Cardiovascular Technologist Career
What Education Do I Need to Be a Cardiovascular Technologist?
Most cardiovascular technologists complete a 2-year junior or community college program. The first year of the program consists of core courses, and during the second year you'll specialize in one of three areas:- Invasive cardiology: involves working with physicians to perform cardiac catheterizations, balloon angioplasties, electrophysiology tests, and other invasive diagnostic procedures and treatments.
- Noninvasive technology: perform noninvasive tests such as echocardiography or Doppler ultrasounds that don't involve using instruments inside a patient's body.
- Vascular technology: these technologists specialize on circulation disorders, and they're usually called vascular technologists.
You can also choose to obtain certification in more than one specialty.
Do I Need a License?
Only some of the states require a cardiovascular technologist to get licensed. There are also two boards that grant certification, which can sometimes be required as part of the licensing procedure. Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) offers four types of certification: - Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT)
- Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS)
- Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS)
- Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
The other credentialing organization is the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). They offer the Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) and Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credentials.
Even in the states where credentialing isn't mandatory, some employers prefer it.
The Following Schools Provide Educational Programs For Cardiovascular Technologist Careers:
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