What It Takes To Become A Cardio Tech - Learn About Cardiovascular Technologist Schools, Training And Certification
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A cardio tech is an essential role in helping to treat heart attacks and thus requires extensive cardiovascular training.
Cardio Tech Training
A technologist must receive the minimum of a 2 year associate's degree, although it is becoming more common and in demand to get a 4 year bachelor's degree at a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Professionals (CAAHEP).
The first year will encompass basic core courses while in the second you will have to focus on your specialty of choice. Certification is then not mandatory, but most employers look for certified employees, so you can attain it by taking tests offered by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
Job Description
A cardiovascular technologist's main function is to assist the doctor in diagnosing and then treating heart attacks or any other heart problems. Additionally, they could be responsible for scheduling appointments, cleaning and maintaining all equipment, checking heart rates and keeping patients' charts up to date.
They also have the opportunity to specialize in particular areas, such as invasive cardiology or non-invasive cardiology. Specializing in invasive cardiology means assisting in placing a catheter in the patient's body or performing a balloon angioplasty to determine where blockages exist.
Non-invasive cardiology can either be in the form of echocardiography or vascular technology. These methods involve evaluating heart rates and pulses, and using ultrasounds and high frequency sound waves to assess the patient's heart function.
Career Outlook
With the population ageing and heart disease becoming a major concern, the cardiovascular tech profession is expected to increase by about 24% until 2018. It is a rapidly growing field that can be quite lucrative with the right education.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in 2008 was about $47,000 going up to as high as $74,000 a year. If you start out as a technician, you will be trained on the job and receive valuable experience that you can use to later become a technologist.
As a technologist, the best way to get ahead will be to get multiple certifications and move to different departments for increase exposure and experience. Becoming a cardio tech is hard work but can pay off with a stable career and lots of opportunity for advancement.
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