Echo Tech Training

Echo techs take images called echocardiograms on hearts and related tissues.

Echocardiographers, or echo techs, use ultrasound equipment to capture images of heart valves, vessels, chambers and surrounding areas. They work at hospitals, medical clinics and specialty heart-treatment centers. Echo techs need formal education and on-the-job training.

Preliminary Training

Echo techs must have formal educational training.

Aspiring echo techs must earn an associate degree in cardiovascular technology. They must take courses in biology, English composition, mathematics and medical terminology. Coursework in computer science is beneficial.

On-the-Job Training

Echo techs must undergo structured on-the-job training.

Echo techs receive on-the-job training under the supervision of cardiovascular technicians and cardiologists. These training sessions last four to six weeks and expose new echo techs to specialty equipment, medical terminology and treatment protocols.

Certification

Echo techs who earn the RCS credential have improved employment prospects.

The Registered Cardiac Sonographer, or RCS, credential is a valuable certification for echo techs. According to Cardiovascular Credentialing International, the RCS certification exam measures proficiency in four areas: general policies, echocardiogram examinations, specialized techniques and pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Medical and Nursing Training: How to Become an Echocardiography Technician
• Cardiovascular Credentialing International: Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS)
• Cardiovascular Credentialing International: RCS Matrix & Content Outline