Cardiovascular Technologist Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

Besides the brain, the heart is the most important organ in the entire body. Sometimes referred to as the engine of the human body, the heart is responsible for pumping life giving blood and the oxygen it bears to the muscles, cells and organs that need them in order to ensure normal function. It is important that humans have access to sophisticated medical care for their hearts and circulatory systems, and that is why becoming a cardiovascular technologist is such an essential career. Cardiovascular technicians are responsible for examining, diagnosing, treating and supporting the health of the heart and blood vessels under the direct supervision of a certified doctor of medicine. Typically, technicians will choose to specialize in invasive cardiology, noninvasive cardiology, or noninvasive peripheral vascular study, and are also responsible for preparing patients for testing and surgery.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$40,500
Salary Range
$26,700-$50,800

Work Environment

It is most common for a professional cardiovascular technician to be employed by a hospital, but it is also possible to find jobs in the noninvasive cardiovascular and electrophysiology laboratories, educational facilities, private doctor’s offices, and mobile units that are used to diagnose blood related conditions.

High School Preparation

It is important that all students to think that they might be interested in pursuing a career as a professional cardiovascular technician obtain a strong high school education that focuses on physics, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and algebra. It is also important for high school graduates to have a firm grasp of reading and writing, how to use a computer, and some geometry.

Requirements

After high school, those people who would like to obtain a career as a cardiovascular technician are also required to complete an accredited college level program that focuses on one of the three main areas of diagnostic evaluation. Some employers will only require a year long program, while others will require three years or longer. The length of the program that you must complete will depend on the amount of clinical experience that you’re able to gather while in school. Following graduation, many of the most successful cardiovascular technicians go on to receive additional certification in other disciplines that are offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International.

Career Outlook

It is expected that over the next ten years, the demand for qualified cardiovascular technicians will increase at a rate that is faster than the average for all occupations. Experts are predicting that this demand will grow at a rate of 20 to 35 percent over the next decade, meaning that there will continue to be opportunities for securing a job in this field. As heart related medical complications continue to occur, technicians will be needed to assist doctors with diagnosis and treatment.

Professional Organizations

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970
Chicago, IL 60601-2208
Phone: (312) 553-9355
www.caahep.org