Individuals who are interested in becoming EKG monitor technicians should complete one-year certificate or two-year associate degree programs in fields such as electrocardiography, cardiac sonography or cardiovascular technology. These programs are available at community colleges as well as vocational/technical schools. The Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology accredits several EKG monitor technician programs, according to Education-Online-Search.com. To get into these programs, students usually need a high school diploma or GED. In addition, students can complete certification programs available at institutions such as the Mayo Clinic or the Cardiotech Ultrasound School. These educational programs last two to six months and feature clinical training along with classroom teaching and video presentations.
Courses in EKG monitor technician training programs cover topics such as instrumentation, computer technology, anatomy, physiology and biology. Students also study patient care and hemodynamics, which is the study of the forces involved in the circulation of the blood. Other classes at schools such as Atlantic Technical Center in Florida or City College of San Francisco in California cover disease states in the cardiovascular system as well as cardiovascular drugs, according to DegreeDirectory.org. Students learn how to operate EKG equipment and perform analysis effectively in addition to learning the structure of the heart and learning how to differentiate normal heart rhythms from arrhythmias.
Completion of an EKG monitor technician training program prepares students to seek certification in this field. Although certification is not a requirement to land an EKG monitor technician job, it is helpful because it makes these professionals more competitive in the job market. In addition, certification gives EKG technicians many critical industry skills. Students can seek certification through Cardiovascular Credentialing International or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Certified professionals also must meet continuing education requirements to maintain certification.
Following EKG monitor technician training, individuals can find work at private and public hospitals, primarily in cardiac care units. In addition, EKG monitor technicians can work at the offices of doctors, which include cardiologists, as well as at medical and diagnostic laboratories, which include diagnostic imaging centers. Many employers provide EKG monitor technicians with on-the-job training for one to two years as well.
Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians, which include EKG monitor technicians, is projected to grow 24 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This can be attributed to the aging population, as the elderly have higher incidence of heart disease and other vascular system complications. Average salaries of EKG monitor technicians in 2010 ranged from $31,000 to $48,000 in various cities, according to SalaryExpert.com.