Preparing for Certification Exams
ABCM does not make specific recommendations for study. There are many books, and organizations that provide opportunities for the study of Cardiology such as the Marriott Heart Foundation (MHF), American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), just to name a few. Be sure the references you select are not older than 5 years.
Basic ECG (CMT) Exam
All references used for study should be published within the past 5 years. Select any Basic ECG Book that covers the following topic areas should be sufficient:
1. Calculating heart rate
2. Sinus Rhythms
3 - Bundle Branch Blocks
4 - Atrial Rhythms
5 - Junctional Rhythms
6 - Ventricular Rhythms
7 - AV Blocks
8 - Introduction to the 12-Lead ECG
9 - Electrolyte Disturbances
10 - Myocardial Ischemia
11 - Myocardial Infarction
1. Calculating heart rate
2. Sinus Rhythms
3 - Bundle Branch Blocks
4 - Atrial Rhythms
5 - Junctional Rhythms
6 - Ventricular Rhythms
7 - AV Blocks
8 - Introduction to the 12-Lead ECG
9 - Electrolyte Disturbances
10 - Myocardial Ischemia
11 - Myocardial Infarction
12-Lead ECG Exam
All references used for study should be published within the past 5 years. Any 12-Lead ECG Book that covers the following topic areas should be sufficient:
1 - Normal 12-Lead ECG and Axis Calculation
2 - Bundle Branch Blocks
3 - Ventricular Aberration
4 - The Hemiblocks
5 - Atrial Arrhythmias
6 - Supraventricular Arrhythmias
7 - Differentiating the Wide-QRS Patterns
8 - Ventricular Arrhythmias
9 - Junctional Arrhythmias
10 - Atrioventricular Blocks
11 - Electrolyte Disturbances
12 - Myocardial Infarction
13 - Myocardial Ischemia
1 - Normal 12-Lead ECG and Axis Calculation
2 - Bundle Branch Blocks
3 - Ventricular Aberration
4 - The Hemiblocks
5 - Atrial Arrhythmias
6 - Supraventricular Arrhythmias
7 - Differentiating the Wide-QRS Patterns
8 - Ventricular Arrhythmias
9 - Junctional Arrhythmias
10 - Atrioventricular Blocks
11 - Electrolyte Disturbances
12 - Myocardial Infarction
13 - Myocardial Ischemia
Advanced ECG Exam
All references used for study should be published within the past 5 years. Any Advanced ECG Book that covers the following topic areas should be sufficient:
1 - Pericarditis
2 - Hypothyroidism
3 - Chronic Cor Pulmonale
4 - Hypokalemia
5 - Hypercalcemia
6 - Hyperkalemia
7 - Hypocalcemia
8 - Left Ventricular Hypertrophy with Systolic Overloading
9 - Left Ventricular Diastolic Overloading
10 - Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
11 - Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
12 - Mitral Stenosis
13 - Atrial Tachycardia with Warm-up
14 - Atrial Tachycardia with 2:1 & 4:1
15 - Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
16 - A-V Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (probable)
17 - Orthodromic Tachycardia
18 - Atrial Fibrillation
19 - Atrial Flutter with Saw-tooth Pattern
20 - S-A Exit Block, Type I
21 - Bradycardia-Tachycardia (Sick Sinus) Syndrome
22 - Left Ventricular Tachycardia
23 - Wide-QRS Tachycardias
24 - Atrial Premature Beats with Varying Intraventricular Block Patterns
25 - Atrial Fibrillation with Alternating Intraventricular Block
26 - Nonconducted Atrial Bigeminy
27 - Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm from Left Ventricle
28 - Acute Inferior Infarction & Ventricular Parasystole
29 - Second Degree A-V Block
30 - Block-Acceleration Dissociation
31 - Complete A-V Dissociation
32 - Left Bundle Branch Block
33 - Right Bundle Branch Block
34 - Left Anterior Hemiblock
35 - Acute Inferior Infarction with RBBB and Possible Left Posterior Hemiblock
36 - Acute Anterior Infarction
37 - Acute Infero-postero-lateral Infarction
38 - Acute Infero-posterior Infarction
39 - Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
40 - Dual Chambered Pacing
41 - Single Chambered Pacing
42 - Concealed Conduction
1 - Pericarditis
2 - Hypothyroidism
3 - Chronic Cor Pulmonale
4 - Hypokalemia
5 - Hypercalcemia
6 - Hyperkalemia
7 - Hypocalcemia
8 - Left Ventricular Hypertrophy with Systolic Overloading
