Overview
Electrophysiology Technology (EP) is one of three study options available in BCIT's Advanced Certificate in Cardiac Sciences program, and is the only one of its kind offered in North America.
For more information on the other study options offered within the certificate, visit the Cardiac Sciences department page.
Program Goals
- Apply knowledge of cardiac anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and cardiac pharmacology to the safe and high-quality care of patients
- Demonstrate competency operating the physiological monitoring equipment and stimulator during diagnostic and interventional electrophysiology procedures
- Apply technical knowledge to troubleshoot electrophysiology equipment malfunction
- Demonstrate competency in performing intraoperative lead-testing at CRMD implant
About the program
The Electrophysiology Technology (EP) program option gives allied health professionals with electrocardiography (ECG) experience the specialized expertise needed to work in electrophysiology laboratories. Using intracardiac catheter recordings, electrophysiology technologists analyze complex arrhythmia, heart block, and myocardial infarction.
- Part-time, advanced certificate program that takes an average of 1.5 years to complete
- Distance and online learning gives you flexibility to learn at your pace
- One clinical experience in your workplace’s electrophysiology lab
- Take courses as you need, or enrol to complete the full certificate
Our grads get the skills they need to work in this highly unique field of cardiac care. See Program Details to find out more.
Who it’s for
This program is for allied health professionals skilled in 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 mechanics and technology of the electrical activities of the heart
Ready to apply or looking for more information? Visit Entrance Requirements to learn more about requirements.
What grads can do
Our cardiac advanced certificates prepare you for work from day one. See Graduating and Jobs to learn what a future in electrophysiology technology looks like.
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 5520 | Advanced Cardiac Electrophysiology Diagnostics and Electroanatomic Mapping | 5.0 | |
| 2. Practicum (32.0 credits) | Credits | ||
| CARD 6500 | Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinical Practicum | 32.0 | |
| Note: You must successfully complete all theory courses prior to entry into the clinical practicum. | |||
| Total Credits: | 47.0 | ||
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 the electrophysiology lab. The program emphasizes theoretical and clinical application of electrophysiology, cardiac pathology, cardiac pharmacology and cardiac physiology. In addition to the theoretical basis contained in the courses, the clinical practicum offers students the opportunity to practice the fundamentals required to perform the following:
- diagnostic and therapeutic procedures during the EP study
- pacemaker/lead analysis on implant
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.
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 five theory courses followed by three clinical courses.
| Credits | ||
| 1. | Theory Courses | 15.0 |
| 2. | Clinical Courses | 32.0 |
| Total | 47.0 | |
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 electrophysiology.
This comprehensive clinical practicum in electrophysiology technology and cardiac rhythm device implantation is conducted at an approved center with an electrophysiology lab. Students will spend a minimum of 800 hours (23 weeks) at the clinical site, first observing and subsequently learning and refining their skills in patient assessment, performance of EP diagnostic studies, understanding catheter ablation and cardiac device implantation. Students will log their experiences recording a variety of EP diagnostic studies and observing cardiac rhythm device implants. Specific goals of consistency in competency requirements must be met before the student completes the practicum. More generic skills such as computer skills, teamwork, communication, problem solving and patient care are woven throughout the course.
Graduating & Jobs
Our grads move up
Electrophysiology technology is a very specialized cardiac care field. Advance your career in cardiac care and strengthen your skill set to support patient care. Employers across Canada and the USA know our program delivers grads with the skills their organizations need.
Career opportunities
Use our courses to enhance your
knowledge and skills so you can better support cardiac care in your workplace. You can also complete the full advanced certificate to give you the expertise and résumé relevancy you need to move into electrophysiology technology positions.
Electrophysiology technologists work in hospitals with jobs starting at approximately $34 per hour. Critical care nurses who complete this advanced certificate earn, on average, $8-10 more per hour.
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, School of Health 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 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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