Overview
BCIT's Advanced Certificate in Cardiac Sciences, Cardiac Rhythm Device (CRD) option, is the only program of its kind offered in North America. One of three options within the advanced certificate program, this specialized option provides professional development that will help you strengthen your current role and advance your career.
To learn more about the other study options, visit the Cardiac Sciences department webpage.
Program Goals
- Apply knowledge of cardiac anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and cardiac pharmacology to the safe and high-quality care of patients
- Perform follow-up of patients with cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMD), including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter devices and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices
- Perform intraoperative lead-testing at CRMD implant
- Identify CRMD abnormalities and intervene appropriately for complications of device therapy
About the program
We train allied health professionals to read and manage abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure using implanted devices such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices.
- Part-time, advanced certificate program that takes an average of 1.5 years to complete
- Distance and online learning format gives you flexibility to continue working as you study
- One clinical experience in your workplace’s cardiac device assessment lab
- Take courses as you need, or enrol to complete the full certificate
Our program is flexible, hands-on, and tailored to the specific needs of the field. See Program Details to find out more.
Who it’s for
This program is for allied health professionals skilled in electrocardiography (ECG) interpretation, who have:
- A BSc or two-year health diploma in a related field
- Two or more years of recent work experience as a cardiology/cardiovascular technologist or nurse in a cardiac setting
- Completed required prerequisite courses
- A site sponsor in place
- An interest in the technology and clinical science of cardiac rhythm devices
Does this sound like you? Visit Entrance Requirements to find out more about BCIT’s Cardiac Rhythm Device advanced certificate.
What grads can do
Enhance your expertise and offer more to patients and employers. Discover how our program can advance your career at Graduating and Jobs.
Entrance Requirements
Application processing
This program is open to applications beginning:
- February 1st* for the January intake
- May 1st* for the April intake
- October 1st* for the September intake
Indigenous applicants: This program is committed to the recruitment and retention of Indigenous applicants. To support applicants, a dedicated Indigenous admissions process was established, and dedicated seat(s) per intake are reserved for Indigenous students.
To be considered under this admission category, applicants must:
- Self-identify as an Indigenous person of Canada on the admission application
- Have successfully completed the program’s entrance requirements.
Our program also works closely with Indigenous services at BCIT to ensure students receive the best possible support and encouragement while in the program. Please visit Indigenous Initiatives for more information on available resources.
Entrance requirements
This program has a three-step admission process. Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted after a review by the department.
Step 1: Meet the following entrance requirements
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
- Post-secondary education: one of the following:
- Minimum two year allied health diploma
- Relevant BSc.
- Completion of the following courses (or equivalent*):
- Letter of reference demonstrating minimum of two years recent clinical practice in cardiology/cardiac sciences with patient care experience.
- Complete the following form for submission with your online application:
- Clinical Verification [PDF]: This form will be used to confirm clinical site placement.
*Please submit course outlines for any equivalent courses with your application.
Applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered. These reports must include course-by-course evaluations and GPA calculations.
Read more about how to meet BCIT’s entrance requirements
Step 2: Department assessment
Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the program area when the entrance requirements are complete.
Step 3: Conditionally selected applicants
If you have been conditionally accepted to BCIT you will be notified and the following information will be required in order to be accepted into the program:
Once these and any other outstanding conditions have been met, you will receive notification of your full acceptance.
Clinical requirements
Note: Effective immediately, all health care workers who come into contact with patients at publicly-funded health care facilities or in the community, including at long-term-care facilities, will have to get the influenza vaccine or wear a mask during flu season. This policy affects all students who will be entering a clinical setting.
As such, you will be required to provide proof of your immunization or agree to wear a mask at all times through the flu season prior to being placed in your clinical studies.
Prior to entry into the clinical phase of the program, students must provide:
- Immunization Review [PDF]
- Submit to Student Health Services
- For instructions and more information, visit Student Health Services’ Health Science Student Information and view HSPnet's Practice Education Guidline's for BC - Immunization [PDF]
- Verification of current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training
- Recent respirator mask fitting results (testing required annually)
International applicants
This program is not available to international students. View available programs
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
Transfer Credit
To apply for theory course transfer credit, complete a Request for Transfer Credit Review and attach your official transcripts along with course outline of each course for which you are requesting a transfer credit review. Transfer credit is generally not recommended if the course was taken more than five years ago.
Compressed Time Frame (CTF)
BCIT offers Compressed Time Frame for clinical practicums on an individual basis, for those who have relevant background, knowledge and skills.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information.
Courses
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
| 1. Theory Courses (15.0 credits) | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CARD 4203 | Concepts in Pacemakers | 3.0 | |
| CARD 5301 | Concepts in Electrophysiology | 3.0 | |
| CARD 5302 | Cardiac Rhythm Device Implant | 4.0 | |
| CARD 5303 | Pacemaker/ICD Follow-up | 4.0 | |
| 2. Practicum (25.0 credits) | Credits | ||
| CARD 6352 | Pacemaker Practicum | 25.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 39.0 | ||
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
This unique, distance education/guided-learning program combines theory and clinical experience in hospitals and pacemaker clinics. The program emphasizes theoretical and clinical application of electrophysiology, cardiac pathology, cardiac pharmacology, and cardiac physiology. In addition to the theoretical basis in the courses, the clinical practicum offers the opportunity to practice the fundamentals required to perform the following:
- pacemaker/lead analysis on implant
- cardiac device assessment and programming
Program length
Courses within this program must be completed part-time as the courses have prerequisite completion requirements.
