The Cardiology Technologist Diploma program delivered by Stenberg College has been accorded a 6-year accreditation status by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).
The Cardiology Technologist Diploma Program (combined delivery format) delivered by Stenberg College has been accorded a 6 year accreditation status by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). This combined delivery format (also known as ‘hybrid'), allows students in different regions to take our program while remaining in their home communities for all academic coursework with the possibility of short travel periods to complete orientation, lab and clinical program requirements.
There is an annual combined delivery program start in June enabling graduates to sit the Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT) national certification examination in September of the year following their intake. (ie. intake in June 2012 will graduate to sit in the September 2013 exam)
As a graduate of the Stenberg College Cardiology Technologist Diploma Program, you will be prepared to enter hospital and clinical settings with the skills necessary to conduct a wide variety of diagnostic procedures including ECG, Stress Tests, Holter Monitoring, and Event Monitoring.
You'll begin your career with total confidence, having spent significant amounts of time during your program with hands-on exercises and in clinical settings under professional supervision.
If you're interested in a career that combines cardiology and technology, keep reading to learn more about becoming a Cardiology Technologist...
Typical Job Duties
Some typical job duties of a Cardiology Technologist include:
Performing a standard 12-lead ECG
Performing a special lead ECG, such as 18-lead, Lewis lead, Fontaine leads, and signal averaging
Interpreting ECG tracings
Preparing patients for graded Exercise Tolerance Testing
Performing graded Exercise Tolerance Tests
Interpreting and recognizing arrhythmias (including life-threatening arrhythmias)
Hooking up Holter ambulatory monitors
Scanning Holter monitor recordings and generating reports for physicians
Hooking up 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitors
Generating reports from the ambulatory blood pressure monitors for physicians
Preparing and instructing patients in the use of cardiac event monitors
Generating reports from event monitors for physicians
Measuring pacemaker lead threshold during pacemaker lead implants
Performing phlebotomy
Potential Employers
As a Cardiology Technologist, you'll find opportunities for employment in:
Hospitals
Private clinics
Private laboratories
Cardiac diagnostic equipment companies (in sales or technical support)
Pharmaceutical companies
Program Goals
The Stenberg College Cardiology Technologist Program provides students with all the skills necessary for employment as a Cardiology Technologist in Canada and prepares students to write the Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT) National Examination.
The overall program goals are to prepare graduates who:
1. Demonstrate the knowledge base, skills and attitudes consistent with industry expectations for an entry level Cardiology Technologist as outlined in the CSCT National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP2007);
2. Excel in the Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT) national certification exam;
3. Gain employment in the field within 6 months (or less) of graduation.
Program Delivery Format
This full-time program is delivered in combined in-class and guided online learning formats, allowing students to complete the majority of the program within their respective home communities. As detailed further below, short periods of travel and/or commuting may also be required throughout the program for orientation, field experiences, lab-based training, and clinical rotations.
The first course, PRO100 Orientation & Student Success Skills, will be offered in a condensed face- to- face format over two days in Calgary and Winnipeg. This face-to-face delivery provides an important opportunity for students, faculty, and administration to meet each other in person. Students will also gain effective learning and study strategies and have a comprehensive orientation to their online learning platform (Moodle).
Students then spend the next twenty-six weeks completing academic coursework in a guided, interactive online learning environment. Experienced faculty members teach each of the courses, supporting students' learning through participation in forum discussions, live classroom meetings, teleconference sessions and tutorial sessions, and evaluation feedback. There will also be one integrated field experience during this period, for a hands-on introduction to cardiac procedures with a focus on selecting electrode sites and performing basic equipment maintenance and troubleshooting.
Lab skills will then be taught by one of our Regional Lab Instructors at a partner lab facility. Students will perform ECGs in order to meet program hands-on competency requirements. While this training will be conducted over a twenty day period (over three weeks), students will be divided into two groups so that their actual site-based requirement will only be ten days.
Students then return to their respective communities and complete another five weeks of coursework online before returning to the lab setting to gain hands-on practice performing Exercise Tolerance Testing and Phlebotomy. Lab practice will conducted over a twenty-three day period (four weeks); students will be divided into three groups so that their total lab training extends over a period of nine days per group.
Students then spend their final eight weeks finishing coursework online. Within this final eight weeks another 2-3 days of field experience training will be integrated (pacemaker and health information systems/computer training) and the students then start their twelve week clinical preceptorship. The clinical preceptorship is an exciting time for students as they come to realize how well the program has prepared them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed within the workplace. Sites are selected carefully to ensure that students are able to fulfill clinical competency requirements; students may be required to rotate during their clinical preceptorship in order to gain all required experiences. Travel and/or commuting may be required over this twelve week period. The final course, MED160 Program Review, will be delivered online. During this final course, students will be registered for our free online exam preparation course that supports students in their review of core program material prior to the next sitting of the national examination.
Please note that all arrangements and expenses for travel (including accommodation, local transit and meals) will be the student's responsibility.
Wages and Career Outlook
Wage and career outlook information is difficult to predict. Unlike other occupations, opportunities in healthcare are driven by current government policy rather than the business cycle. Based on employment statistics gathered by Stenberg College, wages for Registered Cardiology Technologists range between $26.18 - $39.26 per hour depending on experience and location. The NOC is 3217 for Cardiology Technologists. The following list shows some other sources for career research. By no means is this a comprehensive list, but it is a place to start:
Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (C.S.C.T.), www.csct.ca
Alberta Society of Registered Cardiology Technologists (A.S.R.C.T.), http://www.asrct.com/
Saskatchewan Cardiology Technologists Association (S.C.T.A.), www.scta.ca
Is This Program for You?
It is if you:
Like a fast-paced work environment with a variety of daily tasks
Would like to work side-by-side with specialists such as cardiologists and interns in diagnosing cardiac diseases
Want to contribute to the wellness of others
Can see yourself working in hospitals or diagnostic clinics with various healthcare professionals
Are technically inclined and comfortable with technology/machinery
Program Admission Requirements
Applicant suitability for the program/field is determined through the quality of the admissions application along with a candidate's personal and professional qualifications as explored through the interview process.
Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent
Grade 12 Biology (minimum grade C+)
Grade 12 English (minimum grade C+)
Grade 11 Math or Grade 12 Applied Math (minimum grade C+)
Grade 11 Science – Chemistry or Physics (minimum grade C+)
Grade 12 equivalent score on the Canadian Adult Achievement Test Level D: reading comprehension and mathematics
Successful completion of a short written essay
First Aid Certification (Minimum Level: HCP-CPR-AED) – must be valid at time of clinical preceptorship
Passing Verbal Test of English if English is a Second Language
Passing formal entrance interview with a score of 70% or more
Final selection interview
Students must provide the following to their Program Advisor prior to program start:
Acceptable Criminal Record Check (CRC) - may also be required to submit a second CRC, three months prior to the practical experience
Acceptable medical examination report
Immunizations as required by industry at time of application
NB: Negative TB test report or clear chest X-ray will also need to be provided to College 6 months prior to date of clinical preceptorship start.
Duration and Financing
Duration: 60 weeks including a practicum
NB: While online, academic coursework is delivered in a 25 hr/week format (Monday- Friday, 5hrs/day). Live class sessions will be pre- scheduled for 2 hrs each week. Financing: You could be eligible for government student loans and other financing options; the Stenberg College Financial Aid Officer would be happy to provide further assistance.
