Trade Schools
EKG Technicians are responsible for performing non-invasive tests that help physicians diagnose and prevent cardiac issues.
Their job descriptions usually include operating and caring for test devices or equipment and explaining procedures and processes to patients.
Iowa residents who want to start a career in the healthcare industry without spending years in post-secondary education are invited to read our collection of top EKG training schools in their state.
To prepare students for employment in entry-level positions, most programs cover tasks such as:
- Evaluating a patient and explaining the procedures
- Verifying patients’ identity
- Performing EKGs
- Performing point-of-care testing
- Preparing test results for the doctor
Most programs take only a few months to complete and prepare you for entry-level employment in this industry.
After reading our list, we invite you to continue your research and decide what program best meets your needs and career aspirations.
1Mercy College of Health Sciences
About the School
Mercy College of Health Sciences offers a variety of continuing education classes online and on-campus through its Center of Continuing Education.
The courses are designed to meet students’ needs.
The Advanced EKG course available at the college supports the effort of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline(R) to improve the quality of care and the outcomes in patients who have suffered a heart attack.
The Advanced EKG course curriculum is based on the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC.
The course covers patient assessment and treatment.
The college recommends that students have previous experience or basic EKG knowledge.
The course costs $150 per participant.
Contact Information
- Address: 928 6th Ave. Des Moines, IA
- Phone: (515) 635-1133
- Website: https://www.mchs.edu
2ECG Training Specialists
About the School
ECG Training Specialists offers ECG training programs at several locations across the United States, including California, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, and Indiana.
ECG Training Specialists offers an ECG Training & Certification program that prepares students with everything they need to know to work as an ECG Tech.
Courses Offered
The ECG/EKG Training Class at ECG Training Specialists is 20 hours in length.
Students spend time learning about the heart, the cardiovascular system, and how the heart works.
After completing the book training students spend time doing hands-on performances of ECGs on fellow students, friends, and family.
The ECG/EKG curriculum includes:
- Coronary Anatomy and Physiology
- Electrophysiology
- Lead Placement
- Technical Aspects
- Heart Rate Calculation
- Basics of Cardiac Pharmacology
- Introduction to Diagnostic Electrocardiography
- Troubleshooting artifacts and other anomalies
- And more
Tuition costs range from $445 to $995, depending on location.
Contact Information
- Address:397 State St. #101 Clearfield, UT 84015
- Phone: 701-404-9434
- Website: https://ecgtrainingspecialists.com/ecg-center-locations
3American Society of Electrocardiogram Technicians
About the School
The American Society of Electrocardiogram Technicians offers an EKG Technician Training program in Iowa City.
According to its website, the American Society of Electrocardiogram Technicians provides a cost-effective, user-friendly certification experience.
The school offers an EKG Certification program at many locations across the United States.
Its members have access to high-qualified national certification, and competency-based programs designed to be completed at their own pace.
Courses Offered
The EKG training program consists of 40-48 class hours and 20-40 clinical hours.
Classes typically have between 10-30 students.
To qualify for enrollment, prospective students need:
- High school diploma or GED
- Be over the age of 18
- Have a clean background check
- Negative Hepatitis test
- Negative TB test
- Immunization records
Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion.
Students learn how to complete tasks such as:
- Evaluating a patient and explaining procedures
- Verifying patients identity
- Performing EKGs
- Performing point-of-care testing
- Preparing test results for the doctor
- Maintaining the area and equipment.
Contact Information
- Address: 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite 1025, Washington D.C. 20006
- Phone: (888) 797-9354
- Website: https://ekgcert.org
4Iowa Western
About the School
Iowa Western offers a Certified EKG Technician program that prepares students for a career as an EKG Technician.
The asynchronous course trains students to work as an EKG tech and prepares them for the National Healthcareer Association nationally recognized Certified EKG Technician certification exam.
Courses Offered
The EKG Technician syllabus includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Introduction: EKG Technician
- Safety and Patient Care
- Patient Vital Signs
- Electronic Medical Records
- Patient Preparation and Positioning
- Lead Placement and Positioning
- Lead Placement and Artifacts
- Heart Electrical Physiology
- EKG Interpretation: Pacemakers
- And more
This program includes 170 course hours and can be completed in 12 months.
Contact Information
- Address: 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.ed2go.com
5St. Ambrose University
About the School
Located in Davenport, St. Ambrose University provides a variety of workforce development programs.
Among many other career paths, St. Ambrose University offers an online EKG Technician Certificate Program.
Students enrolled in this program prepare to play a vital role in diagnosing and monitoring cardiac conditions.
The program offers a flexible online learning environment and a curriculum designed to be completed by students in less than 12 months.
Students attend classes 15 to 20 hours per week.
Tuition for this program is $2,000.
The program covers medical terminology and disease processes that affect the heart and patient’s health.
Students who complete the program are prepared to explain procedures to patients, monitor blood pressure, properly position patients for an EKG scan, apply Holter monitors, and assist cardiologists with stress testing.
The program prepares students for certification through the National Healthcareer Association as a Certified EKG Technician.
Students have flexible scheduling options, allowing them to balance their studies with personal commitments.
