Do you have the talent to work in the medical field?
If you are interested in getting a new job in South Carolina, consider becoming an EKG tech.
First of all, you will need to find out more about the requirements for this job.
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EKG Tech Job Description and Duties in South Carolina
In South Carolina, EKG techs will help physicians in diagnosing heart disease or blood disease.
Your daily tasks will vary depending on the facility, but usually include the following:
- 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
EKG Tech Job Requirements in South Carolina
In South Carolina, EKG techs are not required to have a national certification.
However, a lot of facilities only hire those who do have a certification.
It is also a good idea to have certification because you will get paid better.
Some of the paperwork you are required to mail includes:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Be healthy
- Be detail-oriented
- Have good communication skills
- Have an EKG technician certification
EKG Technician Education in South Carolina
To get a certification, you have to take a few steps.
The most important aspect is joining a suitable training program in your region.
In South Carolina, EKG training programs don’t take longer than 4 months.
A diploma will be released to you upon finishing the program.
In South Carolina, schools have their own requirements that vary.
However, some of these requirements are:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Over The Age Of 18
- Clean Background Check (No Felonies)
- Negative Hepatitis Test
- Negative TB Test
- Immunization Records
Some schools might accept students that are 16 years old, however, this has to be checked with the school.
The EKG training programs offer hours of theory as well as lab practice.
Some of the courses you will attend are:
- Heart anatomy
- Medical disease processes
- Medical terminology
- Electrocardiography
- Echocardiography
- Ethics
- Anatomy of the chest wall for proper lead placement
- Pacemakers
The schools that offer EKG training programs in South Carolina are:
Top 13 Schools in South Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Allheart Health Services, LLC | 188 South Pike East Sumter, SC 29150 |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | 2715 West Lucas Street Florence, SC 29501 |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | 109 South Main Street Mullins, SC 29574 |
| McLeod Regional Medical Center | 555 East Cheves Street Florence, SC 29506 |
| Midlands Technical College | 151 Powell Rd, Columbia, SC 29203 |
| Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College | 3250 Saint Matthews Road Orangeburg, SC 29118 |
| Prisma Health Richland Hospital | 5 Richland Medical Park Drive Columbia, SC 29203 |
| Professional Medical Training | 2229 South Irby Street Florence, SC 29505 |
| Spartanburg Community College | 107 Community College Drive Spartanburg, SC 29303 |
| Technical College of the LowCountry | 54 Tech Circle Varnville, SC 29944 |
| Trident Technical College | 7000 Rivers Avenue North Charleston, SC 29406 |
| Trident Technical College | 66 Columbus Street Charleston, SC 29403 |
| York Technical College | 452 South Anderson Road Rock Hill, SC 29730 |
EKG Technician Certification in South Carolina
Right after you finish the program, you will be required to take a certification exam.
In South Carolina, you can select one of 3 exams available.
The available certification exams are:
- ASPT – Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician exam
- NHA Certified EKG Technician exam
- ASET
To sit for the exam, you can send your school diploma and official school transcripts.
If you don’t have a diploma, you should have a minimum of one year of experience in the past 3 years.
Once a certain period passes, you will have to renew this certification.
That requires attending some extra hours of schooling.
EKG Technician Employment and Salary in South Carolina
In South Carolina, there are many facilities where you can work.
Some of these include:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Physician’s offices
- Various other healthcare facilities
EKG techs can have long schedules, especially in a hospital.
You may need to work on weekends and night shifts at times.
Your annual salary as an EKG tech varies based on your experience, credentials but also location.
You will have a lot more job opportunities if you have experience and you live in a big city.
Make sure to check out the EKG tech salaries in the 10 biggest regions of South Carolina.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of EKG Technicians in South Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $37,300 |
| Columbia | $36,400 |
| North Charleston | $37,300 |
| Mount Pleasant | $37,300 |
| Rock Hill | $38,700 |
| Greenville | $37,300 |
| Summerville | $37,100 |
| Goose Creek | $37,200 |
| Sumter | $35,100 |
| Hilton Head Island | $36,700 |
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 230 | $68,440 | $32.9 | $82,710 | $41,320 |
| Columbia, SC | 180 | $53,240 | $25.6 | $80,220 | $30,780 |
| Florence, SC | 70 | $54,000 | $25.96 | $80,860 | $29,980 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 180 | $63,220 | $30.4 | $83,650 | $31,260 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 60 | $56,960 | $27.38 | $85,450 | $35,380 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for EKG Technicians in South Carolina
There are a few more certifications that are available to EKG techs.
One of these is the ASET certification, for which you have to pay a $150 fee.
The fee includes:
- Full study guide
- Unlimited practice exams,
- 3 final certification exam attempts
- A professional resume revision
You can take the practice hours in person, and attend the others online.
Becoming a Certified EKG Instructor (CEI)
You can also choose to become a Certified EKG Instructor (CEI) through the American Society of EKG Technicians.
This certification will require you to have a 5-year experience first.
To get a CEI certification, you also have to submit a background check.
Remember that the most important aspect in becoming an EKG tech is finishing a training program and getting certified.
