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CET — CERTIFIED EKG TECHNICIAN EXAM LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
CET — CERTIFIED EKG TECHNICIAN EXAM — 250 Practice Questions
SECTION 1: SAFETY, COMPLIANCE, AND COORDINATED PATIENT CARE (Questions
1-80)
1. An EKG technician is preparing to perform a 12-lead EKG on a patient. Which of
the following is the FIRST step the technician should take before beginning the
procedure?
A. Prepare the patient's skin for electrode placement.
B. Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers.
C. Position the patient in a supine position.
D. Check the EKG machine settings.
Answer: B. Rationale: Patient identification is the first and most critical step in any
patient care procedure. The technician should verify the patient's identity using two
identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) according to facility policy and HIPAA
guidelines.
2. Under HIPAA regulations, which of the following is considered protected health
information (PHI)?
A. Patient's name and date of birth.
B. Patient's medical diagnosis.
C. Patient's Social Security number.
D. All of the above.
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Answer: D. Rationale: PHI includes any information that can be used to identify a
patient and relates to their health status, treatment, or payment. This includes names,
dates of birth, diagnoses, and Social Security numbers.
3. An EKG technician is caring for a patient who becomes diaphoretic and reports
chest pain during a stress test. Which of the following actions should the
technician take FIRST?
A. Continue the test to obtain complete data.
B. Stop the test and notify the provider immediately.
C. Adjust the patient's position.
D. Document the patient's symptoms.
Answer: B. Rationale: Chest pain and diaphoresis during stress testing are signs of
cardiopulmonary compromise and potential adverse reaction. The technician should
stop the test immediately and notify the provider.
4. An EKG technician is instructing a patient on the use of a Holter monitor. Which
of the following instructions should the technician include?
A. "You may shower while wearing the monitor."
B. "Keep a diary of your activities and any symptoms you experience."
C. "Remove the monitor if you experience chest pain."
D. "The monitor can be worn for up to 7 days continuously."
Answer: B. Rationale: Patients wearing a Holter monitor should keep a diary of activities
and symptoms to correlate with EKG recordings. They should not shower or get the
monitor wet, and the monitor is typically worn for 24-48 hours.
5. Which of the following is a normal systolic blood pressure for an adult patient?
A. 90 mm Hg.
B. 110 mm Hg.
C. 140 mm Hg.
D. 160 mm Hg.
Answer: B. Rationale: Normal systolic blood pressure for an adult is less than 120 mm
Hg. A reading of 110 mm Hg is within the normal range. 140 mm Hg or higher is
considered hypertension.
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6. An EKG technician is preparing to perform an EKG on a patient who is wearing a
medic alert bracelet for a latex allergy. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
A. Proceed with the EKG using standard equipment.
B. Use non-latex gloves and ensure all equipment is latex-free.
C. Ask the patient to remove the bracelet.
D. Reschedule the EKG for another day.
Answer: B. Rationale: For a patient with a latex allergy, the technician must use non-
latex gloves and ensure that all equipment (electrodes, leads, etc.) is latex-free to
prevent an allergic reaction.
7. According to OSHA guidelines, which of the following is an example of Standard
Precautions?
A. Wearing gloves when there is potential contact with blood or body fluids.
B. Wearing a mask for all patient interactions.
C. Using sterile technique for all procedures.
D. Placing all patients in isolation.
Answer: A. Rationale: Standard Precautions require the use of gloves when there is
potential contact with blood or body fluids. Masks, gowns, and eye protection are used
when there is risk of splash or spray.
8. An EKG technician is documenting patient information in the electronic health
record (EHR). Which of the following is the correct practice for documentation?
A. Document care at the end of the shift.
B. Document care in a timely manner.
C. Use abbreviations to save time.
D. Document based on memory.
Answer: B. Rationale: Documentation should be completed as soon as possible after
the care is provided to ensure accuracy. Delayed documentation can lead to errors.
9. Which of the following is the normal resting heart rate range for an adult?
A. 40-60 beats per minute.
B. 60-100 beats per minute.
C. 100-120 beats per minute.
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D. 120-140 beats per minute.
Answer: B. Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60-100 beats per
minute. Rates below 60 (bradycardia) or above 100 (tachycardia) may indicate
underlying conditions.
10. An EKG technician is preparing a patient for a stress test. Which of the following
instructions should the technician provide?
A. "Eat a heavy meal before the test."
B. "Avoid caffeine and smoking for at least 3 hours before the test."
C. "Wear tight-fitting clothing."
D. "You may take your usual medications, including beta-blockers."
Answer: B. Rationale: Patients should avoid caffeine and smoking for at least 3 hours
before a stress test, wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, and follow specific
medication instructions from the provider.
11. An EKG technician observes a coworker who is not following infection control
protocols. What is the MOST appropriate action?
A. Ignore the behavior.
B. Report the coworker to the supervisor.
C. Remind the coworker of the protocol.
D. Document the incident for later.
Answer: C. Rationale: The technician should first remind the coworker of the safety
protocol. If the behavior continues, it should be reported to the supervisor.
12. What is the purpose of a Holter monitor?
A. To record continuous EKG activity for 24-48 hours.
B. To record EKG activity during exercise.
C. To record a single 12-lead EKG.
D. To monitor blood pressure over 24 hours.
Answer: A. Rationale: A Holter monitor is an ambulatory EKG device that records
continuous cardiac activity for 24-48 hours to detect intermittent arrhythmias that may
not appear on a standard EKG.
13. An EKG technician is obtaining vital signs on a patient. Which of the following is
a normal respiratory rate for an adult?
