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Clinical exercise physiologist vs cardiovascular technician

The differences between clinical exercise physiologists and cardiovascular technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clinical exercise physiologist and a cardiovascular technician. Additionally, a cardiovascular technician has an average salary of $62,986, which is higher than the $53,276 average annual salary of a clinical exercise physiologist.

The top three skills for a clinical exercise physiologist include patients, rehabilitation and cardiac rehabilitation. The most important skills for a cardiovascular technician are patients, BLS, and patient care.

Clinical exercise physiologist vs cardiovascular technician overview

Clinical Exercise PhysiologistCardiovascular Technician
Yearly salary$53,276$62,986
Hourly rate$25.61$30.28
Growth rate9%10%
Number of jobs108,09937,036
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Associate Degree, 39%
Average age3845
Years of experience22

What does a clinical exercise physiologist do?

Clinical exercise physiologists, or CEP, are health professionals who utilize scientific rationale for designing, enforcing, and supervising exercise programming. The physiologists set exercise programs for people with conditions, diseases, and/or physical issues. They analyze the fitness of their patients to improve or main their health. Their job includes the assessment of patients' needs and making sure that they are following the safe exercise practices set for them. In addition, CEP may work with patients who have been recovering from any medical emergency or those who need to regain their physical strength.

What does a cardiovascular technician do?

A cardiovascular technician is responsible for monitoring and administering treatment plans for patients with cardiovascular illnesses. Cardiovascular technicians operate various equipment and machinery to ensure the accuracy of diagnosis and determine the medical procedures to take. They also assist the doctors in performing medical operations, observing the patients' condition, and explaining the test findings to the patients. A cardiovascular technician keeps a record of medical charts for reference, as well as providing progress updates to the doctors and the patients' families.

Clinical exercise physiologist vs cardiovascular technician salary

Clinical exercise physiologists and cardiovascular technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Exercise PhysiologistCardiovascular Technician
Average salary$53,276$62,986
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $95,000Between $43,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CityBakersfield, CADavis, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyCalifornia
Best paying companyBoston Medical CenterHeartland Home Health Inc.
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between clinical exercise physiologist and cardiovascular technician education

There are a few differences between a clinical exercise physiologist and a cardiovascular technician in terms of educational background:

Clinical Exercise PhysiologistCardiovascular Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Associate Degree, 39%
Most common majorKinesiologyMedical Technician
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillDuke University

Clinical exercise physiologist vs cardiovascular technician demographics

Here are the differences between clinical exercise physiologists' and cardiovascular technicians' demographics:

Clinical Exercise PhysiologistCardiovascular Technician
Average age3845
Gender ratioMale, 48.3% Female, 51.7%Male, 35.5% Female, 64.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage13%8%

Differences between clinical exercise physiologist and cardiovascular technician duties and responsibilities

Clinical exercise physiologist example responsibilities.

  • Interpret ECG test results and work with the cardiologist to diagnose specific cardiac conditions.
  • Perform pulmonary function testing, ECG's, and BP monitoring.
  • Assist physicians with ACLS/BLS procedures, chest tube insertions and catheter angiogramsite management.
  • Utilize the components of the nursing process and the applications of nursing diagnosis in the client setting.
  • Assess new-starts, monitor vitals, adjust workload intensities, and interpret EKG responses to varying exercise intensities.
  • Trouble shooting device issues and arrhythmia problems, aiding the physician in adjusting treatment plans tailor to patient specific needs.
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Cardiovascular technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
  • Certify in CPR and ACLS.
  • Scrub and monitor implant and EP Carto and basic ablation procedures.
  • Collect data with a GPS handheld receiver and map it in the office using GIS.
  • Provide continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring for secondary medical cardiac beds as a cardiopulmonary monitor technician.
  • Perform hook-up and scanning of holter monitors.
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Clinical exercise physiologist vs cardiovascular technician skills

Common clinical exercise physiologist skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Rehabilitation, 13%
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation, 8%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • EKG, 5%
Common cardiovascular technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Acls, 8%
  • Cardiovascular Technologist, 5%
  • Cardiology, 4%

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