Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists

Summary

Cardiovascular and vascular technologists assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) systems in patients.

Quick Facts: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists
2010 Median Pay	$49,410 per year $23.75 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Associate’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	49,400
Job Outlook, 2010-20	29% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	14,500

What Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists Do

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments in patients. They also help physicians treat problems with cardiac and vascular systems, such as blood clots.

Work Environment

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists work in healthcare facilities, which must be sanitary.

How to Become a Cardiovascular Technologist or Technician or Vascular Technologist

There are several ways to become a cardiovascular technologist or technician or vascular technologist. Although some technologists and technicians are trained on the job, most get an associate’s degree. Many employers also require professional certification.

Pay

The median annual wage of cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists was $49,410 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment is expected to grow by 29 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than average for all occupations. As imaging technology evolves, medical facilities will use it to replace more invasive, costly procedures.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists by contacting these additional resources.

What Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists Do About this section

Cardiovascular technologists may assist physicians with cardiac catheterization procedures in which a small tube is threaded through a patient’s artery.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments in patients. They also help physicians treat problems with cardiac and vascular systems, such as blood clots.

Duties

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists typically do the following:

• Prepare patients for procedures by taking their medical history and answering their questions
• Prepare and maintain imaging equipment
• Perform noninvasive procedures, such as taking ultrasound images
• Analyze the images to check for quality and to ensure adequate coverage of the area being diagnosed
• Recognize the difference between normal and abnormal images
• Discuss image results with the physician
• Help physicians during invasive procedures, such as inserting catheters (small tubes)
• Record findings and track patient records

Technologists and technicians do or help do tests that can be either invasive or noninvasive. An invasive procedure requires inserting probes or other instruments into a patient’s body, and a noninvasive procedure does not.

Cardiology technologists monitor patients’ heart rates and help diagnose and treat problems with patients’ hearts. The procedures can be invasive (such as inserting catheters) or noninvasive (such as using ultrasound equipment to take images of the heart).

Cardiac catheterization involves helping a physician thread a catheter through a patient’s artery to the heart. The procedure determines whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle or helps to diagnose other problems. Some of these procedures may involve balloon angioplasty, which can be used to treat blockages of blood vessels or heart valves without the need for heart surgery.

Technologists prepare patients for these procedures by shaving and cleansing the area where the catheter will be inserted and administering topical anesthesia. During the procedure, they monitor the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate. Some cardiology technologists also prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and during the insertion of pacemakers and stents that open blockages in arteries to the heart and other major blood vessels.

An EKG, or electrocardiogram, monitors the heart's performance through electrodes attached to a patient’s chest, arms, and legs while the patient is lying on a table. To test a physically active patient, the cardiac technologist uses a Holter monitor or stress test. The technologist puts electrodes on the patient’s chest and attaches a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. The Holter monitor records normal activity for 24 or more hours, and the technologist then removes the tape from the monitor, places the monitor in a scanner, checks its quality, and prints the image for later analysis by a physician. For a stress test, the patient walks on a treadmill and the technologist gradually increases the speed to observe the effect of increased exertion.

Vascular technologists (Vascular sonographers) help physicians diagnose disorders affecting blood flow. Vascular technologists listen to the blood flow in the arteries and veins to check for abnormalities. They do noninvasive procedures using ultrasound instruments to record information, such as blood flow in veins, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Many of these tests are done during or immediately after surgery. 

Cardiac sonographers (Echocardiographers) use ultrasound to examine the heart’s chambers, valves, and vessels. They use ultrasound instruments to create images called echocardiograms. The echocardiogram may be done while the patient is either resting or physically active.

Cardiovascular technicians work closely with cardiovascular technologists. Technicians who specialize in electrocardiogram (EKG) testing are known as cardiographic or electrocardiogram (EKG) technicians. 

Technologists and technicians often work closely with diagnostic medical sonographers. For more information, see the profile on diagnostic medical sonographers.

