How to become a cath lab tech
The four real routes in, the credential that matters, and what nobody tells you about breaking in.
RCIS vs. RCES vs. CVT — which do you need?
Three credentials, one confusing landscape. Here's which lab each one is for and how to choose.
RCIS exam prep: how to study and pass
What the exam covers, the hardest domains, and a study plan that reflects the real lab.
6 cath lab myths that need to die
The four-year degree, "it's all about the physician," radiation fears — sorted out.
Is cath lab tech a good career?
Demand, pay reality, the work itself, and the call trade-off — a straight answer.
How long does it take to become a cath lab tech?
Education, getting hired, and onboarding — the real timeline, including the step most guides skip.
Do you need a degree to work in the cath lab?
No specific four-year degree — here's the education you actually need.
What does a cath lab tech actually do?
Scrub, circulate, monitor — the three seats, walked through a real case.
The six hemodynamic waveforms every tech must know
RA, RV, PA, wedge, LV, aorta — and the two transitions that carry most of what you'll read.
New cath lab tech survival guide
8 things every new tech should know — attention, preparation, and communication.
The free rhythm simulator
Dual-lead, real-time, 40+ rhythms with calipers. Practice reading rhythms in your browser.
Why the cath lab shortage is a supply problem
The data on demand, training output, traveler costs, and burnout — and the only durable fix.
Cath lab tech training programs
Why you can't hire your way out of the shortage — and how to build your own pipeline.
Building a real cath lab onboarding program
Replace sink-or-swim with structure, competency tracking, and preceptor support.
Get the free field guides.
The Cath Lab Field Guide and Rhythm Reference Pack — the numbers, waveforms, and language of the lab, on pages you'll keep.