What You Need To Know About EKG Technician Certification
An EKG or Electrocardiograph technician is a healthcare professional that performs diagnostic tests that assist doctors when it comes to identifying cardiovascular issues in patients. These tests are used to detect heart irregularities that can result in heart disease or heart attacks.
These professionals mainly work in hospitals or private practices or long-term care facilities. The Electrocardiograph technician will explain the test to a patient before conducting them. Once the patient is connected to a machine, it allows the technician to monitor blood pressure and heart performance.
Electrocardiograph Technician Requirements
Becoming an EKG technician does require a set of certain requirements:
Education
Those interested in becoming an Electrocardiograph technician must have a GED or high-school diploma. Most students also further their education with either a 2-year associate degree or a 4-year bachelor’s degree and a Certificate Program. Although higher education and certification is not a legal requirement, many employers choose the job candidates that have an EKG Technician Certification and usually prefer not to hire the technicians that don’t have it.
Training
There are 3 ways to train to become an EKG technician:
Hospitals provide on-the-job training once they have hired candidates
Completing a 1-year certification course
Complete one of the associate degree programs that must include practical training and classroom learning
EKG Technician Certification
Today there are various educational institutions and colleges that provide EKG Technician Certification for EKG technicians.
To become a CET (Certified EKG Technician) the candidate must sit for an examination with around 20 pre-test questions and 100 multiple-choice questions. The National Healthcare Association owns this test. To qualify for the examination, the candidates must first complete on-the-job training and performed a minimum of 10 EKGs. The CET examination uses the scale-scoring system which ranges from 200 to 500. To pass the candidate must score 390 points (or 78%).