9 - Left Ventricular Diastolic Overloading
10 - Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
11 - Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
12 - Mitral Stenosis
13 - Atrial Tachycardia with Warm-up
14 - Atrial Tachycardia with 2:1 & 4:1
15 - Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
16 - A-V Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (probable)
17 - Orthodromic Tachycardia
18 - Atrial Fibrillation
19 - Atrial Flutter with Saw-tooth Pattern
20 - S-A Exit Block, Type I
21 - Bradycardia-Tachycardia (Sick Sinus) Syndrome
22 - Left Ventricular Tachycardia
23 - Wide-QRS Tachycardias
24 - Atrial Premature Beats with Varying Intraventricular Block Patterns
25 - Atrial Fibrillation with Alternating Intraventricular Block
26 - Nonconducted Atrial Bigeminy
27 - Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm from Left Ventricle
28 - Acute Inferior Infarction & Ventricular Parasystole
29 - Second Degree A-V Block
30 - Block-Acceleration Dissociation
31 - Complete A-V Dissociation
32 - Left Bundle Branch Block
33 - Right Bundle Branch Block
34 - Left Anterior Hemiblock
35 - Acute Inferior Infarction with RBBB and Possible Left Posterior Hemiblock
36 - Acute Anterior Infarction
37 - Acute Infero-postero-lateral Infarction
38 - Acute Infero-posterior Infarction
39 - Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
40 - Dual Chambered Pacing
41 - Single Chambered Pacing
42 - Concealed Conduction
Cardiovascular Nursing Level I Exam
All references used for study should be published within the past 5 years. Any Comprehensive Cardiovascular Nursing Test Book that covers the following topic areas should be sufficient:
1. Bedside Assessment
2. Basic ECG Essentials
3. Coronary Artery Disease
4. Hypertension
5. Cardiomyopathy
6. Heart Failure
7. Non-Invasive and Interventional Cardiology
1. Bedside Assessment
2. Basic ECG Essentials
3. Coronary Artery Disease
4. Hypertension
5. Cardiomyopathy
6. Heart Failure
7. Non-Invasive and Interventional Cardiology
Cardiovascular Nursing Level II Exam
All references used for study should be published within the past 5 years. Any Comprehensive Cardiovascular Nursing Test Book that covers the following topic areas should be sufficient:
1. Bedside Assessment
2. Basic ECG Essentials
3. Coronary Artery Disease
4. Hypertension
5. Cardiomyopathy
6. Heart Failure
7. Non-Invasive and Interventional Cardiology
8. Heart Sounds
9. 12-Lead ECG & Arrhythmias
10. Oxygenation & Mechanical Ventilation
11. CV Pharmacology
12. Pacemakers & ICDs
13. Hemodynamic Monitoring
14. Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping
1. Bedside Assessment
2. Basic ECG Essentials
3. Coronary Artery Disease
4. Hypertension
5. Cardiomyopathy
6. Heart Failure
7. Non-Invasive and Interventional Cardiology
8. Heart Sounds
9. 12-Lead ECG & Arrhythmias
10. Oxygenation & Mechanical Ventilation
11. CV Pharmacology
12. Pacemakers & ICDs
13. Hemodynamic Monitoring
14. Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping
Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Exam
All references used for study should be published within the past 5 years. Any Physician level Cardiology Reference Book that covers the following topic areas should be sufficient:
1. Cardiovascular Diseases:
Heart Failure
Hypertension
Acute coronary syndromes
Cardiomyopathy
Hyperlipidemia
Pulmonary Embolus
2. Heart Sounds and Bedside Assessment
3. Basic ECG and 12-Lead ECG and Arrhythmias
4. CV Pharmacology
5. Pacemakers & ICDs
6. Interventional Cardiology Procedures
7. Non-Invasive Cardiology Procedures
8. Non-Invasive Cardiology Diagnostic Procedures
1. Cardiovascular Diseases:
Heart Failure
Hypertension
Acute coronary syndromes
Cardiomyopathy
Hyperlipidemia
Pulmonary Embolus
2. Heart Sounds and Bedside Assessment
3. Basic ECG and 12-Lead ECG and Arrhythmias
4. CV Pharmacology
5. Pacemakers & ICDs
6. Interventional Cardiology Procedures
7. Non-Invasive Cardiology Procedures
8. Non-Invasive Cardiology Diagnostic Procedures
