| Cardiovascular Technicians assist doctors in patient | | | | although four-year programs are increasingly |
| diagnosis and treatment in a cardiology setting. | | | | available. Those who specialize in ultrasound and |
| Some of the functions they perform include | | | | vascular study will need at least a 2-year |
| ultrasound procedures, monitoring of patients' | | | | program. Those specializing in invasive cardiology |
| heart rates, cardiovascular procedures, review of | | | | procedures will need the 2-4 year program, since |
| patient files, explanations of test procedures to | | | | this specialty entails the highest degree of |
| the patient, and operation and care of testing | | | | complexity. Cardiovascular techs who undergo |
| equipment. Cardiovascular technologists may | | | | on-the-job training usually take about 8 to 16 |
| specialize in any of three areas of practice: | | | | weeks to complete their training. Most employers |
| invasive cardiology, echocardiography, or vascular | | | | prefer to train people with at least a minimal |
| technology. Specialists in invasive cardiology assist | | | | degree of experience in a medical setting or who |
| doctors with invasive cardiac procedures such as | | | | are already in the health care field in some |
| heart catheterizations and angioplasty. Specialists | | | | capacity. Some states require cardiovascular |
| in echocardiography render assistance with | | | | techs to be licensed. Those that do mandate |
| non-invasive procedures which do not require the | | | | licensure usually require some combination of |
| insertion of probes or other instruments into the | | | | education, experience, and/or certification for |
| patient's body. Some common examples are | | | | earning a license. Information on a particular |
| ultrasound or echocardiograms, electrocardiograms | | | | state's requirements can be obtained by |
| (EKGs), and stress tests. Specialists in vascular | | | | contacting the state's medical board. The two |
| technology assist physicians in the diagnosis of | | | | principal organizations which offer certifications in |
| disorders affecting circulation and blood flow. | | | | this field are the American Registry of Diagnostic |
| Education, Certification, Licensing | | | | Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) and Cardiovascular |
| Although some cardiovascular techs (most notably | | | | Credentialing International (CCI). Certification is |
| those who focus on administering EKGs) tend to | | | | always beneficial because many employers prefer |
| be trained on the job, most receive training in 1- | | | | to hire certified cardiovascular techs even in those |
| to 4-year programs. Two-year programs offered | | | | states that do not require certification for |
| by junior or community colleges are most popular, | | | | licensure. |