Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
SOC: 29-2031.00

Description:

Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests. Includes vascular technologists.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
52,000 employed

Projected (2024):
63,500 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • ARRT Technologist (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Technologist)
  • Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist
  • Cardiac Catheterization Special Procedures Technologist
  • Cardiac Catheterization Technician
  • Cardiac Catheterization Technologist
  • Cardiac Technician
  • Cardiograph Operator
  • Cardiographer
  • Cardiology Technician
  • Cardiology Technologist
  • Cardiopulmonary Technician
  • Cardiopulmonary Technologist
  • Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist
  • Cardiovascular Radiologic Technologist
  • Cardiovascular Technician
  • Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT)
  • Cath Lab Radiological Technologist (Catheterization Laboratory Radiological Technologist)
  • Computed Tomography Technologist (CTT)
  • EEG Technician (Electroencephalogram Technician)
  • EKG/ECG Technician (Electrocardiogram Technician)
  • Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Technician)
  • Electrocardiograph Operator
  • Electrocardiograph Technician
  • Electrocardiographic Technician
  • Holter Scanning Technician
  • Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist
  • Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician)
  • Laboratory Technologist (Lab Technologist)
  • Monitor Technician
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist
  • Pulmonary Function Technician
  • Pulmonary Function Technologist
  • Radiographer
  • Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
  • Telemetry Technician
  • Vascular Technician
  • Vascular Technologist

    • Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

    Education:

    Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Equipment Selection
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Therapy and Counseling
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
  • Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
  • Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
  • Observe gauges, recorder, and video screens of data analysis system during imaging of cardiovascular system.
  • Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
  • Prepare and position patients for testing.
  • Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
  • Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
  • Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
  • Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
  • Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students.
  • Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system.
  • Inject contrast medium into patients' blood vessels.
  • Observe ultrasound display screen and listen to signals to record vascular information, such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, or cerebral circulation.
  • Assess cardiac physiology and calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
  • Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standard norms to identify abnormalities.
  • Activate fluoroscope and camera to produce images used to guide catheter through cardiovascular system.
  • Enter factors such as amount and quality of radiation beam, and filming sequence, into computer.
  • Conduct tests of pulmonary system, using spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.
  • Perform general administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments or ordering supplies or equipment.
  • Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
  • Assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac or peripheral vascular treatments, such as implanting pacemakers or assisting with balloon angioplasties to treat blood vessel blockages.
  • Transcribe, type, and distribute reports of diagnostic procedures for interpretation by physician.
  • Set up 24-hour Holter and event monitors, scan and interpret tapes, and report results to physicians.
  • Assist surgeons with vascular procedures, such as preparing balloons and stents.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • 3, 4, and 5 stopcock manifolds
  • Activated clotting time ACT lab equipment
  • Angiojets
  • Arterial line stop-cocks
  • Automated external defibrillators AED
  • Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator AICD implants
  • Balloon catheters
  • Bird's nest inferior vena caval filters
  • Blood collection syringes
  • Blood gas analyzers
  • Brachial artery needles
  • Brockenbrough needles
  • C-clamps
  • Cardio-page writers
  • Cardiovascular catheter sheaths
  • Caval filters
  • Central venous catheters
  • Chemical sterilizers
  • Coagulation testing equipment
  • Computerized lung analyzers
  • Contrast power injectors
  • Coronary stents
  • Defense digital imaging network-picture archiving and communications systems DIN-PACS
  • Defibrillators
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM system equipment
  • Distal embolic protection devices
  • Dual chamber pacemakers
  • Electrocardiography EKG electrodes
  • Electrocardiography EKG tape reading scanners
  • Electrocardiography EKG units
  • Electronic blood pressure units
  • Electronic stethoscopes
  • Evacuated blood collection tubes
  • Film processing equipment
  • Fluoroscopes
  • Glucometers
  • Grollmann catheters
  • Guidewires
  • Heart catheters
  • Heart probes
  • Hemodynamic monitors
  • Holter monitors
  • Image capturing and transmission systems
  • Image storage systems
  • Indeflators
  • Intra-aortic balloon pumps IABP
  • Intravenous IV locks
  • Intravenous IV syringes
  • Intravenous IV tubing
  • Laboratory microscopes
  • Laser printers
  • Lasers
  • Lead aprons
  • Lead collars
  • Light and sound machines
  • Light meters
  • Mechanical stethoscopes
  • Mechanical thrombolytic devices
  • Medical picture archiving computer systems PACS
  • Medrad injectors
  • Mercury sphygmomanometers
  • Microscopes
  • Miller catheters
  • Myocardial biopsy forceps
  • NIH catheters
  • Nitric oxide administration equipment
  • Notebook computers
  • Over-the-needle intravenous IV catheters
  • Oximeters
  • Oxygen therapy systems
  • Pacemaker analyzers
  • Pacemakers
  • Pacing generators
  • Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty PTCA equipment
  • Personal computers
  • Physiological monitoring and analysis systems
  • Plethysmography machines
  • Portable electrocardiography EKG machines
  • Pressure injectors
  • Pressure tubing
  • Radi pressure wires
  • Radiofrequency ablation catheters
  • Rheolytic thrombectomy systems
  • Rotoblators
  • Scan converters
  • Silicone lead end caps
  • Spirometers
  • Sterile blood lancets
  • Surgical trays/tables
  • Suture devices
  • Swan Ganz artery catheters
  • Tablet computers
  • Therapeutic treadmill exercisers
  • Thermal printers
  • Thermodilution cardiac output computers
  • Tourniquets
  • Transluminal extraction catheters
  • Transseptal sheaths
  • Ultracentrifuges
  • Vector-cardiographs
  • Vena caval filters
  • Venipuncture needles
  • Ventricular demand pacemakers
  • Wave wires
  • X ray machines
  • Cardinal Health Pyxis CII Safe
  • Database software
  • Diagnostic image review software
  • Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM-compatible image acquisition and integration software products
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Information systems integration software
  • Internet or intranet image distribution software
  • JavaScript
  • MEDITECH software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word
  • Practice management software PMS
  • Smart Digital Holter Monitor
  • Structured data entry software
  • Web browser software

    • healthcare practitioners and technical

    industry stats

    SOC: 29-0000

    Total Employed: 8,021,800

    Average Annual Salary: $77,800