Everything You Need to Know About Obtaining EKG Technician Certification

Right now, there is a huge demand for medical professionals of all types, due in large part to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.  If you’ve ever considered going into the lucrative healthcare field, there has probably never been a better time.

You don’t have to become a doctor or spend years and years in school (while accumulating mountains of debt) to make it happen.  There are specialized job roles that you could potentially qualify for within a year, while still being able to get a very nice wage at any hospital or clinic.

One of the best examples is an EKG technician certification.  An EKG technician focuses on administering and analyzing cardiovascular tests, including electrocardiograms, as well as communicating your findings to the patient and their healthcare team.  It could be your foot in the door in the medical field!

What You Need to Know About EKG Technician Certification

So, why would you want to become an EKG technician?  Well, it’s a booming field.  Even without the COVID-19 outbreak, the American population is aging.  And as people age, cardiovascular problems become more likely.  This means there will be a growing demand for heart disease specialists to help people keep themselves healthy.

One of the highest-paid roles in healthcare that doesn’t require a four-year degree is the EKG tech.  Average salaries are over $60K per year, as of 2019.

Also, becoming an EKG technician doesn’t mean locking yourself into that role.  Typically, you get your EKG technician certification as part of a larger certification as a Medical Assistant.  This sets you up to continue receiving specialist certifications, expanding your job skills and your value to the hospitals or clinics that employ you.

Potentially, you could even continue your studies to eventually become a full Registered Nurse, making yourself even more valuable to your employers.

What Does an EKG Technician Do?

Simply put, you perform EKGs and other tests relating to a patient’s cardiovascular health.  You’ll explain the test to patients and answer their questions while prepping them.  This will involve attaching wires to the patient’s arms, chest, and legs, then monitoring the resulting EKG readout.  These tests may be performed while the patient is at rest, or while they perform physical tasks – such as walking on a treadmill.  You would be responsible for their safety throughout.

You would also be responsible for reading and interpreting the results.  With EKG technician certification training, you’ll know how to spot abnormal readings and how to communicate them to the patient’s primary care providers.

In addition, you will be expected to help with record-keeping and maintaining a high quality of work throughout.

What Skills Should an EKG Technician Possess?

Beyond the specific skills relating to operating and running an EKG machine, there are several other key skills you’ll need if you want to succeed.

• People skills.  You’ll be working directly with patients, who are likely to be nervous about the tests or the possibility of having heart problems.  You may also have to get them to do relatively uncomfortable things, like running on a treadmill in nothing but a paper gown.  Good communication and persuasion skills are crucial!
• Physical fitness.  As an EKG technician, you’ll be on your feet for most or all of the day.  You’ll also need to be able to move around fairly heavy equipment.  On rare occasions, you may even be called on to help move patients themselves, such as people with disabilities going through physical therapy or rehabilitation.
• Attention to detail.  EKGs are complicated and convey a lot of information.  The difference between safe and abnormal readings is often slim.  You must have a good eye for detail, and an ability to distinguish subtle changes in the readouts.
• Technical skills.  You must be highly comfortable around computers and high-tech machinery.  You’ll also need high-level office skills, for charting and reporting your findings.

If you think you’re right for the job, there’s an EKG technician certification program waiting for you to enroll!

What It Takes to Become A Certified EKG Technician

The requirements to become an EKG tech are quite reasonable.

1. You must have a high school diploma or GED.  Higher education is not required, although at least some college (such as a two-year associate degree) will make you much more attractive to employers.
2. You must attend and pass a legitimate EKG technician certification, or at least be near to passing.  Some employers might hire you directly during your apprenticeship, although this is not guaranteed.
3. You must pass a state-certified qualification test to receive your certification.

The certification itself requires less than 80 hours of study and training, so you could potentially become certified in a very short amount of time.  That being said, it’s more common for people to pursue a Medical Assistant certification, while also adding a certification as an EKG technician.  That training path will take 1-2 years in total.

Plus, any other training or certifications you pick up will only help you find work.  For example, it’s extremely common for EKG techs to also have CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) training and certification.

Broadly speaking, you could become an EKG tech in less than a year – potentially around 9 months.  However, this amount of time could increase, depending on whether you seek other training and certification along the way.

WSDA Can Make Your Medical Career Dreams a Reality

The Westchester School for Dental Assistants offers some of the best training programs in New York for people who want to become Medical or Dental Assistants and move into great jobs in the healthcare field.  We have highly experienced professors on staff, ready to prepare you for the reality of your new career.

If you’re looking for new prospects, or simply want to move into one of the most lucrative fields you can enter without a four-year degree, click here to contact us.