A cath lab technician almost always holds an associate's or baccalaureate degree. Initially, many techs enter the field with a two-year community or technical college degree and then complete a bachelor's degree program in a specialization. While an EKG tech may require only eight to 16 weeks of training, sometimes on the job, work in a cauterization lab usually calls for more extensive training.
Spokane Community College established a model curriculum that includes 750 hours of instruction and formal clinical training plus 1,000 hours of clinical experience and hands-on training. Some programs also require 990 hours in a basic cardiovascular technician program and 345 hours in general education classes. This associate's degree may take three or more years to complete.
The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center offers a bachelor's degree in cardiopulmonary science that expands the cath lab technician's training to encompass diagnostic testing, working with advanced technologies and working with cardiac patients beyond the lab.