Entry requirements

A minimum of NCEA Level 2 (60 credits at level 2, plus 20 credits at any level, plus literacy and numeracy credit requirements at level 1), including a pass in one of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Science.

Employment Requirements

The trainee is required to be employed with a job title that reflects the technical nature of the role (i.e. trainee cardiac or physiology technician). The employing hospital must have sufficient qualified cardiac physiology technicians or physiologists available to carry out the training plus access to the required procedures. An agreement may be made with a nearby larger centre to provide support for those training at remote or smaller hospitals.

Qualification

The Certificate of Physiological Measurement (CPM) is a one-year qualification offered by SCT, which is delivered by online learning and covers the theory and practical aspects of this role. The CPM course may be started at any time throughout the year and requires a clinical supervisor who is employed in a technical role, is a member of SCT and is competent to perform the practical training. Remote or smaller hospitals may appoint a clinical supervisor from a nearby larger hospital to oversee the training. The CPM qualification is awarded once the CPM course has been completed and the trainee has attained one year of full-time equivalent work experience.

Additional Skills

Spirometry testing may be performed within the cardiac physiology technician role. SCT offers a Spirometry Certification course which is available via online learning and requires a supervisor who is competent to perform the spirometry practical training and assessment.

Advanced Scope of Practice

Qualified cardiac physiology technicians may progress to perform specific advanced practice skills, which are determined by SCT. Examples of such skills include: Exercise tolerance testing supervision or ambulatory ECG monitor analysis. The technician is required to undertake the same training as is required for a cardiac physiologist performing the procedure.

Entry requirements

Minimum of a BSc in physiology (preferred) or other relevant science major (i.e. exercise physiology).  Applicants with other qualifications may be accepted but this is at the discretion of Otago University.

Employment Requirements

The trainee is required to be employed with a job title that reflects the technical nature of the role (i.e. trainee cardiac physiologist). The employing hospital must have current accreditation as a training hospital which is issued by SCT. Where a hospital does not meet the accreditation requirements, joint accreditation may be issued with a nearby larger centre to provide support for training.

Qualifications

The following Otago university qualifications are offered by distance learning (plus block weekends) and courses commence at the start of the university year.

Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Technology* – year 1

Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Technology – year 2

*This qualification may be obtained prior to employment as a trainee cardiac physiologist.

Certification of Cardiac Physiologists (CCP): This two-year qualification is offered by SCT and is completed concurrently with the Otago university qualifications. CCP is delivered by online learning and includes the CPM qualification (see cardiac physiology technicians). The CCP course may be started at any time throughout the year and requires a clinical supervisor who is employed in a technical role, is a member of SCT and is competent to perform the practical training. CCP is awarded on completion of the CCP course requirements and attainment of 2 years full-time equivalent work experience.

To qualify as a cardiac physiologist requires attainment of the Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Technology plus CCP.

Further Professional Development

Qualified Cardiac Physiologists may choose to specialise in one of the following areas or continue to work in a broad range of procedures.

Specialist areas:

Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIED) 

1. CIED Certification - offered by SCT
2. International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) exam – offered by the Heart Rhythm Society

Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) 

Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Electrophysiology - offered by Cardiac Electrophysiology Institute of Australia (CEPIA)

Cardiac Physiologist

Requirements for NZ registration are

1. SCT NZ Affiliate Membership
2. Profession specific qualification that is degree based. This must include clinical components or internship.  If the clinical component during the training qualification is less than the NZ requirement of 2 years’ full time clinical experience (104 weeks), the equivalent clinical experience must be attained post qualification before being considered equivalent to NZ training.  
3. Registration in your country

All applicants for SCT membership who qualified outside the UK will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be required to sit and pass the Certification of Cardiac Physiologists international examination prior to being granted Affiliate SCT membership. 

Registration as a Cardiac Physiologist may be granted with the condition of supervised practice until the CCPI exam is passed.

CCP International Exam

The CCP international exam is an online exam which may be completed at any time that is suitable for the applicant and results are typically available within 2 weeks of sitting the exam.

The applicant is eligible to re-sit the exam if they fail an attempt with a maximum of three attempts. A gap of 3 months is required between each re-sit. If they fail the exam after 3 attempts their application for SCT membership is declined. 

Cardiac Physiology Technician

Requirements for NZ registration are:

1. SCT NZ membership
2. A suitable qualification or certificate in electrocardiography
3. A minimum of 1 year clinical experience

All applicants for SCT membership will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be required to sit and pass the Certificate of Physiological Measurement (CPM) international examination prior to being granted Affiliate SCT membership.

Registration as a Cardiac Physiology Technician may be granted with the condition of supervised practice until the CPMI exam is passed.

The CPM international exam is an online exam which may be completed at any time that is suitable for the applicant and results are typically available within 2 weeks of sitting the exam.

The applicant is eligible to re-sit the exam if they fail an attempt with a maximum of three attempts. A gap of 3 months is required between each re-sit. If they fail the exam after 3 attempts their application for SCT membership is declined. 

Cardiac Physiologist and Cardiac Sonographer

If you accept a role in NZ practicing as both a cardiac physiologist and a cardiac sonographer you are required to have dual registration with the CPRB and the Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB).

Echocardiography / Cardiac Sonographer

To practice solely as an Echocardiography / Cardiac Sonographer in NZ you are required to register with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB).

The competency standards for Cardiac Physiologists are set by the Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology. They were last updated in 2018.

Click on the link below to download the document.

Competencies for Cardiac Physiologists - 2018

The competency standards for Cardiac Physiology Technicians are set by the Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology. They were last updated in 2018.

Click on the link below to download the document.

Cardiac Technician competencies - 2018