The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has no formal EKG technician training and/or certification requirements in Michigan. Since a technician is an unlicensed member of the medical team, they are generally subject to rules and regulations that affect the delegation of tasks to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). A technician must be supervised by a nurse who is responsible for the care that is provided. Employers may also have their own unique education, training, and/or certification expectations for applicants.
Delegation Regulations
The Michigan Nurse Practice Act establishes guidelines that must be followed when delegating tasks to an unlicensed member of the medical team. According to state rules and regulations, only a registered nurse may delegate nursing acts, functions, or tasks. Prior to delegation, a nurse must determine whether the act, function, or task is within the registered nurse’s scope of practice, determine the qualifications of the delegatee including the necessary knowledge and skills needed to perform the task safely and competently, supervise and evaluate performance, and provide or recommend remediation when indicated.
Nurses who delegate tasks to an EKG technician are ultimately responsible for the care that patients receive. The fact that delegation carries a high degree of liability means that employers are generally very thorough when it comes to evaluating and documenting the competency of the technicians they hire. Many healthcare facilities expect new technicians to complete either a formal degree program or in-house training program and a nationally recognized certification exam. Some facilities may be less inclined to hire individuals who do not have prior experience with direct patient care in a closely related medical specialty.
Education and Training Requirements
There are few state and federal regulations that establish EKG technician training and certification requirements in the United States. In most cases, employers are allowed to develop their own training programs for technicians and adopt hiring requirements that are tailored to the unique needs of the facility. Since EKG technicians work in many different types of medical establishments, the hiring expectations that an individual encounters can vary dramatically. A high school diploma and prior patient care experience generally represent the minimum requirements for a position as a technician. As is true with most career opportunities, it is important for potential applicants to contact facilities directly to inquire about the details of the job description and employment requirements. Most healthcare facilities are more than willing to offer advice on how to become a competitive applicant for a technician position.
Applicants can improve their ability to obtain a long-term technician position through active pursuit of specialized education, certification, and training. Although it can be difficult for an individual who has little experience with direct patient care to enter the cardiac field directly, there are several entry-level allied health jobs that provide opportunities to acquire the basic knowledge and skills required to enter a more specialized area of practice. Some of the more popular avenues include that of the medical assistant and nursing aide.
State Contact Information
Phone: (517) 373-3740
Toll-Free: (800) 649-3777
Email: bhcshelp@michigan.gov
201 Townsend St. Lansing, MI 48913
Phone: (517) 335-0918
Fax: (517) 241-9416
Email: bhcshelp@michigan.gov
PO Box 30670 Lansing, MI 48909
Is there any ekg Trai ginger classes available in michigan. I am a recent college graduate with a bachelor’s in exercise so I ended email looking for experience in EKG to further my knowledge.
Is there a school near Lansing, MI that needs volunteers to do electrocardiograms on?
Dawnn,
We generally recommend contacting healthcare facilities and educational institutions in your vicinity to find out if they are looking for electrocardiogram volunteers. These types of opportunities may or may not be available depending on the needs of organizations in your area and it is always a good idea to remain in contact with program directors who can notify you if they are aware of any new volunteer options.