Trade Schools
EKG technicians are healthcare professionals who perform diagnostic tests that help doctors identify cardiovascular problems in patients.
The skills needed for this profession can be learned at many trade schools and community colleges in Texas.
Programs can be completed in only a few weeks or months and are designed to prepare students for entry-level employment and national certification.
Most programs prepare students to complete 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
The courses take only a few months to complete and prepare students 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.
1Central Texas College
About the School
Central Texas College offers a variety of on-campus, online, and blended programs.
CTC is a public, open-admission community college offering associate degrees and certificate programs in academic, professional, and career and technical fields.
Courses Offered
The EKG Technician program at Central Texas College consists of 108 hours of accelerated classroom training with an emphasis on skills mastery through hands-on practice and supervision.
Optional clinical training is also available and explores students the fundamentals of the diverse roles and practices of EKG in an institutional healthcare setting.
The course consists of 48 hours of in-depth hands-on training that teaches students about the proper use of the EKG machine, 12-lead placement, and interpretation.
This course costs $649.
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 1800, Killeen, TX 76540-1800
- Phone: 800-223-4760
- Website: https://www.ctcd.edu
2University of Houston
About the School
The University of Houston offers a variety of online and special programs.
The EKG Technician Training program at the University of Houston is a fully online program.
After completing this course, students are prepared to take the Certified EKG Technician exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
Courses Offered
The course has the following objectives:
- Medical terminology, including the structures and functions of the human body
- Understanding what an EKG technician does and how to perform on the job
- Working with doctors, nurses, and other professionals
- Becoming eligible to sit for the Certified EKG Technician certification exam
- And more
The curriculum includes:
- The Musculoskeletal System
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Introduction: EKG Technician
- Patient Vital Signs
- Electronic Medical Records
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Lead Placement and Artifacts
- Heart Electrical Physiology
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: Houston, Texas 77204
- Phone: (713) 743-2255
- Website: https://www.uh.edu
3Houston Community College
About the School
Houston Community College offers training programs for EKG technicians.
Students are trained to record and monitor the heart’s electrical activity.
They receive hands-on training in preparing patients for various methods of EKG testing, Holter monitoring, and exercise stress testing.
EKG technician courses at Houston Community College are designed to prepare students to take a national certification exam.
Students are required to meet the following requirements:
- Proof of completion of Hepatitis B vaccine series
- Criminal background check
- Drug screening
- CPR certification
- Hospital scrubs and student identification badge
- Flu shot
- Current immunizations
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes the following courses:
- EKG Lab 1- 12 Lead
- EKG Lab 2- Stress Testing
- Electrocardiography
- Electrocardiography Clinical
Tuition for this program is $1,706
Contact Information
- Address: Suite 205 6815 E. Rustic St., Houston, TX 77087
- Phone: 713.718.7031
- Website: https://www.hccs.edu
4University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
About the School
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers Continuing Education programs that meet the necessary requirements to take the National Healthcareer Association Certified EKG Technician national examination.
The program covers topics and processes critical to conducting and interpreting electrocardiograms.
Learners start with a review of the anatomy and physiology of the heart.
From there, they go on to explore the technology used such as the EKG machine.
Next, students learn how to interpret a rhythm strip.
Finally, learners discover the details of a myocardial infarction.
Courses Offered
The program covers the following learning outcomes:
- Apply the basic electrophysiologic principles of cardiac conduction
- Identify proper placement of leads
- Evaluate various EKG rhythms
- Analyze a variety of EKG rhythm strips
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1407 E Freddy Gonzalez, CESS Building, Rm. 1700, Edinburg, TX 78539-2999
- Phone: (956) 665-2071
- Website: https://www.utrgv.edu
5University of Houston Downtown
About the School
The University of Houston Downtown offers an EKG technician program that prepares students for work in physician’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities and organizations.
The course covers the following key areas and topics:
- Detailed anatomy and physiology of the heart
- Medical disease processes and terminology
- Medical ethics and legal aspects
- Electrocardiography and echocardiography
- The normal anatomy of the chest
- And more
EKG technicians should have a high school diploma or GED.
Several EKG technician national certification exams are available to students.
The online course costs $1,199.
Students have the flexibility of attending class from anywhere or at any time.
Contact Information
- Address: One Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
- Phone: 713-221-8000
- Website: https://www.uhd.edu
6Texas State University
Texas State University teaches bold, creative minds, using new technology and hands-on experiences.
Courses Offered
The Certified EKG Technician program available at Texas State University trains students to apply, monitor, and measure electrocardiography tests in a flexible, online learning environment.
