician test you need a score of 650. Pay in full before the first day of class and receive a $200 tuition discount.

Score Verification

First, CCT students will complete 16 hours of online eLearning materials before attending the first day of classroom instruction. Next, students will then attend 4-weeks or weekends of classroom instruction for a total of 64 required classroom hours. During the classroom phase of the course, students will be required to pass all exams and skill assessments with an 80% or higher. Finally, Cardiographic students will sit for the course final exam and must pass with an 80% or higher.
To become an EKG or cardiographic technician, one must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, many employers prefer prospective employees who have undergone post-secondary education, such as courses at technical schools or community colleges. There are also multiple certifications available for those interested in pursuing a career as an EKG and cardiographic technician that demonstrate a candidate has achieved a certain level of knowledge necessary for this profession. The examination content is based on the findings of a Job Task Analysis (JTA) which describes the overall tasks that a CCT is expected to perform on the job and general areas of knowledge that are needed to perform the tasks. Examination content was developed by subject matter experts in the cardiovascular profession.
Duties for  EKG and cardiographic technicians vary but often start with preparing patients for testing by explaining the procedure and answering any questions they may have. They then attach electrodes to the patient’s body to measure their electrical activity and record it on a monitor. After performing the test, they must analyze the data obtained from the procedure and compare it with normal readings to detect any abnormalities that could indicate heart disease or other medical conditions. The technician must then prepare a comprehensive report of their findings which will be reviewed by a medical professional. Electrocardiography (EKG) technicians are vital members of any healthcare team.

Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG) provides valuable information to the medical team about the electrical activity in the heart. The EKG is a highly specialized and technical tool for assessing cardiac function and diagnosing cardiac disease. To perform this task, a technician fastens electrodes to a patient to be read by the EKG machine and the information or reading that is obtained and printed out is given to the medical team to interpret. Many professionals in this field enjoy helping others navigate their cardiovascular health and perform a stimulating variety of day-to-day tasks. In addition, rapid job growth in this area means that many qualified professionals will find work in their desired field.
The cardiovascular technology program at Orange Coast College trains students to perform tests that will allow doctors to diagnose heart and blood vessel disease in patients. Students will learn how to use three diagnostic tools, including invasive cardiovascular technology,  non-invasive cardiovascular technology, and non-invasive peripheral vascular technology. Through this program, students are given knowledge and skills to tackle a variety of roles in the medical field, from electrodiagnostic technologists up to invasive cardiologists. The admissions requirements for EKG or cardiographic technician programs can vary depending on the institution. In general, interested applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs may also prefer prior medical training or experience in a medical field, though this is only sometimes necessary.

Part Four How Do You Become an EKG Technician?

While no school can guarantee that graduates will find a job, OSP is committed to providing career assistance services that will guide the student through the job application process. While no school can guarantee that graduates will find a job, KCSP is committed to providing career assistance services that will guide the student through the job application process. It takes a well-trained technician with good attention to detail to perform and read an EKG accurately. Because of this, EKG Technicians add undisputable value to the cardiology team and can make a career for themselves with mastery of the concepts and skills required of this specialized field of allied health.

This program prepares students to perform EKGs, offering instruction in cardiac anatomy and physiology, medical disease processes, medical terminology, medical ethics, legal aspects of patient contact, electrocardiography, and stress testing. Learners will explore the technology used such as the EKG machine and how to interpret a rhythm strip. EKG Technicians also analyze printed readings of EKG tests, measuring various “cardiac intervals and complexes” and determining normal vs. abnormal EKG.
Currently, only Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington require cardiovascular technologists to be licensed. Certification in Cardiology is a program for certified internal medicine specialists, designed to recognize excellence among those who provide care in cardiology. This 324-hour hybrid course is designed to prepare the student to become a certified Certified Cardiovascular Technologist (CCT) through Cardiovascula… Unlimited access to your test re-views, no time limits & recurring charges. A high school diploma or GED is the minimum requirement to become an EKG tech.
However, most employers prefer or require that EKG techs are certified for employment, and being certified does have CE requirements. The need for EKG technicians will grow due to the aging of the population, the continued prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and the availability of affordable diagnostic testing. In addition, as electrocardiogram equipment becomes more affordable, private practices will begin offering the exams and will need EKG technicians to administer them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places skilled EKG technicians into a larger category of cardiovascular technologists and technicians.
The largest set of questions on the CCT exam concern how to perform resting ECG (electrocardiogram), so you’ll want to make sure you focus on this information in your CCT exam review. Another quarter of the CCT test consists of questions on rhythm analysis, while 20% of the test is dedicated to performing stress tests. Finally, 10% of the CCT certification exam covers pre-procedural activities, while a mere 5% of questions are on the topic of ambulatory monitoring. The latter segment includes different types of event monitors, such as Holters, Pacemakers, Transtelephonic monitors, and more). As a Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) student, you’ll have hands on training that from current industry professionals that will prepare you to use your CCT skills in real world scenarios. UTHealth Houston has adopted a policy consistent with CMS regulations to protect our patients and university community from exposure to COVID-19.
CCI does not endorse or recommend any third-party review course or material. Self-assessment exams do not provide a report of missed items or specific information or feedback on incorrect responses. Once the self-assessment is complete, you will receive a performance profile that displays the percentage of correct responses in the content areas that make up the examination. The CCT examination is designed to assess knowledge and skills in current practice. CCI provides an overview of the examination content including knowledge and task list.

The lists below describe general areas of knowledge that are needed in order to perform the tasks identified. The task listing illustrates the relative weight or emphasis given to the main content areas on the examination. Completed requirements for a graduate or undergraduate degree from a recognized institution in a field related to science or physical health. Employment Verification Letter
Employment verification letter which indicates time period of employment and primary duties of applicant, and clinical competence related to the field of cardiac ultrasound.
This test is designed to measure your command of essential, on-the-job skills and knowledge relating to all of the tasks that a CCT performs. It’s a rigorous, content-driven test that will require plenty of preparation. The Ohio School of Phlebotomy is an approved EKG certificate program through the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools.
One source is  Books are also available from the publishers, sometimes with discounts for students. Some sites require that the TB skin test be administered within a few months of clinical application. Also, some sites will not accept a clear chest Xray unless a positive TB skin test precedes it. The “fast track/accelerated schedule” vaccine is not accepted, without proof of immunity, by a positive blood titer, unless all 4 vaccines were completed according to the protocol which includes a 12-month period.

Cardiovascular technicians earn an average (annual mean wage) of $62,020 annually. We work with institutional partners to offer a wide array of practice tests that will help you prepare for your big exam. No matter how niche your field of interest might be, we’re here to help you prepare for test day. Our 5-test bundle of practice exams costs less than the cost of taking the actual certification exam. As a certified cardiographic technician, you will make a median salary between $53,000-$58,000, according to Comparably. There are 130 multiple choice questions on the CCT certification exam, and test-takers have two hours to complete them.
Students who have successfully completed the EKG Program will be given the option to sit for an approved national examination through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) to become a Certified EKG Technician (CET). This is optional and employment is not contingent upon successful completion; although it may make an individual more competitive in the job market. The Kansas City School of Phlebotomy is an approved EKG certificate program through the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Students who have successfully completed the EKG Program will be given the option to sit for an accredited national examination through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) to become a Certified EKG Technician (CET). The Chicago School of Phlebotomy is an approved EKG certificate program through the Illinois Department of Higher Education. Preparing for a career as a cardiovascular technician begins in high school.