Cardiovascular Technician Schools

Schools by State
for Cardiovascular Techs:

AR AZ CA CT DE FL GA IA IL KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MS NC NE NJ NY OH ON PA SC SD TN TX VA WA WI

Career Highlights for
Cardiovascular Techs

Training generally required for this career includes: Associate degree.

Jobs and Salary
Median Salary (2008)	$47,010
Unemployment Vs. Other Jobs	Very Low
Jobs (2006)	45,000
Job Growth (2006-2016)	25.5%
Jobs (2016 forecast)	57,000

Flexibility
Working Part-Time	17%
Self-Employed	1%

Education of Current Workers
Bachelor Degree or Higher	25%
Some College	68%
High School or Less	7%

Relevant Job Titles

(Supplied by experts and industry contributors for this career category)

ARRT Technologist (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Technologist)
Cardiac Catherization Laboratory Technologist
Cardiac Catheterization Special Procedures Technologist
Cardiac Catheterization Technician
Cardiac Catheterization Technologist
Cardiac Monitor Technician
Cardiac Technician
Cardiograph Operator
Cardiographer
Cardiology Technician
Cardiology Technologist
Cardiopulmonary Technician
Cardiopulmonary Technologist
Cardiovascular Interventional Technologist
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist
Cardiovascular Radiologic Technologist
Cardiovascular Sonographer
Cardiovascular Technician
Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT)
Cardiovascular Ultrasound Sonographer
CATH Lab Radiological Technologist (Catheterization Laboratory Radiological Technologist)
Cath Lab RN (Catheterization Laboratory Registered Nurse)
Cath Lab Specialist (Catheterization Laboratory Specialist)
Cath Lab Tech (Catheterization Laboratory Technologist)
Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT)
Certified Cardiology Technologist (CCT)
Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT)
Computed Tomography Technologist (CTT)
Diagnostic Ultrasound Technician
Echo Tech (Echocardiography Technician)
Echo/Vascular Tech (Echocardiology/Vascular Technician)
Echocardiogram Technician
Echocardiograph Technician
Echocardiographer
Echocardiographic Technologist
Echocardiology Technologist
EEG Technician (Electroencephalogram Technician)
EKG/ECG Technician (Electrocardiogram Technician)
Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Technician)
Electrocardiograph Operator
Electrocardiograph Technician
Electrocardiographic Technician
Holter Scanning Technician
Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist
Perfusionist
Pulmonary Function Technician
Pulmonary Function Technologist
Radiographer
Radiological Technologist
Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS)
Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT)
Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Sonogram Technician
Sonography Technician
Special Procedures Radiological Technologist
Stress Test Technician
Telemetry Technician
Vascular Technician
Vascular Technologist
X-Ray Technologist

Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Cardiovascular Technician Job Description

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

Cardiovascular technicians are trained to assist doctors in diagnosing and treating heart and vascular conditions. Also called cardiovascular technologists, these allied health professionals use technology to record images, measure electrical function, check for blood vessel blockages, measure pulses and perform other procedures. They may specialize in one or more of three areas: invasive cardiology, vascular technology and echocardiography.

The general responsibilities of cardiovascular technicians and technologists include:

Scheduling appointments and explaining procedures to patients and loved ones
Reviewing medical records
Analyzing and documenting test results
Maintaining and preparing equipment
Preparing patients for and conducting ultrasounds and other cardiovascular procedures
Monitoring patients' heart rates

In addition to their general responsibilities, cardiovascular technicians who specialize in invasive cardiology assist physicians in performing cardiac catheterization procedures, balloon angioplasties, and the insertion of stents and pacemakers. They use EKG equipment to monitor patients during these procedures.