After completing the course students are prepared to take the Certified EKG Technician exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
The curriculum includes the following objectives:
- Learning medical terminology
- Understanding how to perform the EKG technician job
- Working with doctors, nurses, and other professionals to provide essential healthcare
- Becoming eligible to sit for the Certified EKG Technician certification exam
Contact Information
- Address: 302 ASB-North, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666-4616
- Phone: 512.245.2322
- Website: https://www.distancelearning.txst.edu
7Alamo Colleges District
About the School
Alamo Colleges District offers five colleges where a vast array of problems and two-year degrees are available.
The credits transfer to four-year universities for students pursuing bachelor’s or higher degrees.
More than 350 degree and certificate programs are available.
Courses Offered
The Electrocardiography Technician program at Alamo Colleges District is available in a hybrid format.
Students prepare for the Certified EKG Technician exam.
They learn to operate as Certified Cardiograph Technicians.
Cardiograph technicians diagnose and/or treat patients with heart conditions and may perform electrocardiography tests, create sonographic images, install catheters, help with surgery, and assist physicians in diagnosis, and treatment.
An exam voucher is included.
The program includes the following courses:
- Medical Terminology
- Electrocardiography
- EKG Lab/Externship
- EKG Certification Prep
The program can be completed in eight months.
Tuition is $3,774.
Contact Information
- Address: 2222 N. Alamo St. San Antonio, Texas 78215
- Website: https://www.alamo.edu
8Texas A&M University Corpus Cristi
About the School
Texas A&M University Corpus Cristi provides an asynchronous course that prepares students for employment as EKG techs and teaches the skills needed for the National Healthcareer Association nationally recognized Certified EKG Technician certification exam.
The course is open enrollment.
Students can register and start the course whenever they are ready.
After registration, they have 12 months to complete the course.
Courses Offered
During the duration of this program, students learn:
- Concepts of cardiac anatomy and physiology, infection control, and standard precautions
- Proper machine protocols and maintenance
- Electrocardiography interpretation of various types of EKGs
- Proper communication methods within clinical scenarios
- The theoretical knowledge of an EKG Technician
Students become prepared to take the CET certification from NHA and receive a voucher after completing the course.
This program costs $1,995.
Contact Information
- Address: 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit Number 5854, Workforce Development, Corpus Christi, TX 78412 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://workforcetraining.tamucc.edu
9North Central Texas College
About the School
North Central Texas College provides a variety of career and technical education and dual credit programs.
Courses Offered
Among a variety of other programs, North Central Texas College offers an EKG/Telemetry Technician program designed to function as an additional certification for people already working in the allied health profession and for those who want to find an entry-level hospital job.
The course requires 64 lecture/lab contact hours.
Students can attempt the CET certification exam offered through the National Healthcare Association after successfully completing the classroom hours.
Applicants must be over the age of 18.
They also need a high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts.
Contact Information
- Address: 1525 West California St. Gainesville, TX 76240
- Phone: (940) 668-7731
- Website: https://www.nctc.edu
10Navarro College
About the School
Navarro College offers an EKG Technician program that teaches students how to set up and administer EKGs and stress tests, prepare patients for Holter or ambulatory monitoring, edit and deliver final test results to physicians for analysis, schedule appointments, and transcribe physicians’ interpretations.
After completing this program, students are eligible to sit for the National Healthcareer Association Certified EKG Technician national exam to get their certification.
The program is available as a blend of in-person lectures and labs plus additional mandatory online material that students must complete.
Navarro College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Contact Information
- Address: 3200 W. 7th Avenue, Corsicana, TX 75110
- Phone: 800-NAVARRO
- Website: https://www.navarrocollege.edu
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | 60 | $55,240 | $26.56 | $81,900 | $31,000 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 250 | $56,320 | $27.08 | $96,800 | $36,100 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 40 | $50,650 | $24.35 | $77,750 | $30,660 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 100 | $50,300 | $24.19 | $79,570 | $30,470 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,110 | $55,310 | $26.59 | $93,480 | $36,040 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 980 | $54,240 | $26.08 | $92,910 | $35,220 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 90 | $46,630 | $22.42 | $79,000 | $30,290 |
| Lubbock, TX | 100 | $47,690 | $22.93 | $91,680 | $29,690 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 90 | $38,780 | $18.64 | $76,530 | $25,320 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 350 | $52,310 | $25.15 | $86,510 | $31,220 |
| Victoria, TX | 30 | $48,770 | $23.45 | $79,360 | $29,090 |
| Waco, TX | 50 | $53,460 | $25.7 | $85,290 | $34,250 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of the best EKG Technician schools in Texas the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits you and 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.
