The need for EKG techs in North Carolina is pretty strong.
If you’d like to help others find out what’s wrong with them you could consider becoming an EKG technician in this state.
Read this guide to find out just how easy the process is!
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EKG Tech Job Description and Duties in North Carolina
It’s pretty natural to wonder what an EKG tech’s job is all about.
These medical professionals are in charge of the following tasks:
- Evaluating a patient and explaining procedures
- Verify patients identity
- Performing EKG
- Point of care testing
- Preparing test results for the doctor
- Maintaining your area and equipment
The correct and successful completion of these will help physicians discover and treat heart-related problems in their patients.
EKG Tech Job Requirements in North Carolina
North Carolina doesn’t have any regulations in place for future EKG technicians.
Anybody interested in this position can get hired, according to the laws.
Employers are allowed to have requirements from the candidates, though.
Most commonly, these requirements include:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Proof of being healthy
- Be detail-oriented
- Have good communication skills
- Have an EKG technician certification
EKG Technician Education in North Carolina
Some sort of education or training is needed to get an EKG certificate in North Carolina.
Like almost everywhere else, the training available can be either a 4 months long program or an apprenticeship that lasts at least 1 year.
There are no regulations regarding enrollment into these programs.
It is up to the schools to set up some expectations from their future students.
It is common to be asked for:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Over The Age Of 18
- Clean Background Check (No Felonies)
- Negative Hepatitis Test
- Negative TB Test
- Immunization Records
For the schools in North Carolina that offer EKG training, you can have a look at the table below.
Top 13 Schools in North Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Alamance Community College | 1247 Jimmie Kerr Rd, Graham, NC 27253 |
| Aspt | 127 9th St SW, Hickory, NC 28602 |
| Care One Health Training Institute | 8701 Wadford Dr, Raleigh, NC 27616 |
| Caring For Life | 1915 N County Dr UNIT 100, Castle Hayne, NC 28429 |
| Carolina School of Phlebotomy | 322 Lamar Ave Suite 301, Charlotte, NC 28204 |
| Continual Health Education And Training | 2920 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206 |
| Cumberland Nursing Academy | 949 Country Club Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28301 |
| Durham Technical Community College | 1637 E Lawson St, Durham, NC 27703 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | 2100 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | 601 E Main St, Jamestown, NC 27282 |
| Heart Smart Team, Inc. Medical Training Company | 109 Muirs Chapel Rd Suite 200, Greensboro, NC 27410 |
| MedicalTraining.me | 101 E Market St, Smithfield, NC 27577 |
| Umanah Healthcare Institute | 5801 Executive Center Dr #103, Charlotte, NC 28212 |
All schools have different tuition levels, and it is possible to sign up even if you’re under 18 years old.
This has to be checked with the schools and to have approval from the legal guardians.
Here are the main classes students will attend:
- Heart anatomy
- Medical disease processes
- Medical terminology
- Electrocardiography
- Echocardiography
- Ethics
- Anatomy of the chest wall for proper lead placement
- Pacemakers
EKG Technician Certification in North Carolina
The EKG tech certification is issued to those who pass one of these exams:
- ASPT – Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician exam
- NHA Certified EKG Technician exam
- American Society of EKG Technicians (or ASET)
You’ll have to sign up for the exam with the testing center proctoring it.
The signing up process involves some papers, such as:
- Official school transcripts
- An official ID form
- An application form
- A fee
- Completing 10 EKGs
For those who completed the apprenticeship, this has to be done in the previous 3 years.
Once you’re certified, you’ll need to pay attention to maintain it active through renewal.
For the renewal process, you’ll be asked for another application and another fee.
You may have to continue your education as well.
EKG Technician Employment and Salary in North Carolina
EKG techs can apply for a job at facilities such as the following:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Physician’s offices
- Various other healthcare facilities
In North Carolina, the average salary for an EKG technician is around $37,500 per year.
How much you’ll earn will be affected by a number of factors, including experience and workplace.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of EKG Technicians in North Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | $38,500 |
| Raleigh | $38,000 |
| Greensboro | $37,500 |
| Durham | $37,800 |
| Winston Salem | $37,600 |
| Fayetteville | $36,000 |
| Cary | $38,000 |
| Wilmington | $35,800 |
| High Point | $37,800 |
| Greenville | $37,700 |
Regional Salary in North Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 290 | $58,440 | $28.1 | $94,390 | $31,690 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 80 | $31,970 | $15.37 | $54,370 | $24,600 |
| Greenville, NC | 80 | $66,460 | $31.95 | $82,250 | $35,010 |
| Wilmington, NC | 70 | $58,690 | $28.22 | $94,360 | $35,580 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 140 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for EKG Technicians in North Carolina
If you’re interested in the ASET credential, you could pay $150 and get:
- Full study guide
- Unlimited practice exams,
- 3 final certification exam attempts
- A professional resume revision
You can access these benefits online, making it very easy to get certified.
Becoming a Certified EKG Instructor (CEI)
The American Society of EKG Technicians offers the possibility of becoming a Certified EKG Instructor (CEI) to those with at least 5 years of experience in the field.
Those interested in this position need to have the certification from ASET and to pass a background check.
Being a CEI means you can teach EKG in a training school though opening a training center you run is another option.
