Certified EKG Technician (Voucher Included)
Certified EKG Technician
Prepare for a career as an EKG technician. This asynchronous course will train you to work as an EKG tech and prepare you for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) nationally recognized Certified EKG Technician (CET) certification exam.
Become a Certified EKG Technician Online
Electrocardiography (EKG) technicians are vital members of any healthcare team. If you want to join the booming healthcare industry as an EKG tech, this in-depth EKG technician certification course will train you on key concepts and prepare you for career success. You will learn to apply, monitor, and measure electrocardiography tests in a flexible, online learning environment.
As you progress through this EKG technician course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to earn a nationally recognized EKG technician certification, which includes measuring basic vital signs, performing rapid response procedures, operating an EKG machine, and identifying rhythms. As you prepare for your EKG technician certification, you will get solid introduction to key medical terminology, including the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune systems, and other important health systems you will need to know as an EKG technician. Students with prior knowledge can optionally test out by achieving a minimum score of 80%, replacing course content if desired. It is important to understand that this course feature only applies to the online Medical Terminology course.
Upon completion of this EKG technician course, you will be prepared to take the Certified EKG Technician (CET), provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You will also receive a voucher for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) certification exam. The voucher is prepaid access to sit for the certifying exam upon eligibility.
This EKG technician certification course also includes an opportunity to apply to participate in a clinical experience.
Disclaimer: To qualify for the clinical experience application process, students must successfully complete the online course and ensure their account balances are current (at a minimum). It is important to note that ed2go cannot guarantee placement at any clinical site, and students must take full responsibility for fulfilling their clinical requirements. However, our affiliated partnerships can increase the likelihood of finding a site that matches student needs. Students can begin researching the steps of the application process two weeks before completing courses.
Funding Disclaimer: For Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded students, please consult with your funding source representative before taking advantage of this course’s test-out feature. Different funding programs may have specific requirements and/or restrictions. If you attempt the test-out feature(s) in the Medical Terminology course without getting approval, your funding benefits may be jeopardized.
What you will learn
- Discover concepts of cardiac anatomy and physiology, infection control, and standard precautions appropriate to the role of an EKG technician
- Understand proper machine protocols and maintenance
- Review electrocardiography interpretation of various types of EKGs
- Gain proper communication methods within clinical scenarios
How you will benefit
- Learn the theoretical knowledge of an EKG technician
- Become prepared to take the CET certification from NHA and be provided with an exam voucher after completing the EKG technician course
- Obtain assistance from our Clinical Experience team and access to our Clinical Experience Guide
Syllabus
Medical Terminology
- Getting Started
- How to Take This Course
- Test-Out Exam 1: Lessons 1–Midterm Exam
- Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body in Health and Disease
- The Musculoskeletal System
- The Cardiovascular System
- The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
- The Respiratory System
- The Digestive System
- The Urinary System
- Midterm
- Test-Out Exam 2: Lessons 8–Final Exam
- The Nervous System
- Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
- The Integumentary System
- The Endocrine System
- Mental Health
- Male and Female Reproductive Systems
- Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine
- Final Exam
EKG Technician
- Introduction: EKG Technician
- Ethics, Compliance, and Communication
- Safety and Patient Care
- Patient Vital Signs
- Electronic Medical Records
- Human Anatomy and Physiology of the Cardiovascular System
- EKG Equipment Settings and Supplies; Maintenance and Disinfection
- Patient Preparation and Positioning
- Lead Placement and Artifacts
- Monitoring Patient Condition, Adverse Reactions, and Emergencies
- Fundamentals of EKG Analysis: EKG Tracing and Waveforms
- Waveform Symmetry, Direction and Amplitude
- EKG Analysis: Heart Rate Calculation
- EKG Analysis: Determining the Heart Rhythm
- Heart Electrical Physiology
- EKG Interpretation: Sinus and Atrial Arrhythmias
- Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias, Heart Blocks
- EKG Interpretation: Pacemakers
- EKG Interpretation: Cardiac Emergencies
- The Way Forward: NHA Test Preparation and Career Path
Requirements
Hardware Requirements:
This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 10 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.11 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Microsoft Word Online
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment.
The following digital textbook for the Medical Terminology course is accessed via links in the course lessons:
- Comprehensive Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 1st Edition (eBook)
The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the Certified EKG Technician course:
- ECG: Essentials of Electrocardiography, 1st Edition, by Cathy Soto
Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.
Prerequisites:
To be eligible for enrollment you should have one of the following: High School Diploma, GED or equivalent, or previous healthcare experience.
Certification Requirements:
To qualify for the NHA CET certification, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent, successfully complete the course, and you must provide proof of 10 successfully performed EKGs on live individuals.
