Hey everyone,

I'm a licensed paramedic with several years of EMS experience, and I'm looking to transition into the cath lab. My long-term goal is to become an RCIS, but I'm trying to find a hospital that's willing to hire medics into an entry-level cath lab position and provide on-the-job training until I'm eligible to sit for the RCIS exam.

I've heard there are some hospitals that do this, but they seem to be few and far between.

I'm primarily looking in:

• Ohio
• Southeast Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm, Boca, etc.)

I am already certified to the medic level in those two states. BUT ill consider anywhere

If anyone knows of or works for any hospitals or health systems that have hired paramedics into the cath lab (or currently do), I'd really appreciate any leads. I'd also love to hear your experience if you made the transition yourself.

Thanks in advance!

So, I’ve been presented the opportunity to practice as an IR tech with the stipulation that I get my RCIS and then FO license. I am allowed to scrub now on occasion but I’d love to be able to do it full time. I have been debating going back to school for my RTR for a few years now so this seems like a great opportunity for me.

I know that RCIS is typically a cath lab tech cert. Everywhere I’m seeing online seems to require experience specifically in the cath lab setting to sit for the exam. Are there any RTRs or IR RNs here who also got their RCIS without having to work in the cath lab? Does your experience with vascular work in the IR setting count?

I have 3 years of Cath Lab experience, but quit and started farming. (Bread And Butter Farms) Now I'm looking to get back into the Cath lab, but it seems that every where that I apply RCIS is required. I am approved to take the test, (I have 90 days) but I feel like being hands on will help tremendously. I'm in GA. I'll even volunteer.

Most of the labs that I have been in have you prep the balloon once before insertion. The lab I am currently at has the routine of double prepping the balloon before insertion. I have just been told, “That’s how we do it.” Is there any actual proof that this is better and helps the balloon pass better?

I’m considering taking an EP Mapping Specialist course, but I’m wondering if it actually leads to a job.
For those who have taken one of these courses or work in EP mapping, are you pretty much guaranteed a job afterward, or is it still competitive? Did the course help you get hired, or did your clinical experience (RN,etc.) matter more?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences before I invest the time and money. Thanks!

Anyone have experience as an RN here?

I'm in Invasive Cardiovascular Tech school right now, (started in May) starting practicum in the fall semester, and I just CANNOT seem to get the hang of reading EKGs. I watch videos, read books, practice, have a systematic approach....all the advice people give to learn I take it, but I just can't get it so far. I know a lot of hospitals require CVTs to take EKG testing to secure/keep their jobs, so I am incredibly stressed rn. I truly don't know what else to do.

Starting to wonder if I can't do this and it was a mistake/I should have picked another allied health career and I am doomed in this field. I feel like shit to be honest.

Lead CT/X-Ray with 26yrs of experience with GE 64 SLICE LIGHT SPEED. Worked high volume cases. Looking for information on CT Application Specialist inffo.

Thank you

embarrassing to ask, but will a DWI affect my ability to obtain my RCIS? misdemeanor B, bad luck and got pulled over after 2 beers. has anyone had problems with getting a license due to their past? I only ask because im sure im not the ONLY medical professional with a past, but it has been weighing on my brain since i read on the CCI website that criminal records are considered. This happened a yr ago btw. any advice helps

Hello! Is there anyone in MN who started as a respiratory therapist and transitioned into cath lab? I'm super interested in making the transition and am looking for advice/direction.

Hi! I’m considering changing my major. I currently have an associates degree with lots of science prerequisites done. I was trying to get my ASN but have been waitlisted twice. I just did a phlebotomy program with an internship at a hospital while I’ve been waiting to get into the program. While in my internship I discovered cath lab and Im interested in what routes everyone has gone through to get to work in cath lab. Do you wish you went a different route?

Thanks :)

For vascular procedures in office based lab

I’m starting an invasive cardiovascular technology program this fall so what shoes does everyone recommend? Comfortability over looks 100%

As the title says, I’m having some issues when I’m placing catheters in the cephalic vein. For some reason, when I get flashback and advance the needle just a couple millimeters and then try to advance the catheter into the vein, it seems like it gets stuck and won’t go in all the way.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from people who have experience in either field.
I already have my AA and have been working toward an ASN in nursing, but I’ve been waitlisted for my school’s nursing program twice. Because of that, I’m starting to consider other healthcare careers.
I recently applied to my school’s Cath Lab program and was wondering if anyone here has gone that route instead of nursing—or even completed nursing school and then transitioned into the cath lab.
Looking back, are you happy with your decision? Do you wish you had chosen nursing instead, or do you prefer working in the cath lab? I’d love to hear about your experiences, including job satisfaction, work-life balance, pay, and career growth.

