Electrocardiogram Technicians prepare patients, attach and adjust EKG electrodes, record and interpret cardiac rhythms, and maintain accurate ECG logs — ensuring reliable heart monitoring and patient safety. Follow this NPS guide to earn your Certified Electrocardiogram Technician (CET) credential.
The first step to your career as a Certified Electrocardiogram Technician (CET) is to choose a training school. Naperville, Illinois is house to many state endorsed EKG training programs that will prepare students for a Electrocardiogram Technician career. An EKG training program is generally between 40-80 in class hours and 20-40 clinical hours that will take place outside of the class, usually at a laboratory or medical institute allied with the program. In Naperville, the typical class will have 10-30 students.
When selecting an EKG training program, it’s important to be careful and informed. There are thousands of programs across the country, but not each of them provide the vital training and hands-on components needed to enter the workforce. In fact, some programs lack clinical hours, which are critical for gaining practical experience performing EKGs in a professional lab setting. Without clinical hours, you will not meet the required requirements for national certification — even if you finish the course.
One of the most crucial factors to consider when researching a program is its accreditation and adherence to quality benchmarks. Program accreditation is formal recognition granted to schools or programs that meet established national standards of instruction, hands-on training, and educational rigor. In electrocardiography, attending an approved training program ensures that you receive proper education and clinical experience aligned with healthcare best practices.
After completing an EKG training program, you will receive a certificate of completion, which is often misunderstood. This document does not make you a certified EKG Technician. It simply verifies that you’ve completed training and allows you to take the national certification exam — especially important for those with no prior experience.
To get certified, students must pass an exam from a recognized agency such as National Performance Specialists (NPS). NPS helps define national standards, develops the certification exams, and maintains a registry of certified professionals.
Certification must be renewed every two years, and completing continuing education is a core requirement for renewal if the a certification holder does not wish to take an additional exam. This ensures that certified EKG Technician remain in compliance with the latest industry standards, techniques, and guidelines. Most certifying agencies provide well-defined guidelines on the total and type of continuing education hours required, making it straightforward for professionals to maintain their credentials.
If you are planning to attend an EKG training program and would like an NPS adviser to double check that the program is legit, contact us today.
Upon your completion of an EKG training school, you will have a Certificate of Completion. Your Certificate of Completion does not make you ‘Certified’. This is a enormously common misunderstanding. A Certificate of Completion is used as proof of your completion of an EKG training class and is required to register for the national certification exam for individuals who have no experience in the field.
To become certified, an EKG Technician must have their skills put to the test by a third-party credentialing agency, like NPS. Once certified, an EKG Technician must maintain their certification once every two years by completing Continuing Education. Continuing education can take many forms, such as on-the-job workshops, online courses, webinars, or specialized training modules. These programs often include the latest best practices, safety protocols, and technological advancements in electrocardiography. Many professional organizations and certification agencies provide regularly updated continuing education resources to help EKG Technician maintain and advance their skills.
There are a variety of certification agencies that EKG Technician can choose to become certified with, but selecting the best one can make a big difference in your career.
Pursuing EKG certification not only proves your expertise and commitment to high standards, but also supports ongoing professional development. By regularly engaging in continuing education and professional growth opportunities, EKG Technicians can enhance their knowledge, expand their professional network, and set themselves up for advancement within the healthcare field.
Many healthcare employers require certified candidates, making certification an important step toward becoming a competitive applicant in the field.
The cost to become NPS Certified is $200.00 and includes an all-inclusive study guide, endless practice exams, three final certification exam attempts, a professional resume revision, and job placement assistance. The entire process can be completed 100% online through the NPS learning management system, and is mobile friendly, allowing you to prepare with flexibility and from the ease of home. Be sure to verify whether your certifying agency provides included study tools or if there are extra fees for upgraded content.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Electrocardiogram Technician (CET).
Once you have registered to take the credentialing exam, utilize a broad selection of study resources to boost your readiness. Many certification agencies offer resources such as thorough study guides, digital flashcards, practice questions, and interactive review platforms. When choosing prep tools, look for materials that closely align with the exam’s content outline and focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Consider following a study schedule that incorporates consistent study sessions, targeted practice in weaker areas, and regular use of complete practice exams to simulate the real test environment. This approach will help increase your confidence and ensure you’re fully prepared for exam day.
In addition, mock exams are extremely useful for replicating the real test environment and spotting areas where you need further review. Some agencies, like NPS, offer unlimited practice exams, while others up sell practice attempts.
After you have passed the final exam, your credentials are hastily inputted in the national registry and a digital copy of your credentials is stored in your account. Your digital copy, and your NPS transcripts, should be downloaded and printed for use as proof of certification.
Now that you’re a Certified Electrocardiogram Technician (CET), you’re ready to begin your medical career in Naperville, Illinois. Training in Electrocardiography is a solid entry point into the medical field, commonly pursued by aspiring nurses, nurse aides, medical assistants, and medical laboratory technicians. Certified EKG Technicians are in strong demand across the healthcare industry due to increased access to healthcare, a growing elderly population, and increased diagnostic testing. This rising demand helps ensure a positive employment outlook, making EKG a secure and worthwhile career choice.
EKG Technicians typically perform a standard 40-hour week and earn an average annual salary of approximately $47,500, though wages can fluctuate depending on location and experience. With expanding job openings and a fast-track training period, electrocardiography is a smart way to begin a fulfilling healthcare career.
NPS works with multiple staffing agencies to help our members find a career in the EKG field. Click here for more information on EKG job placement assistance by NPS.
Certified Electrocardiogram Technicians will need to renew their CET Certification after two years. An EKG Technician should start the process at least 30 days prior to the day their certification expires. This will permit the EKG Technician ample time to attend their continuing education hours and take their renewal assessment. You will not have to go back to an EKG course or attend a class to renew your certification.
The renewal process can be completed entirely online in the NPS learning management system. The cost to renew your credentials for the following two year period is $200.00. Renewing ensures your employer that you are dedicated to updating your knowledge in the electrocardiography field.
If your certification becomes inactive, many certifying agencies offer ways to restore your certification. The process typically involves fulfilling any outstanding continuing education requirements, sending in a renewal application, and paying a reinstatement fee. It’s important to consult your certifying body for specific procedures and deadlines to restore your active status.
Click to learn more about Renewing You CET Certification.
A Certified Electrocardiogram Instructor (CEI) is a highly bright EKG Technician with greater than 5 years of experience in the field. EKG Technician Instructors can teach for or own their own school. They’re needed for ensuring that students in their class are retaining the information provided by their curriculum. Every class in Naperville, Illinois should tell their students with the instructors background and credentials.
If an EKG Technician Instructors meets the requirements and wishes to become a Certified Electrocardiogram Instructor (CEI) they can undergo the entire process online. If you would like to request to speak with someone regarding the process, contact us today.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Electrocardiogram Instructor (CEI).
National Performance Specialists is also partnered with the American Red Cross to provide job placement assistance to NPS Members and to assist the American Red Cross in recruiting quality candidates across the United States.
All NPS certification programs are proudly listed within the Certification Finder by CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and is a proud partner of the AmericanJobCenter network.