CET — CERTIFIED EKG TECHNICIAN EXAM LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
CET — CERTIFIED EKG TECHNICIAN EXAM — 250 Practice Questions
SECTION 1: SAFETY, COMPLIANCE, AND COORDINATED PATIENT CARE (Questions
1-80)
1. An EKG technician is preparing to perform a 12-lead EKG on a patient. Which of
the following is the FIRST step the technician should take before beginning the
procedure?
A. Prepare the patient's skin for electrode placement.
B. Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers.
C. Position the patient in a supine position.
D. Check the EKG machine settings.
Answer: B. Rationale: Patient identification is the first and most critical step in any
patient care procedure. The technician should verify the patient's identity using two
identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) according to facility policy and HIPAA
guidelines.
2. Under HIPAA regulations, which of the following is considered protected health
information (PHI)?
A. Patient's name and date of birth.
B. Patient's medical diagnosis.
C. Patient's Social Security number.
D. All of the above.
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Answer: D. Rationale: PHI includes any information that can be used to identify a
patient and relates to their health status, treatment, or payment. This includes names,
dates of birth, diagnoses, and Social Security numbers.
3. An EKG technician is caring for a patient who becomes diaphoretic and reports
chest pain during a stress test. Which of the following actions should the
technician take FIRST?
A. Continue the test to obtain complete data.
B. Stop the test and notify the provider immediately.
C. Adjust the patient's position.
D. Document the patient's symptoms.
Answer: B. Rationale: Chest pain and diaphoresis during stress testing are signs of
cardiopulmonary compromise and potential adverse reaction. The technician should
stop the test immediately and notify the provider.
4. An EKG technician is instructing a patient on the use of a Holter monitor. Which
of the following instructions should the technician include?
A. "You may shower while wearing the monitor."
B. "Keep a diary of your activities and any symptoms you experience."
C. "Remove the monitor if you experience chest pain."
D. "The monitor can be worn for up to 7 days continuously."
Answer: B. Rationale: Patients wearing a Holter monitor should keep a diary of activities
and symptoms to correlate with EKG recordings. They should not shower or get the
monitor wet, and the monitor is typically worn for 24-48 hours.
5. Which of the following is a normal systolic blood pressure for an adult patient?
A. 90 mm Hg.
B. 110 mm Hg.
C. 140 mm Hg.
D. 160 mm Hg.
Answer: B. Rationale: Normal systolic blood pressure for an adult is less than 120 mm
Hg. A reading of 110 mm Hg is within the normal range. 140 mm Hg or higher is
considered hypertension.
, Page 3 of 71
6. An EKG technician is preparing to perform an EKG on a patient who is wearing a
medic alert bracelet for a latex allergy. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
A. Proceed with the EKG using standard equipment.
B. Use non-latex gloves and ensure all equipment is latex-free.
C. Ask the patient to remove the bracelet.
D. Reschedule the EKG for another day.
Answer: B. Rationale: For a patient with a latex allergy, the technician must use non-
latex gloves and ensure that all equipment (electrodes, leads, etc.) is latex-free to
prevent an allergic reaction.
7. According to OSHA guidelines, which of the following is an example of Standard
Precautions?
A. Wearing gloves when there is potential contact with blood or body fluids.
B. Wearing a mask for all patient interactions.
C. Using sterile technique for all procedures.
D. Placing all patients in isolation.
Answer: A. Rationale: Standard Precautions require the use of gloves when there is
potential contact with blood or body fluids. Masks, gowns, and eye protection are used
when there is risk of splash or spray.
8. An EKG technician is documenting patient information in the electronic health
record (EHR). Which of the following is the correct practice for documentation?
A. Document care at the end of the shift.
B. Document care in a timely manner.
C. Use abbreviations to save time.
D. Document based on memory.
Answer: B. Rationale: Documentation should be completed as soon as possible after
the care is provided to ensure accuracy. Delayed documentation can lead to errors.
9. Which of the following is the normal resting heart rate range for an adult?
A. 40-60 beats per minute.
B. 60-100 beats per minute.
C. 100-120 beats per minute.
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D. 120-140 beats per minute.
Answer: B. Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60-100 beats per
minute. Rates below 60 (bradycardia) or above 100 (tachycardia) may indicate
underlying conditions.
10. An EKG technician is preparing a patient for a stress test. Which of the following
instructions should the technician provide?
A. "Eat a heavy meal before the test."
B. "Avoid caffeine and smoking for at least 3 hours before the test."
C. "Wear tight-fitting clothing."
D. "You may take your usual medications, including beta-blockers."
Answer: B. Rationale: Patients should avoid caffeine and smoking for at least 3 hours
before a stress test, wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, and follow specific
medication instructions from the provider.
11. An EKG technician observes a coworker who is not following infection control
protocols. What is the MOST appropriate action?
A. Ignore the behavior.
B. Report the coworker to the supervisor.
C. Remind the coworker of the protocol.
D. Document the incident for later.
Answer: C. Rationale: The technician should first remind the coworker of the safety
protocol. If the behavior continues, it should be reported to the supervisor.
12. What is the purpose of a Holter monitor?
A. To record continuous EKG activity for 24-48 hours.
B. To record EKG activity during exercise.
C. To record a single 12-lead EKG.
D. To monitor blood pressure over 24 hours.
Answer: A. Rationale: A Holter monitor is an ambulatory EKG device that records
continuous cardiac activity for 24-48 hours to detect intermittent arrhythmias that may
not appear on a standard EKG.
13. An EKG technician is obtaining vital signs on a patient. Which of the following is
a normal respiratory rate for an adult?