State Requirements:
This course meets all state requirements. Certification exams offered by NHA are only available online to candidates located in the US.
Instructor
Rox Ann Sparks
Rox Ann Sparks, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CMHIMP, LNC, is an experienced nurse who has cared for patients and students in nearly every healthcare setting, with 35 years of practice in emergency medicine. Her nursing career has led her from obtaining her CNA, LVN, RN, and MSN to a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).
Dr. Sparks has experience in being a floor nurse to a chair of nursing. She has developed many different healthcare programs, from PCT to BSN. She has also consulted in accreditation for nursing programs and presented numerous educational programs from natural health to chronic diseases. These experiences led her to become a Certified Nurse Educator.
Dr. Sparks is currently the CEO of Sparks Nursing Consulting, which helps patients become healthier by coaching them to better health. She works with multiple law firms on the defense of nursing standards. She also developed an RN NCLEX review book and app to use the questions and multiple online courses for nurses and healthcare support staff.
Alexis M. Ramirez
Alexis M Ramirez, DNP, MSN, NPD-BC, CCRN has worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) for many years in cardiovascular critical care as well as taught in the acute care and academic settings. In addition to serving the community through care delivery, she has trained Patient Care Assistants, Monitor Technicians, Licensed Vocational Nurses, and Registered Nurses throughout her career.
Dr. Ramirez completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from California State University, Fresno in 2021. She completed her master's in nursing education from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2014. She is board certified in Nursing Professional Development and as a Critical Care Nurse.
Gail Hubbard
Gail Hubbard, MSN, RN, RMA, has worked in the medical field for more than 30 years. Before earning her RN, she worked as a medical records technician, administrative and clinical medical assistant, EKG technician, and billing and coding specialist.
As an RN, Gail has worked in ICU/Stepdown, psychiatric mental health nursing, ambulatory surgery, infection control, and staff development. Gail has over ten years of experience teaching medical assisting, nursing, nurse assistant, EKG, and phlebotomy. After completing her master's degree in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University, Gail was the Nurse/Quality Improvement Manager for a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center.
Medical Terminology Instructors
Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See here for a full list of these instructors.
FAQs
How much does an EKG technician make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the average annual EKG technician salary in the U.S. is $ 70,270 as of May 2024. Compensation can vary depending on education, certifications, additional skills, and/or the number of years you have spent in your profession.
What is an EKG technician?
According to zippia.com, as an EKG technician, you operate advanced equipment and machines to diagnose and identify patients' conditions with cardiovascular problems. Once the results of the EKG are in, these technicians endorse the results to the physicians assigned to the patient. EKG technicians are neither doctors nor are they expected to be medically trained.
What does an EKG technician do?
EKG technicians typically work in hospital settings, outpatient clinics, diagnostic testing centers, labs, nursing and long-term care homes, and private physicians' practices. EKG technicians generally perform the following duties:
- Position patients correctly for monitoring
- Educate patients about the testing procedures
- Run EKGs and attach leads to patients, chest, arms, and legs
- Perform stress tests
- Prep patients for Holter monitoring (a type of ambulatory EKG device)
- Obtain a baseline record of the heart's function for comparison to future electrocardiograms
- Deliver test results to physicians, nurse practitioners, or other medical professionals.
- Perform administrative tasks related to patient appointments and record-keeping
- Maintain EKG equipment
- Schedule appointments
- Assist physicians during procedures
What certification does this course prepare me for?
The Certified EKG Technician (CET), provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Does this course prepare you for a certification?
Yes, upon successful completion of the EKG technician course, you will have the foundational knowledge required for national certification through the NHA. To qualify for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) full certification, Certified EKG Technician (CET), you may utilize the included Clinical Experience Guide to achieve the clinical requirements (10 EKGs on live humans). Additionally, in order to qualify for the certification exam, a High School Diploma, or equivalent is required.
Note: It is the responsibility of each student to obtain the Live EKG experience and ed2go is not responsible for providing or assisting with the required clinicals.
Can I test-out of medical terminology content if I have previous knowledge of medical terminology?
Yes. This course includes two, optional, Test-Out Exam features that will allow you to test out of content and graded assessments if your score demonstrates the level of mastery required (80%). It does not count toward your overall score in this course if you do not achieve the minimum score required for mastery. Please note: Third party funded students may not be eligible.
When can I start this course?
This EKG technician course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
How long does it take to complete this course?
After you register, you will receive 12 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.
What if I don't have enough time to complete the course within the time frame provided?
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
What kind of support will I receive?
Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.
What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.
Am I guaranteed a job?
ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.
Can I get financial assistance?
ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.
How can I get more information about this course?
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."