Overview of How to Become a Cardiovascular Technician
Career News October 28, 2015If you have ever dreamt of becoming a cardiovascular technician, learn about the education details required, important skills required and the amount of money a cardiovascular technician is paid. Also, learn if there is any licensing requirements before joining this career plus special skills that would enhance your chances of getting employed.
Cardiovascular Technicians Career Overview
First of all, cardiovascular technicians really work a lot. Their schedule is usually more than 40 hours a week, which may include working odd hours, working on weekends and holidays and sometimes having to respond to emergency calls. Now, if that scares you, then this is not your career.
Who is a cardiovascular technician? A cardiovascular technician is someone who uses instruments to diagnose and treat conditions relating to the heart. As a fresh technician, you are only allowed to perform tasks such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), setting up stress tests or doing Holter monitoring. Once you’ve gain some experience, you can use sonography, perform more advanced diagnostic activities and even to non-invasive procedures.
Education Details for Cardiovascular Technicians
Although Bachelor’s degrees in this field are becoming increasingly popular, most people get their skills by completing associate’s degrees in colleges and Universities. The first year in college is typically theory oriented with students learning in broad about anatomy, instrumentation and work ethics. The second year on the other hand is usually more practical oriented, with students learning how to perform procedures under instructions. A lot of cardiac technicians also get on the job training, which is of great advantage to them.
Licensing and getting Certified to become a Cardiovascular Technician
The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is one of the two legal authorities that can give licensure to a cardiovascular technician. The other body is the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). Additionally, you should also check with your state if a State license is required before you can start looking for a job.
Important Skills for Cardiovascular Technicians
Good communication skills are tremendously important for cardiovascular technicians. Sometimes you might find extremely nervous patients, some can even be shocked or scared by the procedure that they are about to undergo, and it is your job to calm them down before the procedure can begin.
Job Opportunities and Salary Information for Cardiovascular Technician
As more people age and become prone to acquiring heart diseases, jobs for cardiovascular technicians will continue to grow. The growth is quite high, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting an annual growth rate of 30% within the next seven years. Finally, the expected salary for a cardiovascular technician is around $52,000 per year.
Alternative Career Opportunities
Diagnostic medical sonographer
This job can be very appealing to you if you admire technology used in the healthcare field. If you were to join this career, your work would involve using high frequency tools to produce images that doctors can use when making diagnoses to patients. Salary expected in this career is around $65,000 and you only need an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree to get licensed.
