{"id":5203,"date":"2024-08-23T16:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T16:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=5203"},"modified":"2024-09-06T16:55:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T16:55:23","slug":"rcis-certification-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Advice for Getting Your RCIS Certification &#8211; Including 5 Tips for Passing"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 id=\"back-to-top\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) credential has increasingly become the standard in cardiac catheterization laboratories, especially for medical professionals wanting to stand out. Some facilities require<\/span> <a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/rcis-cci\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">RCIS certification<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, but you should consider pursuing it even if it isn&#8217;t required. Professional certification can be a vital career-boosting tool. While everyone has different methods of learning and what works for one person doesn\u2019t work for all, these tips on getting your RCIS certification might provide the insight you need to earn this coveted credential.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#why_become_an_rcis\" >Why Become an RCIS?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#what_is_rcis_certification\" >What Is RCIS Certification?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#what_cardiac_cath_lab_nurses_should_know_about_rcis\" >What Cardiac Cath Lab Nurses Should Know About RCIS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#preparing_for_the_rcis_exam\" >Preparing for the RCIS Exam<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#1_how_to_meet_the_requirements\" >1. How To Meet the Requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#2_how_is_the_rcis_exam_setup_different\" >2. How Is the RCIS Exam Setup Different?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#3_whats_on_the_rcis_test\" >3. What&#8217;s on the RCIS Test?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#top_5_tips_for_passing_the_rcis\" >Top 5 Tips for Passing the RCIS<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#1_gather_and_review_relevant_materials\" >1. Gather and Review Relevant Materials<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#2_question_previous_test-takers\" >2. Question Previous Test-Takers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#3_take_a_review_course\" >3. Take a Review Course<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#4_find_a_study_buddygroup\" >4. Find a Study Buddy\/Group<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#5_complete_a_self-assessment_exam\" >5. Complete a Self-Assessment Exam<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/rcis-certification-tips\/#keep_your_eye_on_the_prize\" >Keep Your Eye on the Prize<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_become_an_rcis\"><\/span><strong>Why Become an RCIS?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialists assist cardiologists with cardiac catheterization procedures. Catheters are small tubes guided through a patient\u2019s blood vessels and into their heart, or other areas of the cardiovascular system, to help diagnose abnormalities and\/or determine if there&#8217;s any blockage. These procedures may eliminate the need for more invasive procedures, such as heart surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An RCIS is a specialized cardiovascular technologist, a rapidly growing field per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm#tab-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BLS<\/a>). The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BLS<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicates that the demand for diagnostic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/ultrasound-tech\/travel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">medical sonographers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/cardiovascular-technologist\/travel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cardiovascular technologists<\/a>\/technicians should grow 10% between 2022 and 2032. It projects a combined average of 14,200 job openings\u00a0each year over the decade.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_rcis_certification\"><\/span><strong>What Is RCIS Certification?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) administers the RCIS exam. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/rcis-cci\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCI RCIS certification<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is designed for medical professionals working in cardiac catheterization like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/allied-health\/cath-lab-tech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cardiac cath lab techs<\/a>, one of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/career-resources\/top-10-highest-paying-allied-health-specialties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">highest-paid allied health specialists<\/span><\/a>.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0RCIS certification validates a nursing or allied health professional\u2019s specialized knowledge, experience and skills and demonstrates their commitment to professional growth and continued learning. To qualify for the credential, you must meet set requirements and pass the RCIS exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_cardiac_cath_lab_nurses_should_know_about_rcis\"><\/span><strong>What Cardiac Cath Lab Nurses Should Know About RCIS<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the RCIS is more commonly pursued by allied health professionals, some hospitals require registered nurses (RNs) who work in the cardiac cath lab to obtain RCIS certification. While it&#8217;s usually a voluntary undertaking, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/cardiac-cath-lab\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cardiac cath lab RNs<\/a> are among the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/money-taxes\/highest-paying-rn-specialties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highest-paying RN specialties<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">professional certification<\/a> makes you a standout job candidate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For RNs interested in getting their RCIS, their nursing degree fulfills one part of the requirements to sit for the exam. They still need the appropriate work experience and must complete the minimum number of procedures. The RCIS exam is the same whether you\u2019re a nurse or an allied health professional, so nurses can utilize the same study guides and methods to prepare for the exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like any professional certification, earning the RCIS adds a valuable credential to your resume that many employers find attractive. Nurses working in the cardiac cath lab may also consider earning their Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/cv-bc\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CV-BC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) in addition to or instead of the RCIS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"preparing_for_the_rcis_exam\"><\/span><strong>Preparing for the RCIS Exam<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8066\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/Studying-Resized-scaled-e1724445528336.jpg\" alt=\"Studying for the CST exam for CST certification\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_how_to_meet_the_requirements\"><\/span><strong>1. How To Meet the Requirements<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step to getting your RCIS certification is determining whether you meet the current eligibility requirements. Applicants must have their high school diploma or equivalent and fulfill one of three prerequisites, with documentation confirming their qualifications. Prerequisite options include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be a 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. You also must have one year of full-time invasive cardiovascular technology work experience and performed 600 cardiac diagnostic and\/or interventional procedures during your work and\/or clinical experience.