Guide to EKG Schools – Things to Consider When Choosing Among EKG Technician Schools
When you start researching schools that offer EKG technician training programs, look for information that proves the school’s accreditation. This approval will ensure that you’re getting the education that will help you find a job after graduating. One way to verify accreditation is to check with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology, or JRC-CVT. Schools that are accredited by this organization will teach you the cutting-edge skills that you need to be a successful EKG technician. Accredited schools are also more likely to emphasize the importance of becoming certified. Even if you choose to enroll in an associate’s program rather than a shorter certificate program, make sure that after graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the appropriate professional certification exam. After going to school to become an EKG technician, it would be very time consuming to have to take additional courses just to be able to take the certification exam.
Once you have verified a school’s accreditation and its methods for preparing students for certification, take a look at the proposed curriculum and coursework to get an idea of the skills you’ll learn. A good school will teach students about the cutting-edge technology and resources they will encounter in a real-life position, as well as give them a background in medical terminology and anatomy. Also find out if you will be allowed to specialize in a certain area once you have completed the core courses. Some areas of specialization include noninvasive or invasive cardiovascular, noninvasive vascular technology, and others. Specialization may make you a more competitive candidate in the job market after graduation.
While there is no standard degree requirement for EKG technicians, many clinics and health care facilities prefer to hire individuals with either some health care experience or who have graduated from a certificate or associate’s program in EKG tech. Certificate programs can last from several months to one year, while associate’s programs are usually two years long and incorporate general education courses as well as field-specific instruction and lab work. In these programs, students learn all about the structure and patterns of the heart, learn how to use medical terminology and work with a medical team, position patients, safely conduct EKG procedures, and assist cardiologists by recording results and maintaining the equipment. Students who choose to enroll in bachelor’s degree programs with a specialty in EKG tech will take a broader range of courses, including general education classes and a lot of science classes. Many bachelors’ programs do not offer a concentration designed especially for EKG technician candidates, however, so additional certification or on-the-job training will probably be needed.
Health care professionals like pharmacists and nurses can become EKG technicians by completing a short certification program or by switching to another department at their facility and receiving training from the cardiologists and EKG supervisors there. Depending on your state and the hospital or facility you work for, you may have to take a certification exam to become licensed. Some specific certifications and licenses include the Certified Cardiographic Technician, Registered Vascular Specialist, Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist and Registered Vascular Technologist, among others.
