Occupational Profile

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Cardiology Technologist

Cardiology technologists perform cardiology tests to provide information needed in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Avg. Salary $62,914.00
Avg. Wage $36.60
Minimum Education 1 year post-secondary
Outlook N/A
In Demand High

Also Known As

Health Care Technologist, Heart Health Technologist, Medical Technologist

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years

N/A

Average Wage

Starting

Overall

Top

Certification Not Regulated
Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

NOC & Interest Codes

The Cardiology Technologist is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Cardiology Technologists NOC 3217

Cardiology Technologists

NOC code: 3217

OBJECTIVE: Interest in operating electrocardiogram and other electronic equipment to record cardiac activity of patients; in checking cardiology equipment to ensure proper operation; and in reprogramming pacemakers according to standards
METHODICAL: Interest in speaking with physicians and other health care professionals about test results; in performing cardiovascular procedures and tests, such as electrocardiograms, exercise tolerance tests, ambulatory monitoring and scanning of tapes, pacemaker analysis and follow-up, and echocardiogram; and in providing patients with care during procedures and tests; may administer certain drugs under direct supervision of physicians; may document and record pacemaker implant threshold measurements under direct supervision of cardiac surgeon
innovative: Interest in compiling and recording the results of cardiac activity to aid in the diagnosis of heart disease; may analyze tests

Reading Interest Codes

A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn More

Duties

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Cardiology technologists work with other health care professionals involved in diagnostic testing, monitoring and heart function evaluation. They may use a variety of electronic monitoring equipment for:

electrocardiography
multi-stage stress testing
holter monitor analysis
arrhythmia monitor analysis
tilt table testing
pacemaker clinics
blood pressure analysis.

In general, cardiology technologists:

prepare patients for testing by explaining procedures
obtain medical history information
ensure patient comfort and safety during procedures
implement resuscitation measures when necessary
prepare testing information from diagnostic procedures for physician interpretation
immediately notify physicians and nursing staff when they recognize life-threatening arrhythmias (heartbeats)
maintain equipment and troubleshoot technical problems
administer certrain drugs under the supervision of physicians
supervise or train students in cardiology technology programs
assist in research projects.

Cardiology technologists must keep up to date with changing technologies.

Working Conditions

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Cardiology technologists work rotating shifts in health care environments. Their work is physically demanding: they are on their feet most of the time and may be expected to help lift and move patients who cannot move on their own.

Cardiology technologists must follow standard infection control procedures.

Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

Skills & Abilities

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Cardiology technologists work with people who are not feeling well and may be afraid of test procedures. Technologists must be:

professional, mature and self-confident
able to communicate empathy and reassurance to patients
able to pay close attention to details
able to think and act quickly and appropriately in emergency situations
able to work with little direct supervision
able to function well as part of a team
organized.

They should enjoy working with computers and electronic equipment at tasks requiring precision, having clear guidelines and established methods for their work, and compiling and recording test results.

Educational Requirements

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Employers may prefer to hire graduates with related two-year diploma programs. Alberta employers generally require applicants for cardiology technology positions to be registered members of the Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT) and the Alberta Society of Cardiology Technologists (ASCT).

In eastern Canada, the following post-secondary schools offer training programs related to cardiology technology:

Everest College in Hamilton, Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario.
Mowhawk College of Applied Art and Technology in Hamilton, Ontario.

In general, the entrance requirement is a high school diploma with related science courses, or equivalent. For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.

Employment & Advancement

Updated Apr 10, 2017

Most cardiology technologists work in hospital cardiology departments. Some are employed in private laboratories and clinics. In smaller rural hospitals, they may have other duties (for example, medical laboratory services) which require additional training (see the Medical Laboratory Technologist occupational profile).

Without additional education, advancement opportunities in this occupation are limited.

Cardiology technologists are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3217: Cardiology Technologists and Electrophysiological Diagnostic Technologists, n.e.c. In Alberta, 98% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry)
location in Alberta
employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary

Updated Apr 10, 2017

For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.

Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c. NOC 3217

Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c.

NOC code: 3217

Survey Methodology

Survey Analysis

Overall Wage Details

Average Wage

Average Salary

Hours Per Week

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees

Low
High
Average
Median

Starting

Overall

Top

Wages*	Low (5th percentile)	High (95th percentile)	Average	Median
Starting	$25.00	$38.03	$30.64	$28.90
Overall	$29.50	$47.97	$36.60	$34.04
Top	$35.00	$49.04	$40.07	$37.48

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

B: Good Reliability

Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Industry Information

Health Care & Social Assistance

ALBERTA, ALL INDUSTRIES

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years

N/A

Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties

N/A

Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months

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2015 Vacancy Rate

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Related High School Subjects

English Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
Health, Recreation and Human Services
- Health Care Services
- Human and Social Services