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Cardiac Physiologist Registration

Cardiac Physiology workforce in New Zealand

The Cardiac technology workforce in New Zealand is organised into the following general roles, with some overlap in roles occurring between centres.

Cardiac Physiologist

In New Zealand cardiac physiologists typically perform cardiac monitoring such as holter monitor analysis, tilt table testing, exercise treadmill test supervision/reporting, cardiac catheterization lab monitoring, right heart and complex congenital catheterization monitoring, pacemaker ICD and CRT follow-up and implantation support, and cardiac electrophysiology procedures. Some smaller centres may require part time echocardiography as part of the cardiac physiologist role.

Cardiac Physiology Technician

In New Zealand cardiac physiology technicians typically perform electrocardiography, non-invasive monitor fitting and removal, exercise treadmill testing, and some have extended practice certification for spirometry or other respiratory tests.

Echocardiographer

Larger New Zealand centres employ full-time echocardiographers. In New Zealand to use the term 'cardiac sonographer' you must be registered with MRTB, however the role is identical to an echocardiographer.

Other

The above roles may lead to employment in industry roles like device company representatives, management or similar leadership positions, or university based research roles.

 

Professional Society

The professional society for cardiac physiologists and technicians in New Zealand is the Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology NZ  SCT Website

NZ Professional development outline - Cardiac Physiology Technician
Entry to practice

there are no pre-requisite qualifications for physiology technicians

------(register with condition of supervised practice)----- 

Core Professional development

Supervised practice until one of the following is completed:

Option 1. Certification in Physiological Measurement (CPM) via Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology & 1 year full time experience.

Option 2. Theory: Certificate in Medical Technology (MTEX) 701 and 702 via Otago University distance learning.

Either 1 or 2 are acceptable as alternative pathways for registration as a physiology technician without a condition of Supervised Practice. 

 

Practical

Pass all practical modules of CPM (Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology) and complete cardiac section of CPM exam.

 ------(apply to have condition removed from APC)------

Ongoing development

Extended practice in Spirometry or other.

NZ Professional Development Outline - Cardiac physiologist
Entry to practice

Bachelors degree in Science, majoring in Physiology or equivalent.

 

-------(apply for Registration with conditions of supervised practice)------

Core Professional development

1. Supervised practice while completing the Certification of Cardiac Physiologists (CCP) practical training programme via Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology.

2. Two years full time equivalent working as a Clinical Physiologist.

Academic Professional development

1. Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Technology (University of Otago)

 

------(Cardiac Physiologist can now apply to have conditions removed from APC)------

Further Professional development
Cardiac Sonography:

1. Diploma in Medical Ultrasound (Australasian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine) 

2. Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound (Queensland University of Technology) 

------(Echocardiographer can now apply to have condition removed from APC)-------

Cardiac Electrophysiology and Devices:

1. Cardiac Electrophysiology Institute in Australia (CEPIA) Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Electrophysiology

2. International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) certification exam in Devices for heart rhythm therapy, or Cardiac Electrophysiology, from Heart Rhythm Society.

Overseas trained Cardiac Physiologist / Technician
Cardiac Physiologist

Requirements for NZ registration are

  1. SCT NZ membership 
  2. Profession-specific qualification that is degree based i.e. 3 year programme.
  3. Registration in your current country
  4. If the clinical component of the degree is less than 2 years, the applicant must have completed a minimum of 2 years clinical experience in employment as a Cardiac physiologist or equivalent after attaining their qualification.

It is likely that you will be granted registration with a condition of supervised practice, until you have sat the NZ Certification examination (CCP - Certification for Cardiac Physiologists) via SCT

Cardiac 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

It is likely that you will be granted registration with a condition of supervised practice, until you have sat the NZ Certificate in Physiological Measurement examination (CPM) via SCT.

 

*Echocardiographer / Cardiac sonographer only

Requirements for NZ registration with CPRB are

  1. SCT NZ membership
  2. An echocardiography specific degree, diploma or certification qualification of no less than 1 year fulltime study.
  3. A minimum of 1 year clinical experience

It is likely that you will be registered with conditions of 1) practice limited to echocardiography  and 2) supervised practice until a practical competency assessment in echocardiography (PCA-echo) is passed - arranged via CPRB.

 

Cardiac Physiologist and *Echocardiographer

If you accept a role in NZ practicing both as a general cardiac physiologist and performing echocardiography, it is possible you will need to sit both the CCP exam, and a PCA-echo. 

 

* Registration for Cardiac Sonographers only is also available via the Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB www.mrtboard.org.nz). Some employers in NZ require MRTB registration. Please check with prospective employers which board they require registration with before applying to CPRB.

Cardiac Physiologist competencies

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

Cardiac Technician competencies

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