Top 10 EKG Technician Certification Programs

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 programs to help you achieve your goals. Read on to explore the features and benefits of each program to learn which one is right for you.

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.

How Long is EKG Technician Training? 

Though EKG technicians perform vital services, their training programs are relatively quick. Aspiring EKG techs can learn on the job, but many employers prefer certified EKG technicians. You can earn a certification from an accredited EKG technician program and pass the certifying exam.

These programs often take less than one year to complete and can include medical assistant training. Moreover, you can get into one with few requirements. Many only require students to have a high school degree.

Program Ranking Methodology 

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.

Top 10 EKG Technician Certification Programs 

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:

  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

  • Cardiovascular Credentialing International

• 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 

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

FAQs About EKG Technician Programs

• Is becoming an EKG technician worth it?

  • Earning an EKG technician certification can take two months and cost under $2,000. The certification pays off with EKG technician salary averages of around $48,000 annually plus benefits.

• How long is an EKG technician program? 

  • EKG technician programs can take as little as two months and as long as 10. But on average, they last between three and six months.

• Is becoming an EKG tech hard? 

  • Becoming an EKG tech requires paying attention to the information presented in class. Dedicated students can complete the program and pass the national certification examination.

• Are EKG technicians an in-demand career?

  • Yes - the demand for EKG technicians continues to grow with the threat of heart disease. The BLS predicts EKG jobs will grow by 4% in the next decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

• Is an EKG tech a good career? 

  • EKG techs are in high demand, earn reasonable salaries, and get to practice in various healthcare settings. The flexibility, pay, and job security make EKG technician a good career path for many aspiring healthcare workers.