How to Become an EKG Technician in Tennessee

EKG technicians provide a vital service in the cardiac chain of survival.

Unfortunately, Tennessee’s cardiac specialties center around Nashville.

The state’s remaining cardiac specialists serve Memphis, Jackson, Knoxville, Lafayette, and Chattanooga, leaving significant gaps in timely access to emergency cardiac care in the Volunteer State.

When combined with Tennessee’s aging population, EKG services will continue to be in high demand and eventually push wages higher.

Job Description

Among other duties, you will reassure patients so that they get accurate readings rather than experiencing any anxiety-induced white-coat syndrome.

In addition to supplying 12-lead EKG services and stress tests in hospitals and urgent care centers, you may perform telemetry services in some doctors’ offices.

This fact broadens the field for EKG technicians in the Volunteer State.

Tennessee Licensing and Education Requirements

The State of Tennessee classifies EKG technicians as unlicensed assistive persons who work under licensed medical professionals.

The state does not set competency standards for certification.

Instead, Tennessee employers set the standards for their EKG Techs.

Volunteer State EKG Industry Information

Three related occupations will bring you higher wages and more flexibility in Tennessee: Head of EKG Technician, EKG Monitor Tech, and Work From Home EKG Monitor Tech.

Consequently, parents and people with physical disabilities may find these jobs suitable.

These three titles paid between $54,336 to $67,284, or 45 to 80 percent more than the average Volunteer State wage.

Tennessee Demand

Tennessee has 6.772 million residents.

9.4 percent have reached age 55 to 64, while 12.3 percent are 65 and older.

Additionally, when you include people aged 45 to 54, 35.5 percent of the population has an elevated need for EKG services.

EKG Technician Schools in Tennessee

1. Nashville General Hospital School of Health Sciences Cardiographic Technician (EKG) Certification

This program ensures the hands-on clinical training needed to acquire your CET and secure employment with less effort and expense than in non-clinical situations.

The program takes place on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and students must also schedule six weekly day shift clinical hours.

In addition, students must buy navy blue scrubs and pay a $50 nonrefundable application fee.

Including tuition, textbook, liability insurance, and the mandatory criminal background check and drug screen, the program costs a minimum of $1760.

However, the American Job Center and the SNAP program may provide financial aid to qualified students.

2. Compassionate Care Technical Center, Inc. EKG Technician Program

At $700, excluding off-campus expenses, this program enrolls anyone aged 16 or older once they pass the Ability to Benefit exam AND provide proof of current CPR certification from the American Heart Association.

Participants must also provide proof of Hepatitis B immunization and undergo a background check.

After completion, students pay another $117 for the EKG Technician exam through the National Healthcareer Association.

The Workforce Investment Act, SNAP, Project Grand, and the Knoxville Leadership Foundation provide financial assistance.

Located at 900 East Woodland Avenue in Knoxville, this school lies nine minutes from UT Medical Center, eight from Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, and 11 minutes from North Knoxville Medical Center.

3. Southwest Tennessee Community College Online Certified EKG Technician (Voucher Included)

This Ed2Go program costs $1995, including course materials and a voucher to take the Certified EKG Technician Specialist (CETS) or the Certified EKG Technician (CET) test.

Students must secure their externship.

However, the Memphis VA Medical center lies 19 minutes away, Regional One Health lies 19 to 24 minutes away, and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis requires a ten-minute drive.

The Women Healing Memphis and Edge-Ready Whitehaven programs will cover up to $999 of tuition for the program.

4. Jackson State Community College Healthcare Technician Program

Students wishing to maximize their future earnings and employability will appreciate this program, which provides the necessary training to receive certifications as Clinical Medical Assistants, EKG Technicians, and Phlebotomy Technicians all at once.

Although JSCC has no application fee, their $171 per credit hour tuition could cost $4104, assuming 24 credit hours.

Dividing by three and adding the exam fees, you pay $1485 per certification.

For clinical experience, Jackson-Madison County General lies 11 minutes from campus, North Hospital requires a 15-minute drive, and the Jackson VA Clinic takes nine minutes.

EKG Technician Schools in Tennessee – Summary Table

Tennessee Salary and Experience Expectations

As of May 28, 2022, Tennessean EKG Techs pulled an average annual salary of $37,433, or $3,596 lower than the national average.

However, the bottom 10 percent make as little as $22,562, while the 95th percentile command salaries of $59,695.

Despite being the center of the largest cluster of cardiac care facilities, Nashville places third for wages, providing $38,697 per year.

Murfreesboro holds first place, paying an annual average of $42,044. Second-place Memphis pays $39,985.

Regional Salary in Tennessee

EKG Technician Schools by City

EKG Technician Schools by State