5 states, 7 campuses

EKG Technician Certification Course

In-person EKG technician certification classes at 7 campuses in Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington: one day, no prior experience needed, from $343 all in.

Welcome to our EKG Technician certification course with locations across the USA. We use the best instructors and up to date syllabus in every location we teach.

Find a campus near you

Basic EKG Course

Our Basic EKG course is a hands-on introduction to performing electrocardiograms in a clinical setting. You’ll learn what an EKG actually measures, how to set up and operate the machine, and how to prepare a patient for the procedure — including skin prep, positioning, and explaining the process to keep patients comfortable.

From there, you’ll practice accurate lead placement for a standard 12-lead tracing, learn to recognize common problems like artifact and loose leads, and troubleshoot them before the tracing goes out. You’ll also learn the documentation side of the job: labeling the tracing correctly, recording patient information, and getting a clean, complete report into the chart for the physician to review.

No prior medical experience is required. This course trains you to produce accurate, usable tracings — interpretation and diagnosis remain the responsibility of the physician.

What you will learn

The heart

Coronary anatomy and physiology. Heart location, functionality, vessels, valves, layers, structures, and how the heart relates to the nervous system.
Electrophysiology. Polarization, depolarization, repolarization, waves, complexes, intervals and segments; electrical issues surrounding the heart.

Running an EKG

Lead placement. Names, functions and placement for all leads on an ECG, and troubleshooting faulty leads. Practice up to 20 live EKGs in class.
Technical aspects. Safety, controls and functions, and telling artifact apart from rhythm.
EKG routine. The process from start to finish, including patient identification through the record and printout.

Reading the strip

Heart rate calculation. The three types of rhythm irregularity, and methods for calculating heart rate on a range of rhythm strips.
Basics of rhythm strip interpretation. A systematic approach to basic interpretation of rhythm strips and heart rates.
Commonly seen heart rhythms. The most common heart rhythms, abnormal rhythms and their potential effect on the patient, and basic rhythm strip identification.

Beyond the basics

Basics of cardiac pharmacology. A level-appropriate overview of common cardiac drugs, their uses and potential side effects.
Introduction to diagnostic electrocardiography. Cardiac stress testing, Holter monitoring and other cardiac monitors used to diagnose and monitor heart conditions.

Questions about the EKG course

Where can I take the EKG course?

At 7 campuses in Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington: Phoenix, Beaverton, Houston, Bedford, Murray, Orem and Federal Way.

How much does it cost?

$343 to $443 in all, depending on the campus, including the national exam fee. A $100 deposit holds your seat and the balance is due before class begins. Everything you pay is fully refundable if you ask within 3 business days of registering.

How long is the course?

One day: 4 hours or 8 hours in class, depending on the campus.