Note: Registration in individual theory courses is available for professional education or to meet employer requirements. However, completion of the theory courses does not indicate program admission. To complete the practicum and be awarded a credential, you must apply and be accepted to the program.
Grading
A passing grade of 60% is required for all theory courses. Clinical courses are graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory determined though a comprehensive clinical skills checklist.
Additional program options
Program delivery
Online: This program is delivered fully online.
This is a distance education/guided learning program with Learning Hub support.
Note: Registration in individual theory courses is available for professional education or to meet employer requirements. However, completion of the theory courses does not indicate program admission. To complete the practicum and be awarded a credential, you must apply and be accepted to the program.
Program location
Courses are offered through distance and online learning.Program structure
The program is comprised of four theory courses followed by one clinical course.
| Credits | ||
| 1. | Theory Courses | 14.0 |
| 2. | Clinical Courses | 25.0 |
| Total | 39.0 | |
Theory Courses
Courses are offered in succession and have prerequisite requirements before continuing to the next theory course.
Since enrolment in some courses may be limited, it is recommended that you register at least one month prior to the start of the term as not all courses are offered each term.
Clinical Practicum
The practicum must be supervised by a physician and associated professional (AP) mentor with proven experience and competence in the area of cardiac device follow-up and implantation.
The clinical practicum will be a minimum of 4.5 - 6 months (625 - 900 hours) of fulltime supervised instruction. During the training, the trainee should perform (hands-on) patient assessments and device programming, including measurement and interpretation on a minimum of 60 patients per month observed and reviewed by the supervising physician or designated AP.
Tertiary Care centre must provide:
- 625 hrs and up to 900 if required supervised hands-on training
- Minimum 60 patients per month observed and reviewed by the physician or designated AP
- Lead analysis and monitoring at the time of implant of a minimum of 15 patients
Graduating & Jobs
Our grads move up
As the only cardiac rhythm device program in North America, our students get the best of BCIT – high-calibre applied learning with the latest technical knowledge and expertise.
Our program gives you flexibility to study at your pace, for your needs. Take courses as your workplace requires, or complete the advanced certificate to broaden your skills and open doors to new career opportunities.
Career opportunities
Pacemaker and cardiac rhythm device technologists work with many types of biomedical equipment to support a variety of cardiac patients. Working in hospitals and clinics, jobs start at approximately $34 per hour. Critical care nurses who complete this advanced certificate earn on average $8-10 more per hour.
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Robin Wolfe, BHK, RCT
Advanced Cardiac Sciences Specialty Instructor/Coordinator
Lisa Gowans
Advanced Cardiac Sciences Certificate Program Head
Treena Cardiff, RN, MSN
Associate Dean, Diagnostics
Robert Gunn
Advisor and Part-time Instructor
Paul Purves
Advisor and Part-time Instructor
Examinations and FAQ
- Can I register into individual theory courses without being admitted into the program?
- If I can sign up and take one course at a time, why do I have to apply?
- Why do some courses require special approval?
- Will BCIT provide me with a clinical site?
- How long does it take to complete the whole program?
- How do examinations work for online theory courses?
Can I register into individual theory courses without being admitted into the program?
Yes. Registration in individual theory courses is available for professional education or to satisfy employer requirements.
Online theory courses are offered on a term by term basis, starting in September, January, and April each year.
If I can sign up one course at a time, why do I have to apply?
Registration and completion of theory courses does not imply program admission. You cannot complete a clinical practicum, and you cannot graduate with a BCIT credential without being formally admitted to the program.
Why do some courses require special approval?
Some courses, such as Clinical courses, are only available to students who have met the entrance requirements and have been selected for admission to the program.
Will BCIT provide me with a clinical site?
No. BCIT will not find you a clinical site for your practicum. Applicants to the program must have a site sponsor in place and submit a signed Clinical Verification form [PDF] with their application.
All applicants must also have a minimum of 2 years of recent clinical practice in Cardiology/Cardiac Sciences with patient care experience.
How long does it take to complete the whole program?
If a student completed one theory course every term leading up to clinical, then the certificate would take two years to complete including the clinical practicum.
How do examinations work for online theory courses?
All students taking courses within the Cardiac Science Technologies programs who live within a reasonable driving distance of BCIT are required to take their exams at the BCIT Burnaby Campus Test Centre, NE1 Room 290/291. This includes areas as far north as Squamish and as far east as Abottsford. A seat will be automatically reserved for students who fall into this regional category. Attendance at each appointed exam date is mandatory.
This requirement is applicable to any student studying on a course-by-course basis or as part of continuing education, whether enrolled in the program or not.
All students who live outside of the Greater Vancouver region are responsible for securing a private proctor to supervise their exam writing.
Please refer to the SoHS Student Handbook [PDF] for further details. Once a proctor is secured, students must formally book exams through the electronic exam booking system.
For a list of Examination Centres in Canada, please see the Athabasca University Invigilation Network.
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