The health care field offers a variety of career paths that don’t necessarily require years of medical school. EKG technicians, or people who provide electrocardiograph testing, are in-demand and enjoy meaningful, challenging work. These individuals conduct diagnostic testing that monitors the heart after a patient suffered a heart attack or is diagnosed with heart disease. They play a critical role in helping doctors identify, diagnose, and treat heart conditions. If you’re curious about starting your career in this field, here’s what you should know.  

Understanding an EKG Technician Role 

What Training is Required to Become a Certified EKG Technician?

In order to start on this career path, you’ll need to obtain a high school diploma or an equivalent education. Next, it’s important to have on-the-job training in the health care industry; however, this isn’t required. It’s common for home health aides, nursing assistants, EMTs, and paramedics to go into this field, as they already have experience.

If this is a career that you’re interested in pursuing, you can enroll in an EKG technical school, where a supervisor will guide you through how to perform diagnostic tests and monitor the heart. While these technicians aren’t required to obtain a Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) credential, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highly recommends this certification to help with job prospects and boost your pay scale. Because EKG technician exams can be complicated, you can enlist the help of licensed health care instructors to help you pass the exam. 

How Long Does Training Take?

EKG technical schools offer a variety of courses to help students obtain their CCT credential. While training time can vary depending on the length and frequency of classes, most programs can be completed in four to six weeks. Once certified, many technicians opt to advance their skills so they can also perform additional stress tests and Holter monitoring, further diversifying their skills to increase their hourly wage. Others explore the home health aide field as a way to expand job prospects and their overall skill set. 

IGBANS Institute of Vocational Training, in Springfield Gardens, NY, is a leader in educating future members of the health care industry. If you need help preparing for an EKG technician exam, this team of health care instructors can guide you through every step. To discuss your options, call their admissions office at (718) 276-8100. For more information on this respected vocational school and their professional instructors who share decades of real-life experience with each class, visit their website.