5 templates with HIPAA, OSHA, certification, and salary guidance. Download as DOCX.
Most EKG technician templates online give you a generic duties list and stop, skipping the parts that actually matter for a clinical hire: the role is FLSA non-exempt and overtime-eligible, it carries HIPAA and OSHA bloodborne-pathogen obligations, and the certifications expire on cycles you have to track. For a small cardiology practice, urgent care, or clinic hiring in-house, those are the things that create real compliance exposure, and they are exactly what the copy-paste templates leave out.
At FirstHR, we build templates by setting and level with that compliance structure built in. The five below cover standard, entry-level, senior, cardiology-clinic, and the ECG title variant (EKG technician and ECG technician are the same role; both spellings work). Pick the one that fits, fill in the brackets, and post, and the guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
TL;DR
Five free templates: Standard, Entry-Level / Trainee, Senior / Lead, Cardiology Practice / Outpatient, and ECG / Electrocardiogram. The key facts most templates skip: the role is FLSA non-exempt (hourly, overtime-eligible); it carries HIPAA and OSHA bloodborne-pathogen obligations; and certifications (CET, CCT, BLS) expire on cycles you should track. Pay anchor: $67,260 median for cardiovascular technologists and technicians (BLS, May 2024), with EKG-tech-specific pay typically lower.
What Does an EKG Technician Do?
An EKG technician performs electrocardiograms and related cardiac tests, prepares patients, documents results, and flags abnormal findings to the supervising clinician. The work is hands-on and patient-facing: patient prep and electrode placement, 12-lead EKGs, Holter monitoring, stress testing, EHR documentation, and equipment care. (ECG is the same test, so ECG technician is the same role.) In federal data the role falls under cardiovascular technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2031), which also bundles higher-credentialed roles.
For the employer writing the posting, the defining factors are setting and level: a hospital, a small cardiology practice, an entry-level trainee, and a senior lead are very different jobs. The five templates split by those so the document matches the real role.
EKG Technician Duties and Responsibilities
EKG technician duties cluster into testing and patient prep, documentation and reporting, equipment and quality, and compliance and safety. The emphasis shifts by setting and level, but these areas hold across the role.
Testing and patient prep
Prepare patients and place electrodes
Perform 12-lead EKGs and stress tests
Apply and retrieve Holter monitors
Documentation and reporting
Record and upload results to the EHR
Flag abnormal findings to the clinician
Keep accurate patient records
Equipment and quality
Maintain and calibrate EKG equipment
Stock and clean testing areas
Follow testing-quality standards
Compliance and safety
Follow HIPAA protocols for PHI
Apply bloodborne-pathogen precautions
Keep BLS and certifications current
A strong posting grounds these in your specifics: your patient population, your EHR, your reporting line, and your certification requirements. For a structured way to scope any role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by your setting and the level of the role. Each carries the scope and seniority for that case. Use this guide to choose.
Standard
Universal base
The core template for any employer: patient prep, 12-lead EKGs, Holter and stress testing, documentation, and equipment care.
Entry-Level / Trainee
Growth role
For a new technician learning the role: supervised EKGs, documentation, and a path to certification. Attitude over experience.
Senior / Lead
Leads the function
For an experienced technician: complex cases, quality standards, mentoring junior staff, and equipment oversight. CET or CCT.
Cardiology Practice / Outpatient
Small-clinic, compliance-built
For a practice, urgent care, or clinic hiring in-house: HIPAA, bloodborne-pathogen, and certification fields built in. The version small clinics most often need.
ECG / Electrocardiogram
Spelling variant
The same role under the ECG spelling, for employers who post using ECG rather than EKG. Identical duties, different title.
Match the Template to Your Situation
A general posting on an existing team: Standard. A new technician you will train: Entry-Level. An experienced technician who leads and mentors: Senior. A cardiology practice, urgent care, or clinic hiring in-house: Cardiology Practice / Outpatient, which builds in the HIPAA, bloodborne-pathogen, and certification fields. An employer who posts using the ECG spelling: the ECG version. Whichever you pick, classify the role as non-exempt and build in the compliance steps.
5 Free EKG Technician Job Description Templates
Download all five as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: employer and setting summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, reporting line, FLSA status, and pay, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 5 Templates
Standard, entry-level, senior, cardiology-clinic, and ECG. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Standard EKG Technician
The core template for any employer: patient prep, 12-lead EKGs, Holter and stress testing, documentation, and equipment care.
