Top 10 EKG Technician Certification Programs
Expert review by:Looking to earn your EKG technician certification? Heart disease is a growing global concern, with coronary artery disease affecting 20 million adults in the United States alone. This has increased the demand for skilled professionals who specialize in heart health. Among them are EKG technicians, who play a critical role in diagnosing and treating heart conditions.
With the increasing demand for EKG technicians, there is also a growing need for quality EKG training programs. In this article, we've researched the top 10 certified EKG technician certification programs to help you achieve your goals. Read on to explore the features and benefits of each program and learn which one is right for you.
We Found The Following Schools with Online EKG Technician Programs
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What is an EKG Technician?
EKG technicians can work in hospitals, private physician’s offices, outpatient clinics, and laboratories. They are responsible for operating and reading EKGs. These pieces of equipment track the electrical impulses in the heart.
Supervised by physicians, the EKG tech monitors and performs diagnostic tests using the machine. They provide invaluable information to identify abnormalities in patient's heart rhythms and other heart conditions.
What is an EKG Technician Certification?
Aspiring EKG techs can learn on the job, but many employers prefer employees with EKG technician certifications. EKG technicians perform vital services, but their training programs are relatively quick. You can earn a certification from an accredited EKG technician certification program and pass the certifying exam. Students can often get into a certification program with minimal requirements, as many only require students to have a high school degree.
How Long is EKG Technician Training?
EKG technician certification programs often take less than one year to complete and can also include medical assistant training.
Fast Facts About EKG Techs |
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Salary |
$49,724 a year or $24 an hour (ZipRecruiter) |
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Program length |
3-6 months |
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Requirements |
High school diploma or GED equivalent |
Top 10 EKG Technician Certification Programs
There are many variables in what EKG tech programs teach and how their content is delivered. In assessing these programs, we considered cost, length of the program, and reputation. We also assessed whether the school was limited to EKG training, prioritizing programs that offered diversified training in marketable healthcare skills.
1. Loyola Marymount University – Los Angeles, California
Loyola Marymount’s EKG technician training is part of LMU Extension, a division dedicated to providing adult learners with education opportunities. The course provides training in applying, monitoring, and measuring electrocardiography tests in a flexible, online learning environment.
Graduates from this program may take the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) certified EKG technician exam. They may also complete the American Education Certification Association (AECA) certified EKG technician specialist test.
- Tuition: $2,645
- Program length: 10 credits, 100 hours
- Accreditation: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Program contact: Jacqueline Garcia, Certified Postsecondary Professional Instructor
- Phone number: (310) 338-2700
- Online options available? Yes
2. Wake Technical Community College – Raleigh, North Carolina
Wake Technical Community College's EKG technician program is one of the many certification courses offered by the school. During this EKG certification program, students learn:
- Anatomy and physiology of the heart
- Human body's electrical conduction system
- Impact of electrical conduction on heart function
- Patient preparation
- Lead placement
- How to mount/run an EKG strip
Wake Technical Community College students are fully prepared to become certified EKG technicians at the end of the two-month course.
- Tuition: $200
- Program length: Two months
- Accreditation:
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Program Contact: Allied Health Office
- Email: Wcemedicalcertifications@waketech.edu
- Phone number: (919) 747-0140
- Online options available? No
3. Ocean County College – Toms River, NJ
Ocean County College's EKG tech program educates students on:
- Cardiac anatomy and physiology
- Electrode application
- EKG machine operation
- EKG strip elements
At the end of the course, graduates take the NHA's certification exam. The program also awards students three college credits to put toward a general education associate's degree if they wish.
- Tuition: $649
- Program length: Three months
- Accreditation: NHA
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Program contact: Workforce and Professional Education Department
- Email: Wpeinfo@ocean.edu
- Phone number: (732) 255-0409
- Online options available? No
We Found The Following Schools with Online EKG Technician Programs
4. North Shore Community College – Danvers, MA
North Shore Community College's 50-hour EKG technician classes educate students in EKG fundamentals. The coursework contains information about heart anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and disease processes. It also covers the ethics and legal implications of stress testing and electrocardiography.
At the end of this program, students may earn their credentials with the Workforce Career Association's certified electrocardiograph technician exam. They may also take the NHA EKG tech certification test.
- Tuition: $999
- Program length: 50 hours
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Accuplacer Placement Exam (encouraged)
- Program contact: Professional Education Division
- Email: Professional@northshore.edu
- Phone number: (978) 236-1200
- Online options available? No
5. Community College of Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA
Asynchronous online courses comprise Community College of Philadelphia’s EKG Tech program. These courses focus on basic electrophysiologic principles. Students will learn about the proper placement of leads, EKG rhythm strip analysis, and the EKG machine's technical aspects.
