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Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.
Other titles employers use
Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist) · Cardiac Catheterization Technician · Cardiac Technician · Cardio Tech (Cardiovascular Technician) · Cardiology Technician · Cardiopulmonary Technician · Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT) · Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Tech)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
- Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
- Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
- Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
- Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
- Prepare and position patients for testing.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.9 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.1 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.4 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A two-year degree 63%
- A certificate or some college 20%
- High school or less 10%
- A doctorate or professional degree 4%
- A four-year degree 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Web platform development software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Information retrieval or search software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 5,860
- Job openings each year
- 400
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 10.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 5,860 | 400 | 10.8% |
| California | 5,400 | 370 | 14.9% |
| Texas | 4,830 | 340 | 14.2% |
| New York | 4,650 | 100 | 27.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,580 | 220 | 2.9% |
| Georgia | 3,320 | 230 | 15.3% |
| Michigan | 2,560 | 160 | 1.6% |
| Ohio | 2,530 | 160 | 2.0% |
| Illinois | 2,150 | 130 | — |
| North Carolina | 1,740 | 120 | 16.8% |
| Arizona | 1,620 | 120 | 20.0% |
| Virginia | 1,620 | 100 | 1.3% |
| Alabama | 1,370 | 90 | 5.4% |
| Indiana | 1,360 | 90 | 3.8% |
| Washington | 1,290 | 110 | 13.2% |
| Tennessee | 1,200 | 80 | 8.1% |
| Utah | 1,160 | 90 | 23.4% |
| Kentucky | 1,110 | 70 | 3.7% |
| Maryland | 1,110 | 70 | 5.7% |
| Oregon | 1,100 | 70 | 10.0% |
| South Carolina | 1,090 | 70 | 2.8% |
| Oklahoma | 1,040 | 70 | 2.0% |
| Minnesota | 990 | 60 | 5.3% |
| New Jersey | 970 | 60 | 3.2% |
| Louisiana | 920 | 60 | 5.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 840 | 60 | 16.7% |
| Colorado | 820 | 60 | 18.8% |
| Wisconsin | 770 | 50 | 5.5% |
| Missouri | 750 | 50 | 8.7% |
| Connecticut | 580 | 40 | 7.4% |
| Mississippi | 540 | 30 | 5.9% |
| West Virginia | 520 | 30 | — |
| Iowa | 480 | 30 | 6.7% |
| Kansas | 480 | 30 | 2.1% |
| Massachusetts | 460 | 30 | 7.0% |
| Delaware | 420 | 30 | 13.5% |
| Arkansas | 370 | 20 | 8.8% |
| Idaho | 370 | 30 | 19.4% |
| Nevada | 350 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Nebraska | 320 | 20 | 3.2% |
| New Mexico | 310 | 20 | 14.8% |
| Maine | 270 | 20 | — |
| New Hampshire | 260 | 20 | 4.0% |
| District of Columbia | 250 | 20 | 4.2% |
| Rhode Island | 230 | 10 | 4.5% |
| South Dakota | 210 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Montana | 150 | 10 | 15.4% |
| North Dakota | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Alaska | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Wyoming | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Vermont | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Boise State University
- Degrees each year
- 272
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Midwestern State University
- Degrees each year
- 218
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Oregon Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 168
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Missouri-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 93
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 87
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Sacred Heart University
- Degrees each year
- 86
- Admit rate
- 68%
- Annual cost after aid
- $42,000
Georgia Southern University
- Degrees each year
- 84
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
MCPHS University
- Degrees each year
- 76
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $38,000
Compare every college offering allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions