How to Become an EKG Technician in Pennsylvania (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Pennsylvania employs about 3,630 ekg technicians earning a median $58,090 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 Pennsylvania

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
172.0Contact school for pricing$56,76088%—133 mi
268.1Contact school for pricing$42,59877%—264 mi
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366.7Contact school for pricingNot reported100%—165 mi
463.3$4,322 in-state / $11,522 out-of-state$55,88931%Yes*94 mi
Sponsored Ad
563.1$6,894 in-state / $12,030 out-of-state$47,14232%Yes*216 mi
662.7$6,796 in-state / $11,852 out-of-state$54,71935%Yes*233 mi
Sponsored Ad
758.4$4,128 in-state / $4,152 out-of-stateNot reported32%Yes*246 mi
856.1$5,488 in-state / $11,224 out-of-state$52,68128%Yes*320 mi
Sponsored Ad
952.2Contact school for pricing$89,15564%—146 mi
1049.8$5,832 in-state / $10,776 out-of-state$48,84022%Yes*318 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, Pennsylvania employs approximately 3,630 workers in the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category (SOC 29-2031), with a median annual wage of $58,090 1. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.48x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. 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 Pennsylvania, 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 (Pennsylvania): $58,090 per year (based on related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category) 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an EKG Technician in Pennsylvania

How to become an EKG Technician in Pennsylvania? 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 Pennsylvania? 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 Pennsylvania? The BLS does not track ekg technician wages separately. Based on the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category, the median annual wage in Pennsylvania is $58,090, with entry-level wages around $40,810 and experienced workers earning $100,250 or more 1.

How to Become an EKG Technician in Pennsylvania

  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 Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania

EKG Technician Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington1,880$73,380$76,230$46,820$105,370
Pittsburgh680$51,010$62,800$40,230$97,030
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton310$65,730$69,880$44,620$96,900
Harrisburg-Carlisle280$49,520$63,170$40,580$95,410
Lancaster170$61,690$66,310$43,010$92,630
York-Hanover130$61,220$67,930$40,060$98,060
Erie120$42,420$57,790$39,560$91,640
Reading60$79,280$77,520$45,800$110,130

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 Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania employs approximately 3,630 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 Pennsylvania? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Pennsylvania.

How much do ekg technicians earn in Pennsylvania compared to the national average? The median annual wage for ekg technicians in Pennsylvania is $58,090 (based on the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category), which is $9,170 below the national median of $67,260 according to BLS data 1.

In Pennsylvania

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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)