How to Become a Certified EKG Technician
How to Become a Certified EKG Technician
Becoming an EKG technician can be a great way to get your foot into the door of the healthcare field and also help people along the way. But there are a lot of things to consider to determine if it’s the right career for you, which is why Westchester School for Dental Assistants has gathered some of the most important aspects to consider before making your decision.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know about enrolling in an EKG technician certification program.
- What Exactly Does an EKG Technician Do?
First, you might be curious about all of the duties of a certified EKG technician. Also referred to as electrocardiography technicians, EKG technicians are responsible for performing the diagnostic tests that help doctors determine whether a patient has cardiovascular problems. This is done by administering an EKG test, which is designed to measure the electrical activity of a patient’s heart. This test can help doctors determine any issues that might be signs of heart disease or signify that a patient is at risk of having a heart attack down the road.
- Providing EKG Tests to Patients
Most EKG technicians work in long-term care facilities, private medical practices, or hospitals and perform an average of 13 tests per day. You’ll often be stationed in a room with all of the necessary EKG equipment at your disposal and schedule the appointment time when an EKG test is ordered.
When working with a patient, the first thing you’ll need to do is speak to them about how the test works and what they can expect. You’ll then place electrodes on their skin and other locations on the body, then monitor their heart rate and blood pressure during the test.
After the test is completed, EKG technicians are then responsible for reviewing the results of the EKG test and highlighting any abnormalities. Then, this data will be given to a physician for their review, to determine if there are any underlying health/heart issues they need to discuss with the patient.
- How Do You Become an EKG Technician?
To become a certified EKG technician, you’ll need to receive on-the-job training as well as in-classroom training by enrolling in an EKG technician certification program. Before becoming an EKG technician, you’ll be required to pass an exam that demonstrates you have all of the necessary knowledge to successfully administer EKG tests to patients.
- EKG Technician Requirements
For those who want to join the medical field as an EKG technician, you’ll need to have a high school diploma or equivalency. Although it’s not a legal requirement, you’ll find most employers will require this. Additionally, any previous healthcare experience will help you when searching for a job as an EKG technician, such as working for a time as a medical assistant or another position in the healthcare field.
- How to Get EKG Certified
Becoming EKG certified will show potential employers that you have all of the knowledge necessary to properly run tests and care for patients. Most employers will require you to have completed an EKG education program sometime within the past five years and boast at least one year of supervised work experience as an EKG technician within the last three years. You’ll also be required to have performed at least 10 EKGs on live individuals. That’s why it’s always easier to enroll in an EKG certification program, where you’ll receive all of this hands-on training and experience up front.
- What is an EKG Technician\’s Salary?
Being an EKG technician is a great starting position for those in the healthcare field and you can earn, on average, up to around $40,000 a year. Although this number will vary based on experience and training, EKG technicians can expect to make around $19 an hour, with this number ranging between $17-22 an hour depending on your training and experience.
However, after being an EKG technician for a certain period of time, you can then train to become an EKG technologist, which offers a more competitive salary that’s significantly higher than that of a technician.
- How Long is EKG Technician Training?
The length of time for EKG technician training depends upon whether you enroll in a certification or training course, or are hired without any experience and receive on-the-job training from your employer. For those training with their employer, the process usually takes around 4-6 weeks. For those who enroll in a certification or training course, it can take 3-6 months, depending on where you’ve enrolled. Again, it’s important to note that those who have undergone a training course or received their EKG certification are more likely to be hired.
Much of the training program will be about how to properly administer the EKG test, in addition to focusing on patient care procedures, as well as how to read and interpret the results of an electrocardiography test.
- Career Advancements
As mentioned above, there are some opportunities for career advancements as an EKG technician. You can remain an EKG technician and receive more specialized training to advance in your career; this usually will require approximately 18-24 months of additional on-the-job training. Additionally, you can begin training and receive a degree as an EKG technologist, which often requires a 2-year or 4-year degree.
For those who want to take their medical training even further, becoming a clinical medical assistant or clinical medical technician will broaden your skillset and drastically increase your salary base.
Get the best EKG technician certification programs from us, contact us today!
As one of New York’s leading medical assistant and dental training schools, Westchester School of Dental Assistants has helped many become successful members of healthcare teams. Beginning in January 2022, we will begin educating EKG technicians through our certified program.
To learn more about how we can help you begin your career in the medical field, contact us online today or call (914) 682-9001.
