RCIS (CCI) - Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist

The Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) certification is offered by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). The RCIS is available for nurses and other healthcare professionals working in the specialty of cardiac catheterization. These HCPs assist physicians in providing minimally invasive interventions to diagnose and treat cardiac conditions. Most often found in hospital settings, a cardiac catheterization lab nurse will monitor clients before and after the procedure and circulate and scrub during the procedure. With the continued prevalence of cardiovascular disease, the need for cardiac catheterization lab nurses will be a priority.

For nurses working in cardiac catheterization labs, the RCIS professional certification offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) exemplifies the skills and knowledge required to care for complex health conditions within the procedural environment.

Eligibility:

• Have a high school diploma or general education diploma

• Fulfill 1 of the qualification pathways listed below

• Provide typed documentation to support the qualification

Qualification Pathways

RCIS235 Qualification Pathway

Graduate of a certificate or degree program or post-secondary education program in nursing, cardiovascular technology, radiologic technology, ultrasound, respiratory therapy, emergency medical technology or a similar health science program

• Have 1 year of full-time invasive cardiovascular technology work experience

• Performed 600 cardiac diagnostic and/or interventional procedures

Required Documentation:

• Completion certificate and/or transcript

• Employment verification letter

• Clinical experience letter (only required if procedures were completed during a formal education program)

RCIS4 Qualification Pathway

• Graduate of an invasive cardiovascular technology program accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, Council for Higher Education Accreditation or Canadian Medical Association that specifically accredits programs in cardiovascular technology, vascular technology or diagnostic cardiac sonography

Required Documentation:

• Completion certificate and/or transcript

• Student verification letter

RCIS5 Qualification Pathway

• Graduate of a non-programmatically accredited program in invasive cardiovascular technology with at least 1 year of specialty training and 800 clinical hours in the cardiac catheterization specialty

Required Documentation:

• Completion certificate and/or transcript

• Student verification letter

• Clinical verification letter

Completion Time: 3 Hours

Cost: $365, includes a non-refundable $100 application processing fee

Exam Format

The RCIS certification exam is a three-hour, 170-question test based on the content outlined in the RCIS Exam Overview. It includes 150 scored and 20 unscored questions, with a mix of traditional multiple-choice and innovative item-type questions. The general distribution of questions and the relative weight given to a skill or content area on the exam include the following:

• Conducting Pre-Procedural Activities: 10%

• Conducting Diagnostic Procedures: 42%

• Conducting Interventional Procedures: 33%

• Responding to Emergency Procedures and Protocols: 6%

• Conducting Post-Procedural Activities: 9%

However, in July 2024, the exam matrix shifted percentages slightly and the RCIS Exam Overview hasn't been updated. Per this new outline, the relative weight given in each skill or content area is now as follows:

• Conducting Pre-Procedural Activities: 8%

• Conducting Diagnostic Procedures: 40%

• Conducting Interventional Procedures: 34%

• Responding to Emergency Procedures and Protocols: 13%

• Conducting Post-Procedural Activities: 5%

Exam takers receive an unofficial score report at the Pearson VUE testing center following the completion of their exam. This report provides a total score, pass/fail status and a breakdown of the percentage of questions answered correctly in each content area.

Total scores are scaled and range from 0 to 900, with a total scaled score of 650 required to pass. CCI total scaled scores don’t equal the number or percentage of questions answered correctly. Exam takers receive their official results letter, certificate and wallet card from CCI about 15 business days after passing the exam.

Candidates who fail the RCIS exam may sit for it again but must complete a new application and pay the required fees. There’s a mandatory waiting period of 45 days between taking the previous exam and a new authorization to test will be issued. According to a customer service specialist at CCI, applicants can take the exam as many times as they like.

Applicants must apply for the RCIS exam through their CCI online account. If they don't currently have one, they must create one. The application and certification process includes:

• Sign into account

• Select RCIS and appropriate qualification pathway (see below)

• Complete all required information, including personal, education and employment history

• Submit fees via check, money order or Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express card

• Upload all supporting documentation

• Receive Authorization to Test

• Schedule and take exam within 90-day eligibility window

Qualification Pathways

To be eligible for the RCIS certification exam, applicants must have a high school diploma or general education diploma and meet one of the following prerequisites:

• RCIS235: A graduate of a certificate or degree-granting program such as nursing, one-year full-time work in invasive cardiovascular technology, and 600 interventional procedures experienced within your career.

• RCIS5: A graduate of a non-programmatically accredited program in invasive cardiovascular technology with a minimum of one year of specialty training and includes a minimum of 800 clinical hours. 

• RCIS4: A graduate of an accredited program in invasive cardiovascular technology.

Supporting documentation may include education transcripts, employment verification letters and clinical experience letters if using procedures completed during a formal education program. Processing of the application to sit for the RCIS exam takes at least 15 to 20 business days.

An accredited program includes those recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), United States Department of Education (USDOE), or Canadian Medical Association (CMA) that specifically conducts programmatic accreditation for cardiovascular technology, diagnostic cardiac sonography, or vascular technology.

The RCIS credential is active for 9-12 months after passing the exam offered by CCI.

To renew the RCIS certification, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• First Renewal: You must pay a $165 fee before the first day of the quarter the following year after you earned the certification. There are no CEU requirements for the first renewal. After completing the first renewal, the certification is valid for three years.

• Second Renewal: After the three years following your first renewal, you would pay the $165 fee, sign the CCI Code of Ethics, and complete 36 CEUs, 30 of these must be cardiovascular-related.

The CCI offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Exam Overview

• Self-Assessment Exam (Cost: $55)

• CCI Applicant Handbook

The CCI also offers the following:

• Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS)

• Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT)

• Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer (RCCS)

• Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES)

• Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS)

• Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS)

• Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS)

• Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT)

The nurse seeking additional verification of skills in the cardiovascular specialty may also review the following certifications:

• Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC): This certification is available to nurses through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and validates entry-level knowledge and skills in the care of adult cardiac clients.

• Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC): The CMC is offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurse (AACN) for nurses in adult cardiac care units, home care, interventional cardiology, or cath labs.