• Work in hospital cardiology departments, cardiologist or other physician offices, cardiac rehab centers, ambulatory surgery centers
• Perform established cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic procedures at the request or direction of a physician.
• Cardiographic technicians specialize in electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing and Holter monitors.
• Noninvasive cardiovascular technologists, under direction or prescription of a qualified physician, uses specific equipment to perform procedures leading to the diagnosis of congenital heart disease, acquired heart disease, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease.  Highly skilled and trained in echocardiography or cardiovascular sonography and the use of ultrasound instrumentation to examine the heart chambers, valves and vessels.
• Invasive cardiovascular technologist is highly skilled and trained in all aspects of diagnostic and interventional cardiovascular procedures, assisting with cardiac catheterization and balloon angioplasty; may also prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and pacemaker implantation.

Education/Training

• Challenging high school courses emphasizing math, science and English.
• EKG technicians are trained on the job by an EKG supervisor or cardiologist.  On-the-job training takes four to six weeks for the basic EKG.  Training for specialized EKG testing, stress testing and Holter monitor involves study of cardiovascular anatomy and physiology and can last 18 months to two years.
• Cardiovascular technologists usually receive their training in two- or four-year college programs and receive either an associate of science or bachelor of science degree.  Noninvasive cardiovascular technologists may be credentialed as Registered Cardiovascular Technologists (RCS), and invasive cardiovascular techs are certified as Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialists (RCIS).

Salary

• Range, including both basic EKG technicians and specialized technologists, $19,540 - $52,930.

More Information

• Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals
  4456 Corporation Lane, Suite 165
  Virginia Beach, VA 23462
  http://acp-online.org
  

• American Society of Echocardiography
  4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 201
  Raleigh, NC 27607
  http://www.asecho.org
  

• Cardiovascular Credentialing International
  4456 Corporation Lane, Suite 120
  Virginia Beach, VA 23462
  http://www.cci-online.org