Technicians who perform electrocardiograms, known as EKGs, are expected to be in demand as the population gets older, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most work in hospitals and earn between $29,900 and $55,670 a year.
Although most EKG technicians working today were trained on the job, two-year programs are becoming the more frequent path to this career, according to the Society for Vascular Ultrasound. Employers are beginning to prefer two-year and four-year programs at community colleges and universities. Typically, people with health-care experience working as nurse aides, paramedics or other similar jobs are chosen for the hospital training programs that are available.
Instructions
Training
1. Expect to take at least a year of preparatory courses in human anatomy and other core science coursework in a training program. Taking science and math courses--particular advanced biology courses--in high school will prepare your for this work.
2. When selecting a two- or four-year program, look for one that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU). Many of these programs are part of an allied health department at medical schools, community colleges or hospital-based colleges.
3. To find a program in your state, contact CAAHEP at (727) 210-2350 or go online at www.caahep.org. You can also contact the SVU at (301) 459-7550 or go online at www.svunet.org. Another organization that could help is the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, which can be reached at (301) 738-8401 or online at www.ardms.org.
Tags: community colleges, Society Vascular, Society Vascular Ultrasound, Vascular Ultrasound
