How to Become an EKG Technician in New Hampshire

An electrocardiogram, or EKG, is a very common form of medical procedure used to assess heart function. Effective treatment often depends on the outcome of EKG results. For this reason, only trained personnel can administer an electrocardiogram. These personnel are known as EKG technicians.

New Hampshire Licensing and Training for EKG Technicians

Like many states across the country, New Hampshire does not have licensing guidelines for EKG techs. Instead, people in the profession are classified as unlicensed assistive personnel. Assistive personnel do not work independently. At all times, they work under the guidance of licensed medical professionals. In New Hampshire, registered nurses provide this guidance.

New Hampshire may not require you to get an EKG technician’s license, but that doesn’t mean you can do this job without adequate training. Electrocardiograms are sophisticated machines that require proper setup and use. If you don’t know what to do, you can cause serious problems for patients in need of medical care.

No worthwhile healthcare facility will take this kind of risk. For that reason, you must receive some kind of EKG tech training. The type of required training varies from organization to organization. Some medical facilities will train you on the job and only ask that you graduate from high school or get your GED. Others require you to go through a formal training program and pass a national certification exam. In addition, some facilities may give preference to applicants who also have entry-level experience as a medical aide or assistant.

Options for EKG Tech Training

If you decide to seek formal EKG technician training, you have a range of in-state options available. These options include:

The University of New Hampshire EKG Technician Program – This online program provides a thorough grounding in the skills used by EKG techs. Graduates can take certification exams offered by the National Healthcareer Association and the National Workforce Career Association. They also have a chance to work as volunteers under the guidance of experienced professionals.
The Northeast Technical Institute Phlebotomy/EKG Tech Program – This program trains you for entry-level work as an EKG tech and/or a phlebotomist (blood-draw specialist). Graduates possess the skills needed to sit for national certification exams in both of these professions.
The Manchester Community College Medical Assistant Program – This program bundles EKG training into a larger process that prepares you to work as a multi-disciplinary medical assistant. MCC offers a medical assistant degree, which requires 62 hours of coursework. The school also offers a medical assistant certificate, which requires just 38 hours of coursework.

Income Range for New Hampshire EKG Technicians

New Hampshire EKG techs make an average of roughly $52,500 a year. This level of income beats the national average for the profession by a few thousand dollars. Starting techs may earn as little as $19,500 annually. However, the state’s best-paid techs have annual incomes above $100,000. Most salaries fall somewhere between $35,000 and $59,000 a year.

The Future Job Market for EKG Techs

EKG technicians belong to a group of specialists known as cardiovascular technologists and technicians. Future job projections for such technicians are quite promising. In fact, this employment sector stands out for its expected rate of growth over the next decade. If you get trained as an EKG tech anytime soon, you will likely benefit from an increasing demand for your services.