Cardiovascular Technician Career

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What You Do in This Career

Cardiovascular Technicians help cardiologists diagnose and treat heart and blood flow problems, in addition to the everyday tasks of scheduling appointments, reviewing patient files, taking care of testing equipment, and communicating with patients. Technicians can specialize in invasive cardiology, non-invasive cardiology, or vascular technology, as well as electrocardiograms and stress testing (which is fun because you get to make people run on treadmills). Invasive cardiology involves procedures like threading a catheter through an artery from the groin to the heart to see whether blood vessels are being blocked. If you think that’s icky, you’d best stick with the stress testing, or other non-invasive specialties like echocardiography, vascular technology, or sonography which uses sound waves to detect blockages and assess heart health.

Salary and Career Path

Cardiovascular technicians make good money. The average annual income was $47,000 in 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned under $25,500, and the highest earned over $74,760. Technicians who are trained to perform a range of procedures and who hold multiple credentials will have an easier time finding jobs and earn higher pay. With the aging population and the prevalence of heart disease, this career is expected to grow, especially in the non-invasive areas as technology improves. Ultrasound technicians, like cardiac sonographers or vascular sonographers, will also be in high demand for the same reason, and there is much crossover between the two disciplines.

What Kind of Degree or Coursework You Need

Cardiovascular technicians require at least an AA degree in a subject such as allied health, healthcare, or medical assisting, in addition to professional credentials and on the job training. Four year programs are becoming more common, which include core courses first and then instruction in the student’s chosen specialty. EKG technicians, often nurses who were trained on the job, can enroll in 2-year programs to become technologists, and there are also 1-year certification programs for EKGs, Holter monitoring, and stress testing.

Top Online Health Services Programs

There are multiple educational paths that can be taken to become an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer. The schools below do not offer ultrasound-specific training, but they do offer medical assisting and other healthcare programs closely related to sonography. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

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DeVry University
AS in Health IT
 		DeVry University — Although DeVry University's online associate's degree in health information technology program is not specifically an ultrasound training program, it does prepare students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more.
Virginia College Online
BS in Health Services Mgmt
 		Virginia College Online — If you want to complete a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for management, then apply for Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration. The tuition for each program includes the cost of every textbook for every course. After earning this degree, additional training may be required to become an ultrasound technician.
Herzing University
AS in Medical Assisting
 		Herzing University — The AS in medical assisting degree program from Herzing University is not an ultrasound training program, but it does present students with an introduction to a physician's office, and can help lead to careers in sonography. Students learn how to assist doctors and nurses in the exam room as well as perform routine medical laboratory procedures.
Hodges University
AS in Health Info Mgmt
AS in Health Admin
 		Hodges University — Hodges University's AS in Health Information Technology and AS in Health Administration programs, while not purely an ultrasound training program, do teach students how to use the latest information technology to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Health information technology allows medical offices to collect and analyze data from patients and doctors, a vital part of the medical process. Students learn to manage patient health information, medical records, administer computer information systems, and code diagnoses and procedures.
Lincoln College
AAS in Health IT
 		Lincoln College — The AAS in Health IT degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the ins and outs of technological-related medical work such as data tracking, organizing, and recorded. This degree is useful for anyone wishing to advance in his/her career within a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, ultrasound clinics, physician offices, and more. Additional training is required before becoming an ultrasound technician.

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DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. Program availability varies by location.

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