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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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32103.03 – Cardiopulmonary technologists

Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Cardiopulmonary technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this occupation.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Cardiopulmonary technician
  • Cardiopulmonary technologist
  • Extracorporal circulation technologist
  • Extracorporal technician

Core competencies

  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to operate, monitor, maintain, calibrate and test diagnostic or therapeutic equipment to determine patients' blood characteristics, such as activated clotting time and oxygen saturation
  • Monitoring to supervise and train students and other cardiopulmonary technologists to ensure quality and professional care to patients
  • Pattern Organization Speed to quickly organize and interpret data from diagnostic tests and monitoring equipment into meaningful patterns that support accurate cardiovascular and pulmonary assessments
  • Near Vision to accurately read and interpret detailed medical charts, graphs and diagnostic data
  • Attention to Detail to closely analyze and program implanted devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators during surgery
  • Knowledge in Physical Health to enable safe patient handling, provide support during procedures, facilitate emergency response readiness and ensure accurate health assessments

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Perform diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function and asthma stress, or assist physicians with cardiac and cardiopulmonary stress tests and bronchoscopies
  • Determine patients' blood characteristics such as activated clotting time and oxygen saturation
  • Operate, monitor, maintain, calibrate and test diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
  • Monitor patients and advise physician of any changes in patients' condition
  • Prepare medications and administer inhaler and other treatments under supervision of cardiologist
  • Provide information and care for patients during tests
  • Assist with the preparation of cardiac catheterization room, prepare specialized catheters and assist cardiologists during catheterization
  • Perform analysis, programming and monitoring of implanted devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators during surgery
  • Supervise and train students and other cardiopulmonary technologists
  • Provide technical support for research.

Additional information

  • Supervisory and instructor positions in this unit group require experience in their respective fields as a respiratory therapist, clinical perfusionist or cardiopulmonary technologist.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Other medical technologists and technicians (32129)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

32 – Technical occupations in health

Sub-major group

321 – Technical occupations in health (except practitioners of natural healing)

Minor group

3210 – Technical occupations in therapy and assessment

Unit group

32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

Occupational profile

32103.03 – Cardiopulmonary technologists

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.