EKG Technician Professional Certificate Program - Program Information and Frequently Asked Questions
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EKG Technician Professional Certificate Program Program Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
33T Introduction and Overview of the Profession ......................................................................... 2
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33T What EKG Technicians Do ............................................................................................................. 2
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33T Employment Prospects in the Field ............................................................................................. 2
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33T Program Overview ................................................................................................................... 2
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33T Course Content .............................................................................................................................. 2
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33T Key Areas Covered in This Course ............................................................................................ 2
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33T Detailed Course Topics Covered in This Course ...................................................................... 3
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33T Prerequisites ............................................................................................................................ 3
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33T Tuition and Fees ....................................................................................................................... 3
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33T Registration .............................................................................................................................. 4
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33T Schedule ................................................................................................................................... 4
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33T Location .................................................................................................................................... 4
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33T Course Completion .................................................................................................................. 4
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33T Required Scores ....................................................................................................................... 4
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33T Certificate of Completion ......................................................................................................... 5
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33T Certification ............................................................................................................................. 5
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33T Frequently Asked Questions .................................................................................................... 5
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33T Additional Information ............................................................................................................ 7
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EKG Technician Professional Certificate Course – Rev. 2/19/18 OS 1Introduction and Overview of the Profession
What Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technicians Do
EKG Technicians perform electrocardiogram tests to monitor and record electrical impulses
transmitted by the heart. These tests include basic EKGs, Holter Monitoring (portable EKG
which records activity for 24-48 hours), as well as 12-lead placement and Stress Tests
(treadmill). EKG Technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac and blood
vessel irregularities.
Employment Prospects in the Field
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of EKG Technicians is projected to
grow 39 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. EKG
Technicians work in physician offices, hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities and
organizations. They also work for insurance companies to establish health and life insurance
policies.
Program Overview
The EKG Technician Program at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies
Course Content
This comprehensive 52.5-hour EKG Technician Certification Program prepares students to
function as EKG Technicians and to take the American Society of Phlebotomy Technician
(ASPT) Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician exam. This course will include important practice
and background information on anatomy of the heart, physiology, medical disease
processes, medical terminology, medical ethics, and legal aspects of patient contact,
laboratory assisting, electrocardiography, and echocardiography.
At the conclusion of the classroom course, students have the opportunity to take the EKG
certification exam on the SDSU campus (see Certification section). The fee for the exam is
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not included.
SDSU is approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Key Areas Covered in This Course
• Echocardiography
• 12-lead EKGs (interpretation and troubleshooting) and 12-lead placement
• EKG strip analysis
• Anatomy of the heart
• Medical terminology related to electrocardiography
EKG Technician Professional Certificate Course – Rev. 2/19/18 OS 2Detailed Course Topics Covered in This Course
• Role of the EKG Technician
• Function of the EKG Department in a variety of settings (hospital, clinic, office, mobile
service)
• Introduction to medical terminology
• Medical terminology related to electrocardiography
• Care and safety of patients, medical and legal aspects
• Anatomy of the heart, conduction system, circulation of the heart and blood vessels
• Electrical conduction system of the heart
• Cardiac cycle (electric system)
• EKG strip analysis (P,Q,R,S,T waveform interpretation)
• Normal sinus rhythm, sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia
• Basic EKG interpretation, sinus rhythm, and ventricular rhythms, asystole; example
rhythm
• Recognizing artifacts; troubleshooting, tracing problems
• Practice EKG strips; EKG rhythms
• Preparing a patient for EKG
• 12-lead EKGs (interpretation and troubleshooting)
• 12-lead placement
• Echocardiography
• Other roles for the EKG Technician
Prerequisites
Students enrolling in the course should have:
• A high school diploma or GED
• The ability to read, write, and comprehend English
• Basic arithmetic skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
Tuition and Fees
The total program fee is $1,499 and includes textbooks and parking. This amount must be
paid in full at the time of registration. Payment plans are not available. Note: All course
offerings and prices are subject to change. Financial Aid Options are listed on our website.
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Please note that this is a noncredit professional development certificate that does not offer
transferrable units to a degree program such a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree.
EKG Technician Professional Certificate Course – Rev. 2/19/18 OS 3Registration
Detailed registration information is available on our website. If possible, please register at
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least two weeks in advance to prevent class cancellations. No application is necessary to
register for this course.
Schedule
The EKG Technician Professional Certificate Course is offered twice annually, in fall and
spring.
Location
Courses are held at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies in the Gateway Center or Extended
Studies Center buildings located at 5250 Campanile Drive. You will receive the exact
building and room number for your class prior to the course start date via email. Classroom
location information is also posted daily on the electronic display boards located
throughout the Gateway Center and Extended Studies Center buildings.
