Rhythm and beat

Your heartbeat - the electrical rhythms of your heart - tell an important story in your overall health. Learn how to record and assess the cardiovascular health of your patients.

EKG Certificate

Electrocardiography training in 15 weeks.

Labouré’s certificate in EKG is a flexible, fast, and mostly online program. Over 15 weeks, you'll learn about the heart and cardiovascular system, and how to administer the electrocardiogram (EKG), a noninvasive test that records the electrical rhythm of the heart.

As an EKG student in the certificate program, you:

Learn about the heart, circulatory system, and conduction
Learn about the EKG terminology, equipment, lead placement, reading an EKG, arrhythmias and blocks, calculations, codes and more
Can finish the program in 4 months, earning 7 college credits
Become eligible to take the national EKG certification exam

What's an EKG?

The EKG measures the electrical rhythms of a patient's heart via small electrode patches that are attached to the patient's skin - usually on the chest, arms, and legs.

Each heartbeat includes 2 waves - the 'thump-thump' sound you hear when you listen to a heartbeat. By measuring the timing of these waves, doctors and healthcare providers can learn whether a patient's heartbeat is too fast, too slow, just right, or irregular, or if some parts of the heart are working harder than others.

Why EKG?

EKGs are used for a number of reasons. They can help:

Identify heart rhythms - normal, fast, slow, or irregular (arrhythmia)
Determine if the patient has poor blood flow or blocked arteries
Determine if the patient is having a heart attack, or has previously had a heart attack
Identify problems with heart valves
Check up on heart disease treatment devices, like pacemakers

Doctor checking pulse of elderly patient beside hovering futuristic screen displaying ECG data

EKG Stats

minutes is the approximate length of time to hook up and record a standard EKG

12%

approximate projected growth in the field including cardiovascular technologists between 2019 - 2029

college credits you can apply to an associate or bachelor's degree

Curriculum

As a student in the EKG program, you will learn the knowledge and skills necessary for critical jobs in the healthcare industry.

There are two courses in the EKG program. Below, we'll give you a brief description of each course.

3 credits

This course introduces the student to proficiencies needed by healthcare professionals. Topics included are necessities in all healthcare professions and include historic and current healthcare systems, professional qualities of a healthcare professional, diversity in healthcare, infection control, safety, medical terminology, anatomy basics, nutrition, vital signs, first aid, and health career exploration.

4 credits

This course explores the principles of electrocardiography (EKG) and the advanced topics necessary to become certified and employed as an EKG technician in the medical setting. Anatomy and function of the circulatory system are reviewed and includes basic function and structure with the conduction system and associated terminology and abbreviations. Topics also covered include equipment and supplies needed for electrocardiography, the electrocardiography procedure, reading and interpretation of an EKG, stress testing, Holter monitor procedure, cardiac abnormalities, circulatory abnormalities.

Laboratory component required with minimum of 10 performed EKGs.

Prerequisites: HSC 1010

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Admission and Tuition

Courses start each Spring (January) and Fall (September). You may apply at any time for the next upcoming start date.

Application

All applicants are responsible for submitting or completing the following:

Completed application for admission, with non-refundable application fee
Documentation of high school graduation, GED completion, or other state approved equivalency credential
Official college transcript(s) from all institutions attended (if applicable)
Copy of any professional licenses, registrations, or certificates (if applicable)

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from an American high school or college may be asked to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Admissions Criteria

The Admissions team evaluates all applicants on the following minimum criteria and prerequisites outlined below.

Evidence of graduation from an accredited high school, completion of a GED with a minimum standard score of 150 for each test, or completion of the HiSET with a minimum standard score of 45
An overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
A strong foundation in reading, writing, mathematics, and science

Prerequisites:

No specific coursework is required.

Questions? Contact your admissions counselor or give us a call at (617) 812-6684.

2023-2024 Tuition and Fees

Tuition is based on the number of credits you take each semester. The cost is $325 per credit for all EKG courses, plus the cost of books and supplies.

Additional fees include:

Admissions Application Fee: $25
Matriculation Fee: $250 (paid by the Admission Deposit)
Registration fee: $100 per semester
Lab fee: $40 for each clinical practicum in EKG
Technology Fee: $40 per credit
Graduation Fee: $50
- This fee will be charged in the last semester at the college to cover the cost of graduation processing.

All fees are non-refundable

Continuing education options

You can combine certificates, or add on an associate or bachelor's degree program.

The EKG certificate can be taken alone, taken with the phlebotomy or gerontology certificates, or taken as part of the Associate of Science in Health Science program.

Students who earn the associate degree in Health Science - or have another similar associate degree in a healthcare field - can apply for the 2-year bachelor's completion program in Healthcare Administration.

Learn more about pathways

Request more information about this program

Download a program brochure immediately and receive an email from our Admissions team containing information about the admissions process, tuition, courses and more.

Certificates

Associate Degree

Bachelor Degree

Pathways