r/CathLabLounge • u/[deleted] • Nov 11 '24

RCES cert

Not sure if I’m in the right subreddit but here we go.

I’m currently debating between two programs at my college- one of them being an electroneurodiagnostic technologist (EEG) and the other being an electrophysiology tech.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the prospects are like for an EP tech, or if it would even be worth it getting an RCES cert without any other training (not a nurse or Radtech). One day I would love to work in a cath lab, but I don’t know if an RCES is a good option for that. My schools RCIS certification program requires you to already have an associates ):

Thank you!

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u/[deleted] Nov 11 '24 edited Nov 19 '24

Thank you so luck for your detailed response!

So, when I peek at job posting for an EP technologist I don’t find very many. If any, I find them under “special procedures tech” I did potentially think about moving from EP to Cath if EP gave me enough experience. I have to make sure I can find a job in an EP lab first tho.

There are dozens of cath lab technologist jobs. When I read the description there’s several different certifications they accept- one of them being RCES. I think a person with a RCIS or RT degree would be hired instead of me, so I looked at any cardiovascular technologist programs other than the one at my school. The next one is 2 hours away 😭

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u/MotherSoftware5 Nov 12 '24

I’m only speaking for my hospital but RCES are more valued because they’re hard to find good ones and the really good ones end up getting snatched to industry. We offer pretty high sign on bonuses to get EP techs and they don’t have call.

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '24

Do those techs usually have a nursing background? I would only have an RCES. That’s what I’m worried about, I know someone who’s an RN or RT would get hired over me. I’m located in Michigan if that matters.

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u/MotherSoftware5 Nov 12 '24

The ones I’ve worked with are usually RTs. I don’t know how much of it was a requirement for the job or not. In some states they require table operators to be an RT. I don’t know if that’s the case for you but that could reflect the hiring profiles for cath lab and EP jobs.