EKG Technician Job Description (Standard)
EKG TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION
Employer: __ ([City, State])
Department: Cardiology / Diagnostics
Reports to: [Supervising Physician / Clinical Manager]
For an experienced technician: complex cases, quality standards, mentoring junior staff, and equipment oversight. CET or CCT.
Senior / Lead EKG Technician Job Description
SENIOR / LEAD EKG TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION
Employer: __ ([City, State])
Department: Cardiology / Diagnostics
Reports to: [Clinical Manager / Supervising Physician]
Employment type: Full-time, W-2 employee
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly, overtime-eligible) [confirm by duties]
Pay: $_ per hour
POSITION SUMMARY
[Employer Name] is hiring a Senior / Lead EKG Technician to
perform advanced cardiac testing and help lead our EKG function.
You will handle complex cases, set the standard for quality and
documentation, and guide junior technicians.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Perform the full range of EKG, Holter, and stress testing
•Handle complex or difficult cases and tracings
•Set quality and documentation standards for the team
•Train, mentor, and check the work of junior technicians
•Manage equipment maintenance, calibration, and supplies
•Coordinate scheduling and testing workflow
•Support compliance with HIPAA and infection control
•Serve as the clinical point of contact for EKG questions
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•High school diploma or equivalent
•Completion of an EKG program
•[3+] years of EKG / cardiac testing experience
•CET or CCT certification
•Current BLS/CPR certification
•Strong skills across EKG, Holter, and stress testing
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•CCT (Certified Cardiographic Technician)
•Lead or training experience
•Experience with [EHR system]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_ per hour [+ benefits]
This is a full-time position. Confirm FLSA status by actual duties.
To apply, email __ with your resume.
[Employer Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 4: Cardiology Practice / Outpatient Clinic EKG Technician
For a practice, urgent care, or clinic hiring in-house: HIPAA, bloodborne-pathogen, and certification fields built in. The version small clinics most often need.
Cardiology Practice / Outpatient Clinic EKG Technician Job Description
EKG TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION (CARDIOLOGY PRACTICE / OUTPATIENT CLINIC)
Practice: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Supervising Physician / Practice Manager / Owner]
An EKG technician role weighs hands-on testing skill, patient care, and certifications matched to the setting.
Type
What to look for
Education
High school diploma plus an EKG program, or equivalent training
Experience
0-2 years (entry) to 3+ years (senior)
Technical
12-lead EKGs, Holter monitoring, stress testing, EHR
Baseline cert
CET (Certified EKG Technician) plus current BLS
Advanced cert
CCT (Certified Cardiographic Technician) for advanced settings
Set an EKG program plus CET and BLS as a baseline, and require the CCT where the role involves more advanced cardiac testing. Keep requirements job-related, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on protected characteristics.
HIPAA, OSHA, and Certification Compliance
This is the part of an EKG technician hire that generic templates skip, and it is where the real obligations sit. An EKG technician handles protected health information and has reasonably anticipated exposure to blood, which pulls HIPAA and OSHA into the role.
HIPAA Privacy and Security
EKG techs handle protected health information (cardiac results, EHR records). Require a signed HIPAA acknowledgement and orientation before patient contact.
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030)
Electrode placement and skin prep create reasonably anticipated exposure. The standard requires a written exposure control plan, a Hepatitis B vaccination offer, and employer-funded annual training.
Certification and BLS tracking
CET renews every 2 years, CCT every 3 years, and BLS every 2 years. Lapsed credentials create real liability, so track expiration dates and send renewal reminders.
FLSA non-exempt classification
EKG technicians are non-exempt and overtime-eligible. Track hours, pay overtime beyond 40 per week, and confirm the classification against the actual duties.
Bloodborne Pathogens Training Is Legally Required
Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, electrode placement and skin prep create reasonably anticipated exposure, so the employer must maintain a written exposure control plan, offer the Hepatitis B vaccination at no cost, and provide employer-funded training at hire and annually, with required retention of medical and training records. Review OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 and build the training into the first week, not later.
Build the HIPAA acknowledgement, the bloodborne-pathogens training, and the credential checks into onboarding so they happen before independent patient contact. And because certifications expire, track the renewal dates rather than discovering a lapse after the fact.
Is an EKG Technician Exempt?
An EKG technician is non-exempt and overtime-eligible. The role does not meet the learned professional exemption.
