EKG Technician Certification

Have you decided to start a career in EKG Tech? You’re on the right track, as the demand for EKG Techs is soaring, and you can enter the healthcare field without needing a medical degree.

You’ve also probably decided to get certified and want to know more about the different EKG Technician Certifications. You’re at the right place, and in this guide, you’ll find details about the most popular certification for EKG Techs!

#1 Most Popular EKG Technician Certification

Being a Certified EKG Technician can be game-changing, But which is the certification that employers want?

Well, the Certified EKG Technician (CET) Certification issued by the NHA is the most popular and well-known certification. NHA is one of the most respected certifying institutions for healthcare professionals, and for EKG Techs, the CET certification is like the gold standard.

Here’s an interesting fact ->

As per a survey, over 87% of employers encourage EKG techs to obtain certification. And if you have the CET certification, you’re in this select group that employers are likely to prefer. (Note- To be a Certified EKG Technician, you’ve to pass the certification exam.)

How To Obtain CET Certification

Here’s what you need to get certified as an EKG Tech:-

• Ensure you have your high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Enroll in an EKG Technician Training Program.
• Complete your training.
• Ensure you conduct a minimum of 10 EKG tests on patients.
• Register on the NHA website & schedule the date for your CET exam.
• Prepare for your CET Exam.
• Appear & Pass the Examination.

Here’s a detailed guide on the step-by-step process to get certified -> Certifed EKG Technician.

What is The CET Exam Structure?

The CET exam is taken to test the capability & knowledge of an EKG Technician.

You can schedule offline at an NHA-affiliated test center or online with a proctor mode. It is to be noted that no electronic devices, calculators, or study guides are allowed once you enter the test centers.

A CET exam usually consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 20 pretest questions. NHA uses a scaled scoring system according to which you have to score between 200 to 500. The passing score is 390 or 78%.

How Much Does The CET Exam Cost?

To sit for the exam, you have to pay a fee. The fee for the CET exam is $125.  Additionally, you have to renew your certification every two years, and there’s a separate fee ($179) for that.

For more details. you can check out the NHA website.

How To Renew Your CET Certification?

After you obtain your CET Certification, you must renew it every two years; if you don’t renew it in time, the certification will be nullified.  You need to take care of two things to renew your CET Certification-

• 10 Continuing Education (CE) credits are required every two years to maintain certification
• Pay your renewal fees of $179

List of Other EKG Technician Certifications

As we said earlier, the CET certification is the standard for EKG Techs. But there are a few other certifications you can obtain as an EKG tech.

Certified EKG Technician (CEKG) by the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA)

The NWCA issues the CEKG certification for EKG Tech. NWCA certifications are growing in demand, and if you’re looking for your second certification, you can choose the one issued by the NWCA.

Like the CET, you also have to sit for the exam to obtain the certification. The exam structure of the CEKG is also similar.

Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)

A CCT Certification shows competence in areas such as EKG interpretation, stress testing, Holter monitoring, and ambulatory monitoring.

To apply for the CCT exam, you have to pay a fee of $175. The exam consists of 130 multiple-choice questions, and you have to complete the exam within 2 hours.

Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES) by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)

Once you gain experience working as an EKG tech, you can get specialized certification. Once such certification is the RCES, which is again issued by the CCI.

This certification is for professionals who specialize in cardiac electrophysiology procedures, which involve diagnosing and treating irregular heart rhythms. To pass this certification, you need to ensure you’re proficient in ablation procedures, electrophysiology studies, and device implantation

Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT) by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)

Finally, another specialized certification is the CRAT. This is for technicians who specialize in analyzing cardiac rhythms. The CRAT examination consists of 130 multiple-choice questions, out of which 110 are scored, and 20 are unscored.

The exam duration is two hours, and the fee is 175 USD.

Interested in starting your EKG Tech Career? Check out our resources & guides:

• How to Become an EKG Technician?
• EKG Technician Schools
• What is an EKG Technician
• What does an EKG Technician do
• How Long Is EKG Technician Training
• EKG Technician Salary
• EKG Technician Job Description
• EKG Technician Resume
• EKG Technician Jobs