Cardiovascular technicians and technologists who specialize in vascular technology and echocardiography use non-invasive methods when assisting doctors in diagnosing and treating patients. Vascular technologists use ultrasound and other technologies to assess blood flow through veins and arteries, check pulses and circulation, and measure oxygen saturation -- often during or immediately after surgery. Electrocardiograph (EKG) technicians use technology to monitor electrical impulses happening in patients' hearts while in surgery, at medical appointments, during exercise or while conducting daily activities.

About 70 percent of cardiovascular technicians and technologists work in hospitals, while the rest work in doctor's offices.

Cardiovascular Technician Degrees and Cardiovascular Technician Schools

Most cardiovascular technicians and technologists have completed a minimum of a two-year degree program through a community college, vocational school or university. Bachelor's degree programs are becoming more common.

Graduation from accredited programs assured eligibility for professional certification. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Professionals (CAAHEP) accredits programs in cardiovascular technology. Those who wish to specialize in echocardiography or vascular technology should attend programs accredited in diagnostic medical sonography as well.

EKG technicians are usually medical professionals already who are trained on the job, although there are one-year certification programs available.

Cardiovascular Technician Classes

Coursework in two-year programs for cardiovascular technicians usually includes:

Electrocardiology, echocardiography, electrocardiography, ultrasound and cardiac Doppler
Color flow studies utilizing color flow equipment as well as other types of echocardiography equipment
Holter monitoring and exercise stress testing one year of core courses
Invasive testing procedures
Recognition of and intervention in lethal arrhythmias
Interventional procedures such as stents, angioplasty and intra-aortic balloon pumps
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Cardiac electrophysiology and pacemakers
Principles of blood supply in extremities and vital organs, and the nature of obstructions
A year of instruction according to selected area of specialty

Supervised clinical experience through internships or externships is a key component in these educational programs.

Online Cardiovascular Technician Classes and Programs

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Professionals (CAAHEP), which accredits educational programs for cardiovascular technicians and technologists, has not yet accredited any online or distance-learning programs. Therefore, it is important to verify that training from an online program will meet the qualifications for professional certification. Online programs may not offer the same type of practical experience opportunities that are coordinated by most on-campus programs.

Online programs should also be accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Cardiovascular Technician Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is required for admission into educational programs in cardiovascular technology. In addition, programs may require previous allied health training or certification and work experience in a health-related field.

Some states require licensure, and as part of that requirement, certification through the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) and/or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). These organizations offer certification in several different areas of specialization, and require that applicants have graduated from a CAAHEP-accredited program. Employers prefer candidates who are appropriately certified, whether or not it is required by the state.

How to Evaluate Cardiovascular Technician Schools

When comparing two to four year programs for a degree as cardiovascular technician or technologist, consider asking the following questions:

Admission requirements - Does the program prefer applicants with previous experience in a medical field? Is a high-school diploma or equivalent required? Are there prerequisite courses?
Reputation and focus - Are the school and program ranked nationally? What specialty areas are emphasized in the coursework?
Accreditation and location - Is the program accredited through the CAAHEP? Is the school located in a state where the student plans to live and work after graduation? This can be advantageous when exploring job opportunities through the school.
Tuition and financial aid - Does the school provide substantial support in identifying financial aid options such as grants, scholarships and student loans?
Class structure and practical experience - Are classes small enough for optimal learning? Are courses hard to get into? Does the program require extensive supervised practical experience?
Graduate success - How many students over the previous several years obtained certification after graduating? What percentage of internships turned into employment?

Relevant Schools That Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site

School names link to detailed profiles. Use the Info from the School link to contact the school directly for more information. You may request information from as many schools as you like.

School	Campuses	Awards	Info
CDM Institute	NJ	Certificate	Info From School
Everest College	ON	Diploma	Info From School
Harris School of Business	NJ	Certificate	Info From School
Kaplan College	CA	Diploma	Info From School
Miller-Motte Technical College	VA, TN	Associate	Info From School
Sanford-Brown Institute	MD, NY, FL, TX	Associate, Certificate	Info From School
Spencerian College	KY	Associate	Info From School

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