Work Environment About this section

Cardiovascular technologists monitor patients’ heart rates and perform and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of problems having to do with the patient’s heart.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists held about 49,400 jobs in 2010. They typically work in healthcare facilities, which must be sanitary. In 2010, more than 75 percent worked in state, local, and private hospitals; others primarily worked in physician’s offices, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and outpatient care centers.

Technologists and technicians are on their feet for long periods and may need to lift or turn patients who have a disability.

Work Schedules

Because technologists and technicians are sometimes needed to help when physicians diagnose and treat patients in emergencies, some work evenings, weekends, or overnight.

How to Become a Cardiovascular Technologist or Technician or Vascular Technologist About this section

Cardiovascular technologists operate and care for testing equipment, explain testing procedures, and monitor patients during tests.

There are several ways to become a cardiovascular technologist or technician or vascular technologist. Although some technologists and technicians are trained on the job, the most common path is formal education that leads to an associate’s degree. Many employers also require professional certification.

Education

High school students who are interested in cardiovascular and vascular technology should take courses in anatomy, physiology, and mathematics.

Most cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists get an associate's degree by completing a 2-year community college program. However, some 4-year programs that lead to bachelor’s degree are available at colleges and universities.

Programs include coursework in either invasive or noninvasive cardiovascular or vascular technology. Most programs also include a clinical component in which students earn credit while working under a more experienced technologist in a hospital, physician’s office, or imaging laboratory.

One-year certificate programs are also available from community colleges. Certificate programs are often helpful to those who have already received education or training in related healthcare jobs.

Some technologists graduate with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology or nursing and then are trained on the job. Employers prefer candidates who have a degree or certificate from an accredited institute or hospital program.

Cardiovascular technicians who work as electrocardiogram (EKG) technicians are typically trained on the job by their employer. These programs usually take 4 to 6 weeks to complete. One-year certification programs are also available from community colleges and may substitute for on-the-job training.

Certification

Although certification is not required to enter the occupation, employers prefer to hire certified technologists or technicians. Certification is considered the standard by professionals and the ultrasound community. Many insurance providers, including Medicare, pay for procedures only if a certified technologist or technician did the work.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists earn various certifications, depending on their clinical focus. To take the certification exam, technologists and technicians usually must complete an accredited education program. In most cases, technologists and technicians must take continuing education to keep their certification. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists can be certified in several areas. 

Important Qualities

Detail oriented. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists must follow exact instructions from physicians.

Interpersonal skills. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists must work closely with patients. Sometimes patients are in extreme pain or under mental stress, and the technologist or technician must get patients to cooperate to do the procedures.

Physical stamina. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists work on their feet for long periods and must be able to lift and move patients who need help.

Technical skills. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists must understand how to operate complex machinery to provide useful diagnostic information to physicians and other healthcare workers.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists was $49,410 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,610, and the top 10 percent earned more than $77,020.

Because technologists and technicians are sometimes needed to help when physicians diagnose and treat patients in emergencies, some work evenings, weekends, or overnight.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists is expected to grow by 29 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. As imaging technology evolves, medical facilities will use it to replace more invasive, costly procedures. Technological advances and less expensive equipment now allow more procedures to be done outside of hospitals. Third-party payers encourage the use of these noninvasive measures over invasive ones.

Although hospitals remain the primary employer of cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists, employment is expected to grow more rapidly in physicians' offices and in medical and diagnostic laboratories. Employment in these healthcare settings is expected to increase because of a shift toward outpatient care whenever possible.

As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, the need to diagnose medical conditions—such as blood clots and tumors—with imaging technology will likely increase. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists will continue to be needed to use and maintain the equipment needed for diagnosis and treatment.

Job prospects

Job prospects should be best for those who have multiple professional credentials and are trained to do a wide range of procedures. Technologists or technicians who are willing to move or to work irregular hours also should have better opportunities.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about cardiovascular technologists and technicians, visit

Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals

For a list of accredited programs in cardiovascular or vascular technology, visit

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

Society for Vascular Ultrasound

For information about registration and certification, visit

Cardiovascular Credentialing International

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography