Electrophysiology Technician

HealthCareerNet - Search Engine for healthcare jobs, health care jobs, medical jobs and hospital jobs

Sign In

Advertisement

Advertisement

Home :: Career Center :: Healthcare Career Profiles :: Allied Health Career Profiles

Electrophysiology Technician - Career Profile

Career Overview

Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissue. Electrophysiology technicians measure the voltage charge or electrical current flow of a range of different types of cells and tissues, including single ion channel proteins, and whole tissues such as cardiac tissue.

In neurology departments, electrophysiology technicians may be called upon to measure the electrical activity of neurons. For the most part, they use single unit recording, field potential recording, single channel recording, and amperometry.

Career Requirements

Electrophysiology technicians work with electrophysiologist, physicians with specialist training in electrophysiology. For the most part, they receive training on-the-job, overseen by physicians and experienced electrophysiology technicians.

Preferred qualifications include a high school diploma and completion of one year of college with emphasis on physical or biological sciences, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions prefer applicants to have associate degrees or even bachelor degrees in a health science.

Job Outlook

Increasingly, electrophysiology technicians are finding employment in private practices, where a small number of specialist physicians practice electrophysiology for diagnostic processes.

Specialization in different types of electrophysiology, such as cardiac electrophysiology can draw better prospects in general, but employment at all levels, is relatively stable.

Career Track

There are often considered to be three degrees or levels of qualification for electrophysiology technicians: Level I, Level II, and Level III (Supervisory). Level I is entry level. Promotion comes with demonstration of appropriate knowledge, leadership skills, and experience.

Compensation

Salary depends on education, geography, job setting, and experience. Current salaries range from about $20,000 to $25,000 per year. Most positions are full-time and long-term and offer some additional benefits, including medical and dental insurance.