How to Become an EKG Technician in Arkansas (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas employs about 410 ekg technicians earning a median $74,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians”). Training as an EKG Technician here means completing a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians.

Compare EKG Technician Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
157.4$4,099$34,37470%Yes*253 mi
255.8$2,640 in-state / $5,970 out-of-state$44,26627%Yes*278 mi
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351.9Contact school for pricing$38,75753%Yes*300 mi
451.8$5,250 in-state / $10,860 out-of-state$59,56435%Yes*347 mi
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546.6Contact school for pricing$38,03855%—312 mi
645.6$4,219$53,74930%Yes*372 mi
Sponsored Ad
744.4Contact school for pricing$41,15480%—408 mi
844.3$4,255$48,55527%Yes*374 mi
Sponsored Ad
942.3$4,283$43,03315%Yes*183 mi
1041.7$4,279$48,14124%Yes*369 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arkansas employs approximately 410 workers in the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category (SOC 29-2031), with a median annual wage of $74,800 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 3,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an EKG Technician in Arkansas, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track ekg technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2031). Actual ekg technician earnings may vary.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: EKG technician program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians
  • Exam: CET or equivalent
  • Median wage (Arkansas): $74,800 per year (based on related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category) 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an EKG Technician in Arkansas

How to become an EKG Technician in Arkansas? Complete a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CET or equivalent. See the licensing section below.

What do ekg technicians earn in Arkansas? The BLS does not track ekg technician wages separately. Based on the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category, the median annual wage in Arkansas is $74,800, with entry-level wages around $45,410 and experienced workers earning $105,140 or more 1.

How to Become an EKG Technician in Arkansas

  1. Complete a short EKG program. Finish a weeks-to-months cardiac-monitor or EKG program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  2. Earn CET or the employer-required credential. Pass CET or the exam the employer uses.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

EKG Technician License Requirements in Arkansas

Most states do not license EKG technicians. Employers expect a short program plus CET or equivalent.

Typical path

  1. Complete a short program.

  2. Earn CET or equivalent.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

EKG Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

EKG Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Note: The BLS does not track ekg technician wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2031).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), cardiovascular technologists and technicians wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Memphis220$66,320$64,630$39,410$97,520
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway150$73,680$71,150$45,410$103,960
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers90$76,540$79,760$47,450$118,370
Fort Smith50$74,270$78,680$47,470$108,280
Jonesboro30$84,000$74,470$34,450$112,020

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for ekg technicians in Arkansas? Arkansas employs approximately 410 workers in the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas.

How much do ekg technicians earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for ekg technicians in Arkansas is $74,800 (based on the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category), which is $7,540 above the national median of $67,260 according to BLS data 1.

In Arkansas

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)