Are you interested in joining the healthcare field but not sure where to start?
Does a career as an EKG technician sound appealing to you?
As an EKG tech, your main duties are to help physicians diagnose and provide treatment for patients with heart problems.
You will also be assessing patients and explaining the procedures to them, in addition to a variety of other responsibilities.
If this sounds like something you may be interested in, this guide will provide you with information regarding licensing requirements in Nevada and schools that offer EKG technician programs to help you along your journey.
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Licensing Requirements to Become an EKG Technician
In the state of Nevada, you will not need to acquire a license to practice as an EKG technician.
Instead, you will need to obtain one of the few different certifications available.
For example, one of the options you have for obtaining certification is through the National Healthcareer Association.
If this sounds like something that you can see yourself moving forward with, you can sign up for a program that provides specific training that you’ll need to pass the required exam.
Moreover, you can check out the National Center for Competency Testing to see what certifications they offer.
If you are going to become certified through the NCCT, it’s advised that you begin with an ECG technician certification first.
This certification is offered to those who are taking courses to prepare themselves.
Other options available to you include entry-level and advanced certifications that can be acquired through Cardiovascular Credentialing International or the American Education Certification Association.
If you decide to go this route, you could receive your CRAT, otherwise known as a Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician certificate, from CCI.
With this, you will learn all about heart rhythm patterns.
Finally, you have the option of acquiring a CETS certificate, otherwise known as a Certified EKG Technician Specialist.
This certificate is offered through the AECA.
5 EKG Technician Schools in Nevada
Here are five schools that offer EKG technician programs in Nevada:
College of Southern Nevada
If you have some prior EKG technician training, this school offers continuing education.
You must first have the required prerequisites and then submit an approval request from the EMS program director.
The courses offered here will enhance your training.
You will learn how to detect normal and abnormal heartbeat patterns that EKG machines record.
In total, you will earn 3 credit hours.
The full tuition and fees for full-time students are $4,1100.
However, you must contact them to find out more about the fees associated with their 3-credit-hour EKG technician training course.
Las Vegas College
Las Vegas College offers an EKG technician training program that will prepare students to assist both nurses and doctors.
The program takes 36 weeks to complete, which is equivalent to 800 hours.
Tuition for this program is $14,400.
Books, supplies, and uniforms cost an additional $1,150.
Students will also need to pay a $50 registration fee.
This program will prepare you to work with patients and in labs.
Western Nevada College
Western Nevada College also offers an EKG technician program but for continuing education.
It is a certificate program to give students a voucher to take the exam.
The program here will prepare students for the CETS exam or CET exam.
The cost for this program is $1,995.
It can take about 12 months to complete.
Students will also be taught how to read results from an EKG scanning machine.
Nevada Career Institute
If you already have an EKG technician certificate, you can enroll in the Nevada Career Institute’s medical assistant program to expand your training.
Once you complete this program, you will know how to accurately read vital signs, schedule appointments, and more.
The program costs $15,845.
The program can be completed in as little as 8 months.
Nevada State College
Finally, Nevada State College offers various nursing programs that will prepare students to learn how to accurately use an EKG machine and interpret their results.
The cost of programs here at Nevada State College is $189.75 per credit hour for undergraduate students.
Salary
The average salary for EKG technicians in the state of Nevada is $41,500.
This salary is current as of April 26, 2022.
Depending on your experience, you may get paid more or less.
For example, those just starting out may get paid at least $3,000 less per year.
