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If you have worked for several years in the healthcare field already, the next step could be to learn how to become an EKG Technician in Maryland.
Some programs also prepare you for blood drawing and other patient care duties.
Article Table of Contents
Licensing Requirements to Become an EKG Technician in Maryland
You do not need a state license to be an EKG specialist in Maryland.
However, you must wait until you are 18 and have finished high school before you acquire an EKG certification.
You have a choice of earning credentials sponsored by one of three certification associations: the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Performance Specialists (NPS), and the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA).
First, sign up for training approved by the NHA, NPS, or NWCA.
Then, prepare for your exam, which your classes will equip you to pass.
NHA Certification
The NHA offers a Certified Electrocardiograph Technician (CEKG) certificate.
You could also pursue their patient care, pharmacy technician, or phlebotomy certification programs.
After some experience, you might also want to obtain an instructor’s certificate.
NPS Certification
NPS now oversees most of what you could learn from The American Society of EKG Technicians.
You would probably start out by achieving the Certified Electrocardiograph Technician (CET) certificate.
If you want, you could also enroll in the phlebotomy certification track to learn how to draw blood.
Eventually, you could also earn a certificate to teach others how to perform these occupational tasks.
NWCA Certification
You can achieve the Certified Electrocardiograph Technician Exam (CEKG) credential through the NWCA.
This association also provides other opportunities, such as phlebotomy or medical assistance certifications.
You will become proficient in lab testing, heart monitor reading, and basic vital sign testing before you take your exam.
5 EKG Technician Schools in Maryland
Schools in this state provide training that would prepare you for an EKG Technician or similar position.
Contact an admissions counselor or consult your preferred certification association to confirm desired training program.
Allegany College of Maryland
Allegany College offers a variety of health care degree and certificate programs.
They include lab tech and phlebotomy classes.
Some courses may also teach you EKG readings, but it’s wise to check with the school to make sure.
This school also has nursing classes, which would teach you how to read EKG machines.
College of Southern Maryland
This school offers a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant training program.
It includes EKG technicians, phlebotomy, and vital sign fundamental classes designed for continuing education students.
Upon coursework completion, you will be ready to take the NHA CCMA exam.
Prince George’s Community College
Prince George’s Community College offers two different EKG technician courses.
Admission into these classes requires having an active CPR certification.
It also requires a placement test before entry.
Community College of Baltimore County
This training program provides you opportunities to practice your classroom training on real people and prepares you to take the Patient Care Technician NHA exam.
It includes EKG reading and vein puncturing classes along with advanced CNA training.
Frederick Community College
This school offers a Patient Care Technician program that will show you a variety of medical machine reading techniques.
It prepares you for performing vita signs testing and EKG tests along with wound care and other services requested by a doctor or nurse.
EKG Technician Schools in Maryland – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Allegany College of Maryland | 12401 Willowbrook Rd, Cumberland, MD 21502 |
| College of Southern Maryland | 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD 20646 |
| Prince George's Community College | 301 Largo Rd, Largo, MD 20774 |
| Community College of Baltimore County | 7201 Rossville Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21237 |
| Frederick Community College | 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21701 |
Salary
As of March 29, 2022, an EKG Technician in Maryland earns an average of $41,600 per year.
You might start out a bit lower when you secure your first position.
Cities to look for jobs include Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Burtonsville.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Baltimore | $41,500 |
| Frederick | $43,300 |
| Gaithersburg | $44,800 |
| Bowie | $44,800 |
| Rockville | $44,900 |
| Hagerstown | $40,900 |
| Annapolis | $42,700 |
| College Park | $44,900 |
| Salisbury | $43,000 |
| Cumberland | $37,000 |
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 550 | $74,340 | $35.74 | $102,410 | $39,290 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 70 | $63,400 | $30.48 | $97,840 | $38,000 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 90 | $78,050 | $37.52 | $104,800 | $45,190 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications must an EKG technician have?
Working as an EKG technician calls for your ability to empathize with patients while you keep them calm.
You also must retain fundamental physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology knowledge to help you understand cardiovascular diagnostic tests.
You will also need to become confident in performing standard laboratory tests.
In addition, you need to know how to take vital sign measurements and heart monitoring equipment.
What tasks do EKG technicians usually perform?
You normally will monitor EKG or Holter readings and report the presence of potential heat-related illnesses and diseases.
Your day also may involve making suggestions to patients concerning how to manage their conditions under the direction of a physician.
How much time do I need for EKG technician training?
You may need about six months to complete EKG technician training, which will give you time to obtain classroom instruction and hands-on experience.
Depending on your schedule and motivation, you might even finish your classroom portion in three months.
Where would I work as an EKG technician?
You might find a job in a doctor’s office, assisted living facility, or a hospital.
Any other institution, such as a university or retirement home, that needs EKG staff might also hire you.
Do EKG Technicians and EMTs perform the same duties?
An EKG Technician might perform some of the same duties as an EMT, which respond to emergency situations.
However, the EKG might make performing heart readings in the back of an ambulance or at an accident scene a priority.
The EMT may end up administering CPR to patients who need urgent care.
Sometimes, EKG Techs and EMT staff may have credentials to fill duties of both roles.
Read the full guide: How to Become an EKG Technician
EKG Technician Schools by City
EKG Technician Schools by State