CATH LAB LICENSURE
As a cath lab professional, you may be wondering about the licensing logistics for each state. Before diving into licensure, it’s important to know that depending on your discipline, there are different regulations for working in each state.
What is a Cath Lab Professional?
Cath lab professionals work in catheterization labs to help diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions. Cath lab professions include:
- Cath Lab Tech
- Cath Lab RN
- Interventional Radiology (IR) Tech
- Interventional Radiology (IR) RN
- Electrophysiology (EP) Tech
- Electrophysiology (EP) RN
Your licensing protocol is dependent on your specialty.
These professions fall under Nursys licensure:
Cath Lab RN
IR RN
EP RN
These professions fall under ARRT:
Cath Lab Tech
IR Tech
See below for ARRT licensure map
These professions fall under RCES (CCI) licensure:
EP Tech
EP Techs do not need to get a license for every state, but instead need to pass the Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES) credential that needs to be renewed every 3 years.
Cath Lab Licensure by State
Cath Lab Certifications
While you do not need certification to begin working in all cath labs, certification is strongly recommended and is becoming more of a general requirement across facilities and hospitals. Certification can put your resume at the top of the list when applying for jobs and can help advance your career as a cath lab professional.
Cath Lab RN Certifications
Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC)
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- Offered by: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Focus: Demonstrates expertise in cardiac and vascular nursing, covering a broad range of cardiovascular conditions and interventions.
Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
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- Offered by: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- Focus: For nurses caring for critically ill patients, including those undergoing complex cardiac procedures.
Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP)
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- Offered by: American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR)
- Focus: Focuses on rehabilitation skills for patients recovering from cardiac interventions or surgery, often helpful in the cath lab setting.
Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
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- Offered by: American Heart Association (AHA)
- Focus: Essential for all cath lab RNs; ACLS certification is required for emergency response capabilities, especially for handling potential cardiac emergencies.
Cath Lab Tech Certifications
Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
- Offered by: Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
- Focus: A core certification for cath lab techs, covering invasive cardiovascular procedures, hemodynamics, and catheter-based interventions. RCIS certification is highly regarded and often required in cath labs.
Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES)
- Offered by: Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
- Focus: Although geared towards electrophysiology, this certification is useful for techs who may work in cath labs that also perform EP studies, focusing on cardiac arrhythmias and electrical conduction studies.
Certified Radiologic Technologist (RT)
- Offered by: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
- Focus: A base certification in radiography, with specialization options in cardiovascular-interventional radiography (CI) and cardiac-interventional radiography (CI) that are applicable to cath lab procedures.
Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- Offered by: American Heart Association (AHA)
- Focus: BLS and ACLS are crucial for cath lab techs to respond to emergencies and support the team during critical interventions.
Additional Certifications
Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT)
- Offered by: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
- Basic certification required for radiologic technologists, covering general radiographic techniques, radiation safety, and patient care.
- Often a prerequisite for advanced IR certifications.
Cardiac Interventional Radiography (CI) Certification
- Offered by: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
- Focuses on skills needed for cardiac catheterizations and other interventional cardiac procedures.
- Covers topics such as cardiac anatomy, physiology, imaging techniques, and patient safety.
Vascular Interventional Radiography (VI) Certification
- Also offered by ARRT and one of the most relevant certifications for IR technologists.
- Covers complex vascular procedures, including angioplasty, stenting, and catheter-based interventions.
- Emphasizes understanding of vascular anatomy, fluoroscopic techniques, and safety protocols.
What happens after I am certified and licensed?
Once you have obtained your initial certification, you will need to renew your certification based on the requirements of the issuing body. Generally, you can expect to pay a fee to renew your certification and complete continuing education requirements. This will also be true for your state license if you’re working in a state with a license requirement. You can check in with the state board for their renewal requirements.
After you’re licensed, certified, and ready to go, you can start your career as a traveler! Cath lab professionals are in high demand and are needed in all areas of the United States. Browse all of our available cath lab jobs on our job board.