Contact Information
- Address: 518 W Locust St, Davenport, IA 52803
- Phone: 877-462-0521
- Website: https://workforce.sau.edu
6AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare
About the School
AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare offers interactive learning, board exam prep, patient simulations, and an on-demand virtual tutor.
The programs are designed to help students get started with a healthcare career.
Online and on-campus courses are available at the institute.
Among many other allied health programs, AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare offers a fully online EKG Technician program.
The course includes one-on-one mentorship.
Courses Offered
The EKG Technician curriculum includes courses on topics such as:
- Fundamentals of Electrocardiography
- EKG Interpretation and Analysis
- Patient Care and Electrode Placement
- Equipment Operation and Maintenance
The course includes:
- 12-month access to online learning content
- Virtual clinical simulations
- Interactive study guides and knowledge assessment
- 3D interactive anatomy simulations
- Virtual EKG patient readings
- Video demonstrations
- Board examination prep and materials
Tuition for the EKG program is $1,350.
Contact Information
- Phone: (866) 348 – 6920
- Website: https://www.alliedrxtraining.com
7Parkland College
About the School
Parkland College offers an EKG Technician program that combines theory and practice to provide instruction on all aspects of EKG technology and patient care.
Students learn the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, appropriate patient care, and how to properly conduct an electrocardiogram.
The program also covers knowledge on how to diagnose different rhythms discovered through ECG tests.
Additional topics include the use of pacemakers, as well as ECG cardiogram artifacts, and the 12-lead ECG and acute myocardial infarction.
Tuition for this program is $949.
After completing the program students will have the knowledge and confidence to be able to take EKG Technician Certification national certification exam offered by the AMCA.
The program is available online 24/7 and can be completed by students from the comfort of their homes.
Contact Information
- Address: 1315 N Mattis Ave Champaign, IL 61821
- Phone: 217/351-2235
- Website: https://parkland.augusoft.net
8Mississippi State University
About the School
Among many other career education paths, Mississippi State University offers an EKG Technician program that includes 224 course hours through its Center for Continuing Education.
This program costs $2,799.
EKG Technician students prepare for work in hospitals, clinics, cardiac centers, and private practices.
Students who complete advanced training programs receive a certificate of completion from the MSU Center for Continuing Education.
The program is available in partnership with CareerStep.
The online program comes with all the learning content and exercises they need to be prepared to get certified and ready for work at a hospital or clinic near them.
MSU Center for Continuing Education offers a wide range of advanced career training programs where students can interact and learn with their peers while connecting with expert instructors.
EKG training courses are also available as part of the Patient Care Technician and Medical Assistant training programs offered by Mississippi State University.
Contact Information
- Address: 365 Barr Ave/P.O. Box 5441, Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Phone: (662) 325-5002
- Website: https://ce.extension.msstate.edu
9Florida Agricultural Mechanical University
About the School
Florida Agricultural Mechanical University offers an Electrocardiography Technician Certification Training.
This in-depth course trains students to apply, monitor, and measure electrocardiography tests in a flexible, online learning environment.
Students learn subjects needed to earn a nationally recognized EKG technician certification.
These include:
- Measuring basic vital signs
- Performing rapid response procedures
- Operating and EKG machine
- Identifying rhythms
The course offers enrollment with a voucher for the Certified EKG Technician Specialist certification exam of the Certified EKG Technician certification exam.
Courses Offered
The EKG Technician curriculum includes the following in its course list:
- Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology
- Infection Control
- Communication and Legal Issues in Healthcare
- History of EKG
- EKG Introduction
- EKG Interpretation
- EKG Application Theory
- EKG Application Procedure
Contact Information
- Address: 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32307
- Phone: (850) 599-3000
- Website: https://www.famu.edu
10Elite Medical Academy
About the School
A Florida-based school, Elite Medical Academy offers an online EKG training program.
The school offers CNA Training, Med Tech Training, EKG Training, and CPR Training.
The school provides online classes and live, in-person classes for students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field.
Courses Offered
The EKG Technician Training course prepares students for work at hospitals, cardiologist offices, surgery centers, mobile EKG technicians, and more.
Students prepare to administer diagnostic tests to patients pre-surgery or to patients who may have cardiac problems.
This program costs $129.
According to the academy’s website, 95% of the school’s students pass their state board exams on the first try.
The exam fee is $99 and includes one attempt on the final exam, additional practice exams, and study material straight from the National Performance Specialist.
Contact Information
- Address: 2600 E Bay Dr. Suite 210, Largo, FL 33771
- Phone: (727) 614-8400
- Website: https://www.elitemedacademy.com
Regional Salary in Iowa
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 40 | $65,540 | $31.51 | $108,710 | $38,740 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 50 | $66,570 | $32.01 | $95,790 | $38,750 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 180 | $59,480 | $28.6 | $82,820 | $37,120 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 40 | $66,970 | $32.2 | $83,100 | $50,760 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of some of the best training options available to Iowa residents who want to become EKG Technicians, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style, budget, and career aspirations.
Take your time and make sure you gather information about all the relevant factors before making your choice.
