BPSS Curriculum Guideline: EKG Technician

These Guidelines concern NYSED and/or BPSS expectations for curriculum review. Prior to submitting your new curriculum for review, please make sure to follow the instructions and advice below:

General Technicalities

  • When uploading curriculum material to my.ny.gov, always use the tab instead of <Other> or <Miscellaneous>.
  • For new curriculum, expect up to 90 days for review. Note that an approved curriculum may sometimes have to be revised/updated afterwards.
  • Curriculum title MUST be descriptive and clear, with NO advertising.

General Content

  • The BPSS entrance requirement for this specific curriculum is High School Diploma/GED/TASC or an Ability-to-Benefit test at the 8th/9th grade level, such as TABE, or Wonderlic Basic Skills Test verbal score 248/quantitative 254, or a medical certificate such as HHA, PCA, Nurse Aide, and medic.
  • EKG Technician MUST be a self-standing program. The standard length is between 60 and 200hrs. Note that EKG is also offered as a unit in the Medical Assistant curriculum.
  • The content description should be list-like. Units should be less than 100hrs, but not splintered into mini-units either. Each subject should be one single unit. If a unit has both theory and skills components, enter both separately (such as EKG-Skills AND EKG-Theory).
  • The content of an EKG Technician curriculum should include units in: Medical Terminology and Anatomy & Physiology; Infection Control; Theory of EKG; and Practice. The curriculum should end with the Career Development module.
  • The Career Development (3-5hrs) module should cover what professional certifications exist, how to find a job in this field, and how to apply for a job (including résumé writing & interview techniques).
  • The EKG program should permit the student to successfully pass certification exams offered by independent third-parties, once he/she has completed the program. (Listed below on page 2 are BPSS-suggested third-parties***)
  • Students must practice live EKG. The correct procedure is to start on a mannequin, and then proceed to practicing on a fellow student or volunteer after the instructor deems the student ready to do so. The final skills demonstration for all clinical procedures MUST be 100% accurate.

Textbooks and Instructional Aids

  • MUST use a standard published textbook, since you cannot use only handouts.

Equipment List

  • EKG equipment MUST include: EKG machine with 12-leads; disinfection equipment; a medical table or chair; and draping. Specify manufacturer AND model number.

Content Outline and Performance Objectives

  • Use (the former) 21a Content Outline guidelines to show how students progress through the curriculum and (the former) 21b Performance Objectives to explain how the teacher tests student mastery of the subject matter.
  • For Performance Objectives, you MUST describe what the student will do to show the instructor that he/she learned the subject matter. For the theory component, this will include quizzes, homework, and class answers; for the skills component, practical demonstrations.

Reapprovals/Amendments

  • Indicate any changes in a letter uploaded under <Coursework Details>. Upload the complete, previously approved, curriculum (including approval letter) in one PDF under <Coursework Details>. Then upload the revised/amended curriculum as a second PDF.

General Caveats

  • It is advised you use, as much as possible, standard curriculum/outlines from reputable organizations.
  • Note that NO BPSS CURRICULUM APPROVAL, EVEN WHEN GIVEN IN ERROR, CAN OVERRIDE THE LAW! You MUST be familiar with the legal requirements in your offering.

*** Third-parties offering EKG certification exams:

National Healthcare Association 
American Medical Certification Association
National Medical Certification Association

Note that these associations are NOT endorsed by BPSS. These are just some but not all of the existing certifying entities. If using any others, please verify that they are reputable, best by checking with potential employers.

Any further questions, please contact bpsscurriculum@nysed.gov