How to Become an EKG Technician in Nevada

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.

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.

Annual Salary Range: Annual Salary by Location:

Location	Avg. Annual Salary
Las Vegas	$43,500
Reno	$43,200
Henderson	$43,400
North Las Vegas	$43,500
Sparks	$43,200
Carson City	$43,200
Elko	$36,500
Boulder City	$42,900
Mesquite	$42,900
Fallon	$42,600

Regional Salary in Nevada

* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, OCC Code 29-2031, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many job openings for EKG technicians are available in Nevada?

From 2020 to 2030, there was a significant change in employment for EKG technicians.

You can expect at least 12,000 EKG technician job openings each year during this 10-year period.

Moreover, many of these openings may go to those who possess at least an associate’s degree.

How long does training to become an EKG technician take?

It can take at least six weeks for you to finish a program if you are just starting out in the medical field.

However, you will be able to gain hands-on experience within those six weeks.

In addition, you may find certain healthcare facilities that may require at least six months of working experience as an assistant before they hire you.

Moreover, there are some exams that require you to have between one and two years of hands-on experience as well as an associate’s degree.

What are some tips for selecting the best school in Nevada to become an EKG technician?

For starters, you must consider how much experience you have.

If you’re new to a career as an EKG technician, you will want to ensure that the program you choose has both classroom and hands-on training.

But you will also want to ensure that the program will prepare you for the exam.

For example, AECA-approved certificate programs will prepare you for an associate’s certificate exam, while NHA-approved certificate programs will prepare you for the CET exam.

EKG Technician Info by State