Courses - ECG/EKG
ECG / EKG Technicians are responsible for performing electrocardiogram tests in order to monitor and record electrical impulses transmitted by the heart. They assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac and blood vessel irregularities.
The Course
Our comprehensive 60-hour ECG / EKG Technician Certification Program provides students with the critical skills required to function as ECG / EKG Technicians and prepares them to take the National Electrocardiograph Technician Certification exam.
The program consists of both didactic and clinical instruction.
Topics include anatomy and physiology of the heart, medical disease processes, medical terminology, ethics, legal aspects of patient contact, laboratory assisting, electrocardiography and overview of echocardiography.
The hands-on training labs introduce the student to the function and proper use of the EKG machine, 12-lead placement and interpretation, Holter Monitoring, stress testing and other clinical practices.
After completion of the course students will be able to quickly and easily recognize significant cardiac events.
→ 2011 Class Schedule [pdf]
What do ECG/EKG technicians do?
ECG / EKG Technicians (Electrocardiograph technicians, also known as cardiovascular technicians) perform basic EKGs, Holter Monitoring, 12-lead placement and stress tests (treadmill).
They assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac and blood vessel irregularities.
To take a basic EKG, which traces electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, technicians attach electrodes to the patient's chest, arms, legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a reading.
This test is done before most kind of surgery or as a part of a routine physical examination, especially on persons who have reached middle age or who have a history of cardiovascular problems.
EKG technicians with advanced training, like ours, perform Holter monitor and stress testing.
For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient's chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient's belt which records the heart's activity for 24-48 hours.
For a treadmill stress test, EKG technicians connect the patient to an EKG monitor which allows them to monitor the heart's performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill's speed to observe the effect of increased exertion.
Job Outlook
ECG Technicians work in physician offices, hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities and organizations. ECG Technicians also work for insurance companies to establish health and life insurance policies.
Similarly to other growing healthcare professions, the demand for ECG Technicians is expected to grow substantially.
Upon completion, students are eligible for National ECG/EKG Certification
Classes
| Course Title | Start Date | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| EKG (EVE SF) | Wednesday, February 22, 2012 | 4pm - 8pm MWF (5-week EVENING Course in SAN FRANCISCO) |
| EKG (DAY SF) | Monday, April 9, 2012 | 10am - 5pm MWF (3-week DAY Intensive Course in SAN FRANCISCO) |
| EKG (DAY SJ) | Monday, May 7, 2012 | 10am - 5pm MWF (3-week DAY Intensive in SAN JOSE) |
| EKG (DAY SF) | Tuesday, June 5, 2012 | 10am - 5pm T, Th, F (3-week DAY Intensive Course in SAN FRANCISCO) |
| EKG (DAY SJ) | Tuesday, July 24, 2012 | 10am - 5pm T, Th & F (3-week DAY Intensive Course in SAN JOSE) |
| EKG (DAY SF) | Tuesday, August 28, 2012 | 10am - 5pm T, Th, F (3-week DAY Intensive Course in SAN FRANCISCO) |
| EKG (EVE SF) | Monday, October 1, 2012 | 4pm - 8pm M, W-F (4-week EVENING Course in SAN FRANCISCO) |
| EKG (WKD SF) | Saturday, October 20, 2012 | 11am - 5pm Sat & Sun (5-weekend Course in SAN FRANCISCO) |
| EKG (DAY SJ) | Tuesday, October 30, 2012 | 10am - 5pm T, Th, F (3-week DAY Intensive Course in SAN JOSE) |