How To Become An EKG Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an ekg technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

An ekg technician specializes in performing electrocardiogram (EKG) tests on patients. These tests monitor the electrical activity of the heart and help doctors diagnose heart conditions. EKG technicians prepare patients by attaching electrodes to the chest, arms, and legs and monitoring the equipment during the test. They also record results and report any abnormalities. EKG technicians work in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare settings, and must have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and medical knowledge.

ScoreEKG TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $35,160

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.1

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.91%

Asian 13.87%

Black or African American 10.58%

Hispanic or Latino 12.77%

Unknown 3.28%

White 58.58%

Gender

female 76.52%

male 23.48%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an ekg technician?

Pros

High demand for EKG technicians in healthcare industry
Competitive salary
Chance to work independently and as part of a team
Flexible scheduling options available
Opportunity for job stability

Cons

Exposure to contagious diseases (such as COVID-19)
Physical demands of the job (standing for long periods, lifting patients)
Working unpredictable hours, including weekends and holidays
High stress environment due to potentially life-threatening situations
Exposure to radiation from certain diagnostic tests

Key steps to become an ekg technician

Explore ekg technician education requirements

Most common ekg technician degrees

Bachelor's

27.5 %

Associate

24.8 %

Certificate

16.9 %

Start to develop specific ekg technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	24.02%
BLS	8.70%
Patient Care	7.01%
Electrocardiogram	5.28%
CPR	4.31%

Complete relevant ekg technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ekg technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an ekg technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ekg technician resumes.

Gain additional ekg technician certifications

Ekg technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific ekg technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for ekg technicians include Certified EKG Technician (CET) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).

More About Certifications

Research ekg technician duties and responsibilities

Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
Assist physicians during codes by performing the ECG's and assisting with CPR.
Perform EKG and EEG examinations of patients to obtain graphic indications of heart activity

Prepare your ekg technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ekg technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an ekg technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable ekg technician resume templates

Build a professional ekg technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your ekg technician resume.

Apply for ekg technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an ekg technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do ekg technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Ekg technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Cons

Nothing

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022

Cons

patient who are real sick and not able to return home it make me sad but i make sure there stay is the best care when they are in hospital this is the only hospital they want to come to and they tell other about the best care they got

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

Love taking something that can't be used and giving it life again...