subject: How to Become a Cardiovascular Technologist - Discover How You Can Quickly Start A Promising Career [print this page] How to Become a Cardiovascular Technologist - Discover How You Can Quickly Start A Promising Career
Have you ever wondered who Cardiovascular Technologists are and what they do? Do you find treating matters of the heart captivating? Well, now's your chance to find out all there is to know towards becoming one of them.
The following article will inform you regarding what this job is all about, the kind of training you require and how to turn this career into a successful one.
The Training
In order to become a Cardiovascular Technologist, the minimum qualification you require is a two-year associate's degree. However, these days, a four-year bachelor's degree program, which should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Professionals (CAAHEP), is more in demand.
Initially, during the first year of your degree, you will be required to study all the basic core courses after which you can move on towards studying your specialty of choice. You can specialize in different areas such as invasive cardiology, non- invasive cardiology, echo cardiology and even vascular technology.
Apart from your degree, you must also take a test offered by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). Although this certification is not a mandatory program, it is definitely a key requirement for many employers these days.
Having the right degree is not just enough. You must possess the right personality for the job as well. In order to succeed in this job, you must be reliable and have a mechanical aptitude. Moreover, you should be able to communicate technically with other physicians, while having the patience to explain different procedures to patients in a simple, relaxed manner at the same time.
The Job Description
A Cardiovascular Technologist's primary job is to assist the doctor in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessels) related problems. In addition, you could also be responsible for scheduling appointments, reviewing physicians' interpretations,checking heart rates, maintaining the equipment as well as updating patients' charts.
The Career
This is indeed quite a promising career with a rapidly growing demand. As a result of population aging and the increase in heart diseases, this field is expected to grow in the future. At the moment, the average salary lies somewhere between $47,000 and $74,000. However, that amount can increase or decrease depending on your level of education and experience.
My advice to you is to get multiple certifications and move on to different departments in order to increase your exposure and experience. Becoming a cardio tech is definitely hard work, but it pays off with a stable career and lots of opportunities for advancement.
