Perfusionist Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

The doctors and surgeons that are adept enough to perform open heart surgery are some of the most highly prized professionals in the medical field. When they do their job, they literally hold someone’s life in their hands, and when they are successful, they have the ability to completely change the quality of life that their patient enjoys. These doctors and surgeons could not perform their jobs so adeptly without the help of a strong supporting cast, and one of the most important members of this support team is the perfusionist. Responsible for setting up the heart and lung machine that will keep the patient’s blood oxygenated while their heart is stopped, the perfusionist is charged with monitoring the patient during this complicated procedure and alerting doctors to any abnormalities that might put the patient’s life at risk. Following the operation, the perfusionist is responsible for providing support and care for the patient’s circulatory until all danger has passed.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$86,400
Salary Range
$65,700 - $98,200

Work Environment

In most cases, the perfusionist is employed by a hospital or outpatient surgical center that specializes in heart operations. However, it is not uncommon for them to also be employed in research capacities or in the marketing and sales departments of companies that create life support equipment.

High School Preparation

Those individuals who have an interest in heart health and think that they might enjoy the responsibilities of a perfusionist are encouraged to spend their high school career focusing on anatomy, biology, and emergency medicine. Supporting courses for this line of work include chemistry, physics, physiology, computer skills, algebra, and geometry.

Requirements

Depending on the perfusionist training program that students are interested in being accepted to, there are different educational requirements that they may have to fulfill. In most cases, perfusionist training programs require that the student have achieved a bachelor’s degree in the biological sciences, medical technology, nursing or respiratory therapy. There is usually a great deal of competition to get into the four yearlong perfusionist programs, and only those with the best undergraduate grades are likely to be accepted. Following completion of the perfusionist training program, candidates are required to pass the oral and written licensing exams administered by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP).

Career Outlook

As the baby boomer population continues to age and expand over the next ten years, the demand for open heart surgeries and the teams that can perform them are likely to increase. Experts agree that over the next decade there is likely to be a twenty to thirty-five percent increase in the number of jobs available for qualified perfusionists.

Professional Organizations

American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP)
207 North 25th Avenue
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: (601) 582-2227
www.abcp.org