Non-Exempt: Hourly and Overtime-Eligible
Under the FLSA, the learned professional exemption requires advanced knowledge customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction, generally an advanced academic degree as a standard prerequisite. The Department of Labor's guidance on technologists and technicians states that such employees are not exempt because they generally do not meet that requirement, and EKG programs run a few months rather than a four-year degree. So the role is non-exempt: pay hourly, track hours, and pay overtime beyond 40 in a week even if salaried. Review DOL Fact Sheet 17O and classify by the actual duties.
Pay depends heavily on setting and credential level, and two figures are worth knowing so you set an accurate band.
EKG Technician Pay (BLS, May 2024)
EKG techs fall under cardiovascular technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2031), with a median of $67,260 a year (about $32 an hour), ranging from under $37,890 at the 10th percentile to over $108,900 at the 90th. The field is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The federal median is inflated for EKG-tech purposes because the same code bundles higher-credentialed cath-lab and invasive roles. Market data commonly places EKG-tech-specific pay lower, in the high-$40,000s on average, which is the more realistic anchor for a small-clinic band. Pay rises with certification, experience, setting, and region, so set your range using current market data for your area and the certifications you require.
A Note on the Data
There is no separate occupation code for EKG technician; the role falls under cardiovascular technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2031), which bundles higher-credentialed cath-lab and invasive roles. That inflates the $67,260 median relative to EKG-tech reality, where market estimates run lower. Use the BLS figure as the upper reference and current market data for the EKG-specific band.
Hiring an EKG Technician for a Small Practice
Most EKG techs work in hospitals, but the small-practice slice hires this role too, and it hires differently. Here are the three realities that matter most for a clinic posting.
Most EKG techs work in hospitals, but small practices hire them too, and they hire differently
Federal data shows the EKG technician role concentrates in hospitals, with most cardiovascular technologists and technicians employed in hospital settings and a smaller share in physician offices and outpatient centers. That smaller share is exactly the segment that searches for a job description template rather than pulling one from an internal system: the cardiology practice, urgent care center, or primary care clinic doing in-house EKGs with a lean clinical team and no formal HR function. If that is you, the cardiology-practice template on this page is written for your setting, with the supervising-physician reporting line, EHR fields, and the compliance structure a clinical role actually needs. A hospital posting and a five-person-clinic posting are different documents, and most templates online are written for neither in particular.
Compliance is the part of this hire that generic templates skip entirely
An EKG technician handles protected health information and has reasonably anticipated exposure to blood during electrode placement and skin prep, which pulls two federal frameworks into the hire that most job descriptions ignore. Under HIPAA, the role requires a signed acknowledgement and privacy orientation before patient contact. Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), the employer must maintain a written exposure control plan, offer the Hepatitis B vaccination, and provide employer-funded annual training, with long retention requirements for medical and training records. On top of that, certifications expire on cycles (BLS every 2 years, CET every 2 years, CCT every 3 years), and a lapsed credential is a real compliance and liability exposure. Build these into the posting and the first week, not as an afterthought. This is general guidance, not legal advice; confirm requirements for your state and setting with a compliance professional.
A clinical hire needs a structured, documented onboarding from day one
Because the compliance steps are mandatory and the credential tracking is ongoing, an EKG technician is one of the clearest cases for a structured onboarding rather than a point-them-at-the-EKG-cart start. Plan the first week: the signed offer, Form I-9 and tax forms, the HIPAA acknowledgement, bloodborne-pathogens training, credential and BLS verification, the Hepatitis B vaccination offer or declination record, and EHR access setup. FirstHR fits this directly: e-signature for the offer letter, HIPAA acknowledgement, and bloodborne-pathogens policy sign-off; training modules for HIPAA orientation and the legally required annual bloodborne-pathogens training; onboarding task workflows and an AI onboarding wizard to sequence credential verification, BLS capture, and EHR access; document management to store signed forms, credential copies, and training records that OSHA requires you to retain; and an HRIS that tracks certification expirations with renewal reminders, the single strongest fit for this role. Because pricing is flat rather than per seat, a clinic that hires intermittently pays one rate regardless of headcount or hiring spikes. FirstHR does not run payroll, provide the Hepatitis B vaccination, or give legal advice, so pair it with your payroll, occupational-health, and compliance resources. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
After You Hire: Onboarding an EKG Technician
An EKG technician hire has mandatory, time-sensitive compliance steps, so onboarding is both a setup task and a control point. Send a clear offer with the pay and the non-exempt classification, collect the signed offer, and complete Form I-9 and tax forms as part of the new hire paperwork.
