How To Become an EKG Technician
The Definitive Career Guide

What is an EKG Technician?

As an EKG Technician, you will listen to people’s heartbeats and record them over a period of time.

Hooking up the EKG machine is part of the job, and this machine measures the electrical activity in the patient’s heart.

An EKG Technician will listen to your heartbeat, record your heartbeat, and then decipher the meaning behind your heartbeats and any anomalies.

After inspection, the EKG Technician takes the report to the doctor who will then discuss it with the patient.

To be great at this job you must be willing to work with all types of people and have a solid knowledge of the medical field.

Duties

Salary

The average salary for an EKG Technician that works in the United States is around $60,570 a year.

Many EKG Technicians can make even more than that, over $98,070.

This can be done by earning certification, expanding your education, and possibly even going into specializations within the EKG community.

For EKG Technicians who are just beginning their career, $29,910 is a more likely salary.

People who work in larger populations will likely have higher salaries than those who work in small towns.

For example, EKG Technicians working in California can expect to make $76,000 a year, while EKG Technicians in Arkansas make $61,000 a year on average.

• Annually
• Monthly
• Hourly

How to Become an EKG Technician

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Education

To obtain a career as an EKG Technician, you do not legally have to have a degree.

However, most employers require at least some type of education.

Many would agree that an Associate’s degree in cardiovascular technology is a good fit for this career.

On average, an Associate’s degree takes about two years to complete.

Within a cardiovascular technology program, you’ll learn many things about ultrasound technology and the cardiovascular system.

There will be many times where you will have to put your knowledge to practical use, and you’ll also take many classes on subjects like:

• Anatomy
• Pharmacology
• Cardiovascular technology practice
• Pathophysiology
• Clinical skills

It’s possible to earn an Associate’s degree as an EKG Technician online, but make sure that you also receive hands-on experience in the field while taking classes.

Earning an Associate’s degree will provide the chance to work in entry-level jobs in the medical field.

Having a Bachelor’s degree can heighten your chance of promotion, into more management types of roles in the cardiovascular field.

A Bachelor’s degree in cardiopulmonary science takes about four years to finish, however it’s possible that some of the Associate’s degree credits could transfer, making your education take less time.

This degree will take you deeper into the world of cardiovascular science, and explore topics such as:

• Patient Management
• Legal and Ethical Aspects of Healthcare
• Leadership
• Community Health
• Diagnosis and Intervention

After earning a Bachelor’s degree, there are so many career opportunities.

Some of them need further certification, but you could find your niche as a:

• Respiratory Therapist
• Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist
• Vascular Technologist
• Echocardiographer

The type of career you are looking for will decide which education level you need.

While gaining an education, it’s crucial to have hands-on experience as well.

You can do this by shadowing other EKG Technicians in order to see how they work and what the correct procedures are.

It’s possible to gain experience by volunteering in clinics or hospitals in your community.

The important part is to become as expert as you can in your field of interest.

Video About The Career

Certification

Certification is a great way to show an employer and patients that you know what you are doing as an EKG Technician.

Even though this isn’t a legal requirement, it’s still something that you should consider if you want to work in this profession.

There are several associations that provide certification for EKG Technicians.

The three biggest ones are:

• The National Health Career Association
• The American Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals
• The American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians

The Certified EKG Technician from the Health Career Association certificate has one specific requirement, applicants must have completed education in the field within the last five years.

In order to obtain this certification, you must take an exam that costs $117.

This exam takes about three hours to finish and consists of multiple-choice questions.

Some of the areas to focus on for the exam include:

• Safety Compliance and Coordinated Patient Care
• EKG Acquisition
• EKG Analysis and Interpretation

You can expect to get your results in the mail between 6 to 8 weeks after taking the exam.

For the Certified EKG Technician certification from the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians, (yes, it has the same name), you will need to have the following requirements:

• Be a current ASPT member
• Have proof of 5 documented EKGs by a supervisor
• Be a graduate of an accredited program

This exam costs $60 to apply for, and testing sites can be found across the United States, check your local hospital or community college.