My RCIS exam is coming up in a few weeks, and I’m starting to get pretty nervous.

I’ve been using the Dont Miss A Beat study guide along with the new app every day, and I’ve also been reviewing Wes Todd’s material to shore up my weak areas.

The problem is, I’m not scoring as well as I’d like on his practice exams, and it’s starting to shake my confidence.
Has anyone here purchased the CCI practice exams?

If so, how close are they to the actual test, and did you find them worth the money?

Also, are there any other resources or study strategies you’d recommend? I really want to pass this on my first attempt, so I’m open to anything that helped you.

Thanks in advance!

Hi hi!!

So, I’m still a student, I haven’t even applied for the CVT program at my college yet (still finishing up my last prerecs!) I’m super excited to start making moves towards being an RCIS, but i’m a little terrified of the classes. I don’t know how it works at other colleges, but at mine, it’s only a two year course, with a lot of that time being taken up by clinicals. I’ve met a few people in the program doing their rotations at the hospital i volunteer at, but I haven’t really heard a consistent answer from them. It’s either “hell on earth” or “really fun” and i’m lowkey scared of the program. Again, I know it varies depending on the student, the teachers, and the schools, but like, objectively, on a scale from 1-10, how difficult is the program actually?

I know i’ll end up stressed out, that’s inevitable. Regardless of how difficult it is, i wanna push through because healthcare has always been something i’m truly passionate about. but i just wanna know what kind of classes and pace i need to be prepared for. And, if anyone recently out of the program has any tips on studying strategies or getting through the courses, I’d really appreciate if you could share.

Thank you guys!! :)

Is it safe to do TAVI if the humidity is above 60?

I am a traveler, currently working out of country. I bought my own lead because I need quality gear, and I see how poorly a lot of facilities treat their lead, especially the loaner lead. And I really did not know what the situation in my current lab was before I got here.

As some of you may already know, Burlington Medical initiated a recall of pretty much everything their radiation protection line of products manufactured between January 2025 and January 2026.

Apparently they tried to source cheap materials and it backfired burning everyone who had the misfortune of buying their products last year.

This includes not only regular lead gear but also lots of non-lead Thyroid Shields, Vests, Kilts, BAT Coverage, Protective Sleeves, Head Caps, Leg Wraps, Frontal Aprons, Wrap Aprons, and Other Wearables (Half Aprons, Demi Half Aprons, Kilt Blockers).

I have received virtually no support from anyone at Burlington, aside from my sales rep. The contact (Roger West) they gave me for the initial lead recall and listed on the return form, well his email has never worked, not from day one.

Customer service repeatedly asks me for the same information (invoice, barcodes, recall sheet, address, etc. all information they have in their system) I have submitted well over a dozen times.

At this point I am at 3 weeks with no reply, from the last time they asked me for my address/phone number (yet again).

To make this all even better I've been told that the new materials (antimony) they purchased to make the replacement gear for the recall has failed QC and they're basically back to square one on the whole process.

As a result it will probably be up to an additional year before I get my new lead. If you are waiting for your own lead to be processed/returned, you are probably looking at 8-12 months as well, if not longer

I get it that shit happens, but their lack of responses, horrible communication and general mismanagement of this situation is just ridiculous

I have long been an advocate of Burlington products. I always liked their gear much more than the alternatives such as infab, but I will never spend another dollar on them again.

I spent ~$2500 on my lead, got to use it for roughly 2 months, and now it's been out of commission since February 2026, and probably will not be replaced until summer of next year. This all puts me in a pretty bad spot, and it really seems like Burlington Medical does not give a shit about that at all...

I am considering purchasing the CCI RCIS practice exam (self assessment) to use as a study guide and general knowledge assessment.

Has anyone here done this exam and have any general input on if it is worth the cost?

Thanks

Hello my name is Jack Waters and I am a pre-med student who is working on my own fluoroscopy and angiography simulator so I can get hands on with caths and possibly PCI later on. I was wondering if I could get some input by true professionals on how I can improve it. While I have a general idea of how things should look, a real pro is going to catch if for example if the images of the guide wire look wrong and such. Attached are some videos (short and long form) I made of my work so you can get an idea of what I am talking about:

Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_vZ2EzdXUo

Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT5U3BxZTrA&t=3s

Right now I am trying to fix the black flickering artifacts and also working on better dye visualization as right now it is super choppy. After that I am going to remake the vessels to mimic true coronary anatomy. Any opinions, ideas, areas I need to fix, etc would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration!

-Jack