Then handle the clinical-specific steps before independent patient contact: the signed HIPAA acknowledgement, the bloodborne-pathogens training, the Hepatitis B vaccination offer or declination record, verification of the CET or CCT and the BLS card, and EHR access setup. Keep the signed onboarding documents and credential copies in one place, and the offer letter template covers the terms, with the onboarding checklist giving you a repeatable process.
FirstHR fits this hire directly: e-signature for the offer letter, HIPAA acknowledgement, and bloodborne-pathogens policy sign-off; training modules for HIPAA orientation and the legally required annual bloodborne-pathogens training; onboarding task workflows and an AI onboarding wizard to sequence credential verification, BLS capture, and EHR access; document management to store signed forms and the training records OSHA requires you to retain; and an HRIS that tracks certification expirations with renewal reminders. Because pricing is flat rather than per seat, a clinic that hires intermittently pays one rate regardless of headcount. FirstHR does not run payroll, provide the Hepatitis B vaccination, or give legal advice, so pair it with your payroll, occupational-health, and compliance resources. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
An EKG technician performs electrocardiograms, Holter monitoring, and stress tests, prepares patients, and documents results; the role maps to SOC 29-2031 and has no separate federal code.
EKG technician and ECG technician are the same role; the EKG spelling is searched more often in US hiring, but either works.
The role is FLSA non-exempt, hourly, and overtime-eligible; the learned professional exemption does not apply (DOL Fact Sheet 17O).
The hire carries HIPAA obligations and OSHA bloodborne-pathogen requirements (29 CFR 1910.1030), including a written exposure control plan, Hepatitis B vaccination offer, and annual training.
Certifications expire on cycles (CET every 2 years, CCT every 3 years, BLS every 2 years), so track renewal dates to avoid lapses.
Pay anchor: $67,260 median for cardiovascular technologists and technicians (BLS, May 2024), with EKG-tech-specific pay typically lower, around the high-$40,000s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an EKG technician do?
An EKG technician performs electrocardiograms and related cardiac tests, prepares patients, and documents results for the supervising clinician. The core work is consistent: preparing patients and placing electrodes with proper skin prep, performing 12-lead EKGs, applying and retrieving Holter and ambulatory monitors, assisting with and monitoring stress tests, recording and uploading results to the electronic health record, flagging abnormal tracings to the clinician, and maintaining and calibrating the equipment. The role also follows HIPAA and infection-control protocols throughout. EKG and ECG are the same test (electrocardiogram), so EKG technician and ECG technician are the same role; the two-letter spelling EKG is the more common search in a US hiring context. There is no separate federal occupation code for EKG techs; they fall under cardiovascular technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2031), which also bundles higher-credentialed roles. The templates on this page cover the main versions, from standard to entry-level, senior, cardiology-clinic, and the ECG title variant.
Is there a difference between an EKG technician and an ECG technician?
No; EKG technician and ECG technician are the same role. EKG and ECG both refer to an electrocardiogram, the test that records the heart's electrical activity. EKG comes from the German spelling (Elektrokardiogramm) and ECG from the English; both are widely used and search engines treat them as synonyms. In a US hiring and job-search context, the EKG spelling is searched more often, which is why job postings frequently use it, though ECG is common in clinical and international settings. For your posting, either spelling is fine; pick one and use it consistently in the title so candidates searching either way can find it. This page includes both an EKG and an ECG version and uses both spellings naturally so it serves employers regardless of which they search. What matters far more than the spelling is matching the description to the setting and level: a hospital, a small cardiology practice, an entry-level trainee, and a senior lead are different jobs.
Is an EKG technician exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
An EKG technician is non-exempt and overtime-eligible. Under the FLSA, the learned professional exemption requires advanced knowledge customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction, which generally means an advanced academic degree as a standard prerequisite for the occupation. The Department of Labor's guidance on technologists and technicians (Fact Sheet 17O) states that technologists and technicians such as ultrasound technologists and similar employees are not exempt because they generally do not meet that requirement. EKG technician training programs typically run a few months, not a four-year degree, so the learned professional exemption does not apply. That means the role should be classified as non-exempt, paid hourly, and owed overtime for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, even if the employer chooses to pay a salary. The classification turns on the actual duties and education path, not the title. Track hours, pay overtime, and confirm borderline cases. This is general information, not legal advice.
What certifications does an EKG technician need?
