Monitor Tech Academy gives you tools you need for a career in cardiac monitoring.

12-lead interpretation course for in-hospital providers

Early diagnosis and early intervention in myocardial infarction is the key to long term survival and morbidity. Much time and money has been spent on seeking the gold standard of a 90 minute door to balloon time for myocardial infarction. Doesn’t it make sense for the first person to see the patient to be confident in making the diagnosis? This is the case if the patient is transported to the hospital via ambulance because paramedics have been trained in the interpretation of 12 lead ECGs. If the patient comes to the emergency department by private vehicle or begins to have chest pain while in the hospital, the diagnosis should be made at the earliest possible moment.

Training your emergency department, telemetry and intensive care nurses in the interpretation of 12 lead ECGs makes sense. They are the healthcare personnel who will be at the bedside of the patients at high risk for myocardial infarction. Those registered nurses will be the ones called to see the patient first. Your facility can trim precious moments off the time it takes to get the patient to definitive treatment if the diagnosis can be made earlier.

We have a cost efficient course that will provide your registered nurses with the knowledge that they need to interpret that all so important 12 lead ECG. When they have completed the course they will be confident in making the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and the location of the infarction. They will be presented with the information at the speed that they are comfortable with. They are not limited by time constraints. Each and every nurse can learn 12 lead ECG interpretation at their own speed. When they feel confident, they can demonstrate their competency by taking the online examination. Everyone is a winner. The nurse gains knowledge that sets her or him apart and you gain precious moments in the race to acceptable door to balloon times. Students can take their career even further if they have taken our arrhythmia interpretation course. They would then be able to sit for the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) certified rhythm analysis technician (CRAT) examination.

This course is also applicable for Medicare pre-operative assessment. Usually this will be billed under V72.81 (pre-operative cardiovascular examination).

Course format

This course is offered in in-person group format and online format. All our instructors hold current and valid ACLS instructor credentials from the American Heart Association. (Some customers require that our instructors additionally hold paramedic licensure, we can meet this requirement.)

Take this course for required job training.

Course overview

Our course front matter includes the syllabus, complete accreditation statements and statements from all instructors and contributors.

Accreditations

This course is accredited for up to 8 hours of continuing medical education hours by AMA — American Medical Association, ANCC — American Nurses Credentialing Center, ADA CERP — American Dental Association, ACPE — Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. See full accreditation statements from these organizations in the course front matter above. See our accreditation letters and sample certificates on our accreditations page.

Scientific basis

This course is written based on scientific evidence. Our main works cited for this course are:

  • Burke AP, Virmani R. Pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction. Med Clin North Am. 2007;91:553-572.
  • Freifeld AG, Schuster EH, Bulkley BH. Nontransmural versus transmural myocardial infarction. A morphologic study. Am J Med. 1983;75:423-432.
  • Bayés de Luna A, Wagner G, Birnbaum Y, et al. A new terminology for left ventricular walls and location of myocardial infarcts that present Q wave based on the standard of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: a statement for healthc re professionals from a committee appointed by the International Society for Holter and invasive electrocardiography. Circulation. 2006;114:1755-1760.

Additional review information

Additional information is available for organizations that are reviewing our course, just ask us.

  • Complete printout of study materials
  • Complete testing instruments with answer keys -- This is only available to accreditation organizations and government regulators that review our course.
  • Complimentary online course access
  • Resumes, CVs and all credentialing information for our instructors

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How is the course delivered?

The course is offered online with self-paced modules. You can access all materials through any web browser on your computer or mobile device.

Are there any prerequisites for taking this course?

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. However, it is designed for healthcare professionals who already have a basic understanding of cardiovascular emergencies and electrocardiography.

What is the time commitment for this course?

The estimated time for completion is about 8 hours. However you are able to complete the course at your own pace and (if needed) over multiple sessions.

What happens if I don’t pass the post-test?

If you don’t score 84% or higher on the post-test, you will need to retake the test. You must achieve a passing score to receive your CE certificate.

What kind of content is included in the course?

The course includes detailed explanations on:

  • ECG lead configurations and axis interpretation.
  • Ischemia and its role in acute coronary syndrome.
  • Identifying injury and infarction on ECGs.
  • Electrolyte disorders and how they affect ECG readings.
  • The difference between ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia.

Can this course help me diagnose myocardial infarctions?

Yes, the course covers the ECG steps of myocardial infarction, including how to identify ischemic, injured, and infarcted myocardium on a 12-lead ECG, an essential skill for clinicians in acute settings.

Completion eCard

Sample of our course completion eCard (click to enlarge):
Sample certificate monitor tech 12 lead ECG.

Please verify the authenticity of our certificates by emailing us with the name and issue date of the student.

Sign up now

Contact us by email at anytime , or by phone Monday through Friday 8AM to 5PM Pacific Time (PT) at +1 484‑464‑2883 or , to schedule an in-person training for your group (minimum of 10 people). Or see our online sales page.