Course Completion
Required Scores
To pass the course and be eligible to receive the Certificate of Completion, students must
earn a final score of 70% or higher.
Points Score
100-90% Excellent
89-80% Above
Average
79-70% Average
69-60% Marginal
Below 59% Unsatisfactory
Incomplete* Did not
complete
*An Incomplete score must be approved by the instructor and CES. Student must have
completed at least 60% of the coursework.
EKG Technician Professional Certificate Course – Rev. 2/19/18 OS 4Certificate of Completion
At the completion of the course, students must submit a Certificate Application to receive a
Certificate of Completion. This certificate includes the student’s name, the program title,
and the date the course was completed. This certificate may be copied to include with a
résumé when applying for jobs. Use this link to request your Certificate.
Certification
After obtaining the suggested practical work experience, students who complete this course
may choose to sit for the Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician exam through the American
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Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT). Visit ASPT’s website for detailed exam and
membership information and requirements. Fees for the certification exam are not included
in the program tuition. SDSU CES proctors and administers the certification exam for this
course.
Frequently Asked Questions
50T Is SDSU accredited?
Yes. SDSU is accredited through Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
50T Where can I find information to assist in my career planning?
The U.S. Department of Labor is a great place to start your research. Its Occupational
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Outlook handbook includes information about jobs, earnings, titles, job descriptions, job
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markets and potential new jobs. Note: The College of Extended Studies does not provide
formal career services as part of the health care program. From time to time, employers
contact us expressing interest in recruiting our students; in these cases, we can forward job
position announcements to graduates of our programs. Additionally, students report they
have found valuable networking opportunities via their interactions with other professionals
in their classes.
50T Is the certification exam included with the course?
The fee for the certification exam is not included in the course tuition, however the exam is
administered at CES. Arrangements to pay and take the EKG certification exam will be made
with your instructor during the class (see Certification section).
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50T Will this certificate enable me to get a job in the EKG technician field?
This course is specifically designed to help you take and pass the national certification exam.
You will be given information and tools needed to work as an EKG Technician. However, we
encourage you to do your own research on this profession prior to taking the course. CES
provides course training and does not assist with job placement.
50T Does the course include an externship?
While we do not offer externship opportunities for this course, we encourage students to
seek externship opportunities on their own after they have completed our program.
EKG Technician Professional Certificate Course – Rev. 2/19/18 OS 550T How do I register?
1. Go to the Health Care program web page.
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2. Scroll to the bottom and choose the “EKG Technician Course.”
3. Select the “Register” button in red and a page with more details will appear — schedule
number, course dates and tuition fee.
4. Select the “Add to Cart” blue button and scroll to the top right side of the page and click
on “Check out.”
5. Choose “Click here” hyperlink on the right hand side to create a new account and choose
your preferred method of registration from the three options below and proceed:
Online (credit card only)
• If this is your first term enrolling in SDSU/CES classes, click on “Click here” under create
new account. Follow instructions, and a Red ID will be generated.
• If you are a returning student, log-in using your Red ID and password.
Phone (credit card only)
• Call the CES Registration Office at (619) 594-5152. Please have all class details ready (from
step 4 above).
Paper (credit card, money order, and cash accepted if submitting form in person)
• Download the paper registration form from the CES website.
• Complete the form with your personal information and relevant course information ready
(from step 4 above).
Be sure to enroll no later than the registration deadline — usually the first day of class. Late
registrations are granted only in special circumstances and will incur additional fees.
What is the difference between obtaining a professional certificate through SDSU
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and becoming a certified EKG Technician?
Professional certificates, which are offered through the SDSU College of Extended Studies,
should not be confused with certifications, which are offered through third party, standard-
setting organizations.
Professional certificates are awarded by educational programs or institutions and indicate
completion of a course or series of courses with a specific focus; typically listed on a résumé
detailing education. EKG Technician is a noncredit course and will not lead to credits for
obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Professional certificates are recognized by most
employers as a significant academic accomplishment and can lead to new jobs as well as
promotions for those who obtain them. They are also usually more relevant and focused for
today’s workforce than academic degrees and can be completed in a much shorter period of
time. This course will prepare you for certification exams (see Certification section).
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Certifications are awarded by a third party, standard-setting organization such as ASPT (see
Certification section) and indicate mastery of skills measured against a set of standards
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usually by an application or an exam. Certification exams require test takers to meet specific
educational and/or experience criteria, as well as to pass the written examination. We
encourage you to research exam requirements for each industry organization.
EKG Technician Professional Certificate Course – Rev. 2/19/18 OS 6Additional Information
Thank you for reviewing the program information. For additional information or to ask
specific questions not answered here, please contact the Student Services Coordinator:
Email: healthcare.ces@sdsu.edu
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Phone: (619) 594-0845
Website: neverstoplearning.net/healthcare
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