Electrocardiograph (EKG) technicians use specialized equipment that measures the heart’s electrical activity.
Physicians or other medical professionals review the information from an EKG to evaluate the patient’s health for heart-related issues.
EKG technicians in Ohio have a variety of responsibilities, such as interacting with patients, positioning the patients for the test, and placing the electrode patches in their specific positions.
The technicians understand these and other duties when they complete the requirements to become an EKG technician in Ohio.
The profession provides Ohioans with an opportunity to work in the medical field without completing four years of college and several years of medical school.
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Licensing Requirements to Become an EKG Technician in Ohio
Ohio does not have specific licensing requirements for EKG technicians who work in the state.
That does not mean that Ohio’s EKG technicians do not have professional education or training.
EKG technicians prep patients and explain the procedure.
They obtain a baseline record of the patient’s heart function.
They also deliver the test results to physicians, nurse practitioners, or other medical professionals.
Ohio EKG technicians need a high school diploma or GED and to be at least 18 years of age.
Many employers have educational requirements, or prior experience requirements that applicants must meet before being hired as an EKG technician.
One example is that the Cleveland Clinic requires EKG technicians to either have six months of training as an EKG technician or that applicants have completed an accredited EKG technician program.
5 EKG Technician Schools in Ohio
Completing an EKG technician program provides people who want to work in the profession with the opportunity to shine among their peer applicants.
It also meets the requirements of many Ohio employers.
It is important that future EKG technicians check program details to make sure that the program meets their goals and their employer’s job requirements.
Many EKG technician programs prepare students to sit for a national certification.
Franklin University
Franklin University provides students with the opportunity to complete the EKG Tech Certificate Online program.
It is a beginner-level certificate program.
The program includes courses that are taken over two to three months.
Courses include Professionalism in Allied Health, Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology, and Electrocardiography.
The program costs $2,000. It prepares students to sit for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam.
Great Oaks Career Campuses 
Great Oaks Career Campuses offers a 50-hour EKG Technician short-term certificate program.
The program, located at the Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Cincinnati, is a 100 percent in-class program.
Learn the anatomy and physiology of the heart, medical terminology, stress testing, and electrocardiography.
Get hands-on practice with EKG equipment.
The hands-on labs train students in the proper use and function of EKG machines.
Students also learn lead placement and the legal aspects of patient contact.
The cost of the program is $1,399, which includes the tuition, the book, and other study materials.
It also includes the national exam fee.
Students who are not currently CPR-certified pay an additional $50.
Ohio School of Phlebotomy
The Ohio School of Phlebotomy recognizes the importance of providing students with a rigorous curriculum to provide program graduates with comprehensive EKG training.
The beginner-level EKG Technician program is a six-week program.
Students learn EKG recording and basic interpretation, stress testing, and Holter monitoring.
They also learn patient preparation, cardiac anatomy, and EKG administration.
Students also learn hands-on patient care techniques.
Graduates can sit for the national exam through the National Healthcare Administration (NHA) to become a Certified EKG Technician.
The cost of the program is $50 registration fee, $500 tuition, $100 books and supplies fee, and $150 lab fee.
Central Ohio Technical College 
The Central Ohio Technical College offers an Electrocardiograph Technician Short-term Certificate program.
The two-semester program is taught in an in-class format.
Students learn medical terminology, human anatomy, knowledge of cardiac electrophysiology, and appropriate diagnostic studies.
They also engage in hands-on learning experiences.
Tuition and fees are $2,568. The books and supplies are $600.
Columbus State Community College 
The three-credit hour Basic Electrocardiography (EKG) Certificate program at Columbus State Community College includes classroom instruction and 16 hours of clinical experience.
Students learn proper 12-lead placement, introduction to healthcare, and anatomy and physiology of the heart.
They also learn the explanation of results and basic dysrhythmia recognition.
The tuition is $177.93 per credit hour. Books, supplies, and fees are not included in the cost of tuition.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Franklin University | 201 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215, United States |
| Great Oaks Career Campuses | 110 Great Oaks Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45241, United States |
| Ohio School of Phlebotomy | 17 Aldrich Rd, Columbus, OH 43214, United States |
| Central Ohio Technical College | 1179 University Dr, Newark, OH 43055, United States |
| Columbus State Community College | 550 E Spring St, Columbus, OH 43215, United States |
Salary
The average salary for EKG technicians in Ohio is $41,900.
The salary for EKG technicians depends on several factors.
The experience that an EKG technician has when working in Ohio affects their median salary.
A new EKG technician will not make the same salary as someone who has 10 years of experience.
The Ohio city where EKG technicians work also affects their salary.
The median salary for an EKG technician in Akron is $41,000, while the average salary for an EKG technician in Cleveland is $42,200.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbus | $42,100 |
| Cleveland | $42,300 |
| Cincinnati | $41,900 |
| Toledo | $41,400 |
| Akron | $41,100 |
| Dayton | $41,600 |
| Portsmouth | $39,100 |
| Youngstown | $40,300 |
| Canton | $40,300 |
| Lorain | $41,797 |
Regional Salary in Ohio
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 140 | $61,200 | $29.42 | $80,400 | $37,660 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 410 | $66,650 | $32.04 | $94,110 | $38,760 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 500 | $72,210 | $34.72 | $93,820 | $41,800 |
| Columbus, OH | 450 | $69,360 | $33.35 | $96,890 | $41,850 |
| Dayton, OH | 160 | $66,480 | $31.96 | $94,650 | $35,410 |
| Lima, OH | 40 | $65,940 | $31.7 | $81,020 | $34,670 |
| Toledo, OH | 220 | $67,940 | $32.66 | $81,140 | $40,350 |
| Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | 70 | $56,840 | $27.33 | $77,310 | $34,150 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Ohio EKG technician programs meet the requirements to sit for national certifications?
Check with the school that you wish to attend before enrolling in the program.
Some programs do not list certification preparation on their site.
Do I have to have a college degree to become an EKG technician in Ohio?
Many EKG programs are short-term certificate programs.
Some colleges allow students to apply their EKG technician program credits to a degree program.
Is there a fee to sit for a national EKG technician certification?
Check with individual Ohio EKG technician schools.
The cost of sitting for exams or certification is often included in the total tuition.
EKG Technician Info by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