CCP's EKG certification program also helps students create a professional network. Throughout the course, they become eligible for externship programs at local agencies to help foster post-graduation job opportunities.
- Tuition: $1,299
- Program length: Six months maximum
- Accreditation: NHA
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements: High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Program contact: Corporate Solutions Office
- Email: Csinquiry@ccp.edu
- Phone number: (215) 496-6000
- Online options available? Yes
6. San Francisco State University – San Francisco, CA
The College of Professional and Global Education provides EKG technician classes at San Fransisco State University. Throughout the course, students learn fundamental aspects of EKG technician duties, like:
- Heart anatomy and physiology
- Medical disease processes
- Medical terminology
- Ethics
- EKG machine operation
- Lead placement
Available online, these courses offer convenience and flexibility to aspiring EKG technicians.
- Tuition: $1,200
- Program length: 6 months (9 with extension)
- Accreditation: NHA
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements: High school degree or GED equivalent
- Email: Sfsucel@sfcu.edu
- Phone number: (415) 405-7700
- Online options available? Yes
7. Pasadena City College – Pasadena, CA
Pasadena City College's EKG technician program focuses on performing and recording EKG exams in various medical settings. The course includes lectures, on-campus skill labs, and off-campus clinical rotations. Graduates from this course receive a certificate of completion and can take the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) certification exam.
- Tuition: $932
- Program length: One semester
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Application deadline:
- Summer intersession: 20 February
- Fall: 1 July
- Spring: 18 December
- Requirements:
- Must be 18 years or older
- High school diploma, GED, or Foreign Equivalency Report
- Gain admission to Pasadena City College
- Program contact: Health Sciences Division
- Email: Pcchealthsciences@pasadena.edu
- Phone number: (626) 585-3378
- Online options available? No
8. Critical Care Education
Critical Care Education offers an online program that covers the knowledge and skills to become an electrocardiography technician. The program includes key medical and heart health vocabulary, basic anatomy, and EKG machine operation fundamentals. It also teaches students to understand EKG readings and various heart rhythms.
Lectures are available 24 hours a day online to provide maximum flexibility to students. At the program’s end, students will be eligible to take the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or NHA certifying exam.
- Tuition: $600
- Program length: Approximately 6 months
- Accreditation: California Bureau of Registered Nursing
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Internet access
- Email: Admissions@criticalcarehealthservices.org
- Phone number: (888) 225-2086
- Online options available? Yes
9. Saint Peter’s University – Jersey City, NJ
The EKG technician certification program at Saint Peter's University uses coursework and hands-on experience to train aspiring EKG techs. Students learn how to apply, monitor, and measure electrocardiography tests throughout the program. They also have access to the school's externship coordinator and externship starter kit to gain hands-on experience as they learn.
Saint Peter's University offers this course online, allowing students to attend EKG tech classes on a flexible schedule. Upon graduation, they may take the NHA or AECA certifying exam.
- Tuition: $1,995
- Program length: 100 hours, or 6 months
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent OR
- Previous healthcare experience
- Phone number: (877) 221-5151
- Online options available? Yes
10. Central Texas College – Killeen, TX
This course provides 108 hours of accelerated classroom learning emphasizing skills mastery and hands-on practice. The course includes all necessary supplies, study materials, and a certificate of completion.
Central Texas College also offers an additional 48-hour hands-on program for students. This $649 course explores the fundamentals of EKG in the clinical setting.
- Tuition: $766 ($883 with exam)
- Program length: 108 hours
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Competent in basic computer operations
- Internet access
- Access to printer
- Must have an email address
- CPR certification
- Phone number: (954) 526-1586
- Online options available? Yes
We Found The Following Schools with Online EKG Technician Programs
What to Expect From an EKG Certification Program
EKG certification programs are shorter programs in length and only require students to have a high school diploma or GED. Therefore, students who are used to a rigorous courseload may find the programs less strenuous. However, that doesn't mean they're extremely easy - there is a lot of scientific education about the anatomy of the human heart, how it works, and what medical terminology could be used when examining it. A basic understanding of math and science is helpful.
In order to excel in an EKG certification program, students should be able to learn healthcare material, both in book format and hands-on practice. You'll also learn how to perform electrocardiograms in medical facilities. Students shouldn't fear medical settings though, since medical offices and healthcare facilities are the most common places for EKG technicians to work. If you're able to work with people and learn quickly in a hands-on setting, you'll do great in an EKG certification program.
FAQs About EKG Technician Certification Programs
