How to Become a Echocardiography Technologist
Echocardiography technologists are cardiovascular professionals who give electrocardiograms (EKGs) and sonograms of the heart, as well as help perform stress testing. Echocardiography technologists can also specialize in Holter procedures, which involve working with a patient to monitor his heart's electrical activity using a portable medical device. Becoming an echocardiography technologist is a complex process, involving special training that can last from one to four years, depending on how specialized you want to be.
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Instructions
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Become an echocardiography technologist
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Learn more about the profession and research accredited programs. Professional organizations that represent echocardiography technicians--such as the American Society for Echocardiography--and accrediting bodies have a wealth of information about the profession and how to select an accredited training program. The U.S. government's Bureau of Labor Statistics also charts growth opportunities in this profession and provides resources for those interested in becoming an echocardiography technologist.
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Complete your education and special training. In most settings, technologists have completed a two-year degree program for cardiovascular technology that includes specialized training for diagnostic sonography (echocardiography). Four-year programs for echocardiography technologists and cardiovascular technologists are becoming more and more popular. The four-year programs offer more elective courses taken in a specialized field and more basic science courses than are available in two-year programs. Some students in an EKG technician program get on-the-job training performing EKGs at local hospitals. Many students choose this route to get a jump-start on networking and making job contacts.
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Obtain certification and licensure. Some but not all states require licensure before you can become an echocardiography technician; all employers seek technicians who have passed the certifying exam. Check with your state's medical board to see if your state requires licensure. The medical board will have detailed information about how to obtain a license once you have completed your training. Registry organizations that offer the certification exam have online resources about how to register for the exam (see links in Resources).
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