Certification is commonly required or strongly preferred, and the main credentials are the CET, the CCT, and a current BLS. The CET (Certified EKG Technician), offered by the National Healthcareer Association, is the common entry-level credential; eligibility generally requires completing an EKG program within five years or one to two years of supervised experience, plus evidence of performing at least ten EKGs on live individuals, and it renews every two years with ten continuing-education credits. The CCT (Certified Cardiographic Technician), offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International, covers ECG, Holter, and stress testing, is often preferred in more advanced cardiology settings, and renews on a roughly three-year cycle. A current BLS or CPR certification is commonly required and renews every two years. For most roles, a baseline of an EKG program plus the CET and BLS is reasonable; require the CCT where the role involves more advanced cardiac testing. Because credentials expire, build expiration tracking into your process so they do not lapse.
Does an EKG technician handle HIPAA and OSHA requirements?
Yes; an EKG technician role carries both HIPAA and OSHA bloodborne-pathogens obligations, and these are the parts of the hire most job descriptions skip. Under HIPAA, the technician handles protected health information (cardiac test results and patient records in the EHR), so the role requires a signed HIPAA acknowledgement and privacy orientation before patient contact. Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), electrode placement and skin prep create reasonably anticipated exposure, which obligates the employer to maintain a written exposure control plan updated annually, offer the Hepatitis B vaccination at no cost, provide employer-funded annual bloodborne-pathogens training, and retain medical and training records for required periods. Building these into the job description and the first week of onboarding, rather than treating them as paperwork to chase later, both reduces compliance risk and gets the technician productive faster. This is general guidance; confirm the specifics for your state and setting with a compliance professional.
How much does an EKG technician make?
Pay depends heavily on setting and credential level, and two figures are worth knowing. The federal occupation that includes EKG techs, cardiovascular technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2031), had a median annual wage of $67,260 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent under $37,890 and the highest 10 percent over $108,900, and roughly $32 per hour at the median. That federal figure is inflated for EKG-tech purposes because the same code bundles higher-credentialed cath-lab and invasive roles, so EKG-tech-specific pay tends to sit lower; market data commonly places EKG technicians in the high-$40,000s on average, closer to the low end of the federal range, which is the more realistic anchor for a small-clinic pay band. Pay rises with certification, experience, setting (outpatient centers and labs pay more than the average), and region. Set your range using current market data for your area and the certifications you require, and post it, since pay is one of the first things candidates screen on.
What should an EKG technician job description include?
A strong EKG technician job description includes an employer and setting summary, the core responsibilities, the required and preferred qualifications, the reporting line, and the FLSA and pay details, matched to your setting and the level you are hiring for. For responsibilities, focus on the real work: patient prep and electrode placement, 12-lead EKGs, Holter and stress testing, EHR documentation, equipment care, and flagging abnormal findings. A few things that strengthen the posting and that most templates miss: state the FLSA classification (non-exempt, hourly, overtime-eligible) clearly; set certifications realistically (an EKG program plus CET and BLS as a baseline, CCT for advanced settings) and build in expiration tracking; name the reporting line, which in a small practice is usually a supervising physician or practice manager; and address HIPAA and the OSHA bloodborne-pathogens requirements, since the role involves PHI and reasonably anticipated exposure. The templates on this page give you a fitted, fill-in-the-blank starting point across standard, entry-level, senior, cardiology-clinic, and ECG versions, with the compliance and classification guidance most templates leave out.
What happens after I hire an EKG technician?
Run a structured onboarding, because the compliance steps for this role are mandatory and time-sensitive. Send the offer with the pay and the non-exempt classification, collect the signed offer, complete Form I-9 within the first days, and gather tax forms. Then handle the clinical-specific steps that make this hire different: the signed HIPAA acknowledgement and privacy orientation, the OSHA bloodborne-pathogens training, the Hepatitis B vaccination offer or declination record, verification of the CET or CCT and the BLS card, and EHR access setup, all completed before independent patient contact. Because certifications expire on cycles, set up expiration tracking with renewal reminders so credentials do not lapse. A clinical hire pointed at the EKG cart with paperwork to chase later is a slow, risky start. FirstHR handles the offer with built-in e-signature, the HIPAA and bloodborne-pathogens training modules, onboarding task workflows, document management for the records OSHA requires you to retain, and certification-expiration tracking in one place. FirstHR does not run payroll, provide the Hepatitis B vaccination, or give legal advice, so connect your payroll, occupational-health, and compliance resources for those. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