For the other certification, the Certified ECG Technician from the American Certification Agency of Healthcare Professionals, you must have:

• At least six months of EKG recording experience
• Successful completion of an EKG program

This exam is given online through the ACAHP website, and more information about how to obtain this certification can be found there as well.

Certification Example:

Average Training Program Duration: 1-2 Years

Training to become an EKG Technician can take as little as six months, but be wary of short programs because they often don’t give out the education needed to begin an entry-level career.

Instead, opt for programs that are a year or longer, and that offer clinicals to get some hands-on experience in the field of EKG technology.

Those who are serious about becoming EKG Technicians will earn an Associate’s degree, this can typically take around two years to complete.

Certifications can take from six weeks to several months, depending on the certification.

Job Outlook

The career of an EKG Technician will be on the rise over the next ten years at a rate of about 5 percent.

Compared to other careers in the medical field, an EKG Technician should expect the most job opportunities.

This is due to the necessity of medical attention for the aging baby boomer generation.

As this generation ages, they will also retire which will provide more job opportunities for new EKG Technicians.

Those that have certifications or work in a specialized niche as an EKG Technician will likely find more career opportunities.

With advancements in machinery, more employers are requiring that EKG Technicians have advanced education in the field of technology as well.

Employment Growth Projection: 8%

That's a higher than average projected growth of 4,800

Should You Become an EKG Technician?

Overall Satisfaction: High

Most EKG Technicians love their careers, the only downfall is that there aren’t many opportunities for advancement.

This career is fast-paced, bet less stressful than most medical careers.

It doesn’t take too long to become an EKG Technician, only around two years, and can have great benefits as well as a good salary.

Those who gain more education will likely have more job prospects in this career, as well as opportunities for raises and promotions over those with no certifications.

The hours are decent and depending on the type of facility that you work in, you may not work forty hours a week.

This is good for some and hard for others, but this job can be very lucrative in the long run.

Average Salary: High

Most EKG Technicians in the United States make around $60,570 a year.

After several years of experience and earning certifications, many EKG Technicians can make over $98,070 in some areas.

Being specialized in a specific type of EKG can also provide a higher wage.

There are some EKG Technicians that are new to the career and should expect to make a salary closer to $29,910 a year to begin.

Working in a larger hospital or in an area with a higher population can lead to bigger salaries as well.

Job Growth Outlook: High

Having a career as an EKG Technician can be incredible, and it looks as if this career is on the rise.

Over the next decade, the job opportunities for EKG Technicians should grow by about 8 percent.

This is much higher than many other careers in the medical field.

There has been a bigger need for EKG Technicians over the last several years, and that will continue to grow due to the aging baby boomers.

As this generation gets older, they will need more medical care.

The rise in technology has also helped those who desire to work as an EKG Technician.

Education Duration: 1-2 Years

The duration of your education to become an EKG Technician depends on the facility that you want to work for.

Your employer can tell you whether they’d like you to earn an Associate’s degree or even just a certificate from a local community college.

If you require an Associate’s degree, this can take about two years to complete for full-time students.

However, there are many certification programs with varying lengths-from 6 weeks to 6 months or even a year.

Personal Skills Needed

Working as an EKG Technician can be difficult for those who don’t have knowledge in the medical field, but it’s important to have other characteristics as well.

In order to have a successful career as an EKG Technician, you should have:

• Physical stamina
• Understanding of EKG technology
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Compassion and empathy
• Interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Great observation skills
• Ability to work alone and with others
• Good bedside manner

Having a caring heart and a desire to help others will get you far in this career.

EKG Technician Info by State

EKG Technician Resources

• 14 Pros and Cons of Being an EKG Technician
• 19 Reasons to Become an EKG Technician
• 4 Easy Ways to Find EKG Classes, Training, and Learning Resources
• 7 Key Skills Every EKG Technician Should Have
• Echocardiogram Cost: How Much Will It Cost You?
• Echocardiography and Electrocardiograph Technician Jobs
• EKG Certification
• How Much Does an EKG Technician Make an Hour?
• How Much Does EKG Technician School Cost?
• National EKG Certification Exam
• Online EKG Schools and Colleges
• Telemetry Certification
• Telemetry Technician Job Description
• Telemetry Technicians vs. EKG Technicians
• What is an EKG Technician?

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