Basic Certification Opportunities for Telemetry Technicians

1
Telemetry Technician

• Credentialing Opportunities

2
What is a Telemetry Technician?

• Unlicensed medical provider
• Works under the supervision of a nurse or
  physician
• Employed by cardiac care department
• Assists with monitoring heart disease patients
• May be responsible for several activities
• Also known as cardiac technician or EKG
  technician
• Few educational or credentialing requirements

3
Demand for Technicians

• High due to increased prevalence of heart disease
• Secondary to chronic diet and exercise related
  illnesses
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Heart disease has become top cause of morbidity
• Has created many new job opportunities for
  technicians

4
Entry Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• Prior experience is a plus
• Basic orientation and training
• Hands on experience
• National certification is often expected
• Other credentials help secure open positions

5
Certification Options

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• Certified EKG Technician (CET)
• Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
• Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT)
• Broad examinations designed to evaluate the
  competency of the entry-level cardiovascular
  technologist
• Not specific to telemetry
• Does include questions on the administration of
  telemetry

6
Advanced Options

• Primarily developed for nurses
• May need to acquire nursing credentials
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses
  (AACN)
• Progressive Care Nurse Certification (PCCN)
• Adult Tele-ICU Acute/Critical Care Nurse
  Certification (CCRN-E)
• More in-depth relating to telemetry
• Designed for nurses working in acute, critical,
  intensive, and progressive care

7
Benefits of Credentials

• Preserve the profession amidst regulatory changes
• Demonstrates competence
• Received better by patients and peers
• Regarded as more professional and knowledgeable
• Higher salary
• Better benefits
• More employment options

8
Resources

• Telemetry Certification
• Ekgtechniciansalary.org