<\/span>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Required documentation includes a completion certificate and\/or transcript, employment verification letter and clinical experience letter if procedures were completed during a formal education program.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be a graduate of a non-programmatically accredited program in invasive cardiovascular technology with at least one year of specialty training and 800 clinical hours in the cardiac catheterization specialty.<\/span>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Required documentation includes a completion certificate and\/or transcript, student verification letter and clinical verification letter.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be a 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.<\/span>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Required documentation includes a completion certificate and\/or transcript and student verification letter.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_how_is_the_rcis_exam_setup_different\"><\/span><strong>2. How Is the RCIS Exam Setup Different?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike many professional certification exams that only include traditional multiple-choice questions, the CCI RCIS exam consists of a mix of traditional and innovative questions. Traditional multiple-choice questions offer four possible answers and only one correct response. Some test-takers bungle innovative questions, especially those with multiple parts that require you to get all parts of the answer right to count as a correct response. The RCIS exam has three types of innovative questions, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Innovative drag-and-place questions require test-takers to drag a list of labels into the correct boxes or areas of an image, but they may not use all labels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Innovative hot spot questions require test-takers to click on a specific area of an image to answer the question, with one click necessary in the correct location.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Innovative multiple-response questions are like multiple-choice questions, but test-takers may need to supply two or three correct answers from four to six possible answers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The RCIS test contains 170 questions, including 20 unidentified, unscored and randomly distributed questions to gather performance data. You have three hours to complete the exam, minus 10 minutes for the pre-exam tutorial and post-exam survey. To pass, you must earn a scaled score of 650 or higher.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_whats_on_the_rcis_test\"><\/span><strong>3. What&#8217;s on the RCIS Test?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCI bases the RCIS examination content on a Job Task Analysis. The JTA includes tasks a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist typically performs at work and the knowledge required to perform these tasks. CCI completes a JTA every five years to ensure the exam remains relevant. All exam questions link directly to identified tasks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CCI <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RCIS exam overview<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provides a full Examination Matrix and Task List. The percentage of emphasis placed on specific areas in this source includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pre-Procedural Activities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">42% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnostic Procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">33% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interventional Procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emergency Procedures and Protocols<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Post-Procedural Activities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On July 1, 2024, the <a href=\"https:\/\/cci-online.org\/credentials\/registered-cardiovascular-invasive-specialist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Exam Matrix and Tast List<\/a> changed. These changes caused the percentage of emphasis placed on specific areas to shift slightly, but tasks largely remained the same. The new percentages are as follows:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pre-Procedural Activities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnostic Procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">34% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interventional Procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emergency Procedures and Protocols<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5% <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Post-Procedural Activities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The detailed task list provided by CCI has a complete breakdown of duties within each area. Armed with this information, create a study guide and identify the areas you feel are your weakest, so you can be prepared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"top_5_tips_for_passing_the_rcis\"><\/span><strong>Top 5 Tips for Passing the RCIS<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/Studying-NCLEX-PN-practice-questions-scaled-e1724445431616.jpg\" alt=\"Studying NCLEX-PN practice questions\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_gather_and_review_relevant_materials\"><\/span><strong>1. Gather and Review Relevant Materials<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gather as much information as possible to ensure you have all the relevant information you need based on the task lists provided. You\u2019ll find numerous study guides, reference books, practice tests, sample questions, flashcards and other exam materials online to help you prepare for the RCIS test. Some materials are free, but many have a charge. Save your receipts in case you can write off your test prep materials.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_question_previous_test-takers\"><\/span><strong>2. Question Previous Test-Takers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Former RCIS test-takers can be valuable sources of insight. Talk to allied health professionals who\u2019ve already passed the RCIS exam to see if they can provide any pointers. Ask about their overall perception of the exam and if any study tips worked particularly well for them. Some RCIS credential holders offer advice online through free blogs and sample questions or have study guides and other materials for purchase. Materials based on the knowledge and experience of professionals who\u2019ve actually taken the exam may be more authoritative than others.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_take_a_review_course\"><\/span><strong>3. Take a Review Course<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s especially easy to miss questions dealing with procedures not used daily. An in-person or online review course might come in handy to review seldom-used procedures. Review courses typically cover most of the content on the RCIS exam and may help direct you to areas you need to concentrate on during your study sessions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In-person review courses generally take place over one or two days. If you prefer studying over a longer time period, consider an online RCIS review program that may run for several weeks or be self-paced. In-person and online review programs may count towards continuing education credits if provided by an accredited institution or organization. Thus, the cost might offer a twofold benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although CCI doesn\u2019t endorse or recommend any review courses or materials, it has previously provided a list of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cci-online.org\/review-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">review programs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on its site as a service to its applicants. However, this list was empty as of August 23, 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_find_a_study_buddygroup\"><\/span><strong>4. Find a Study Buddy\/Group<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some test-takers study better with others, either one-on-one or within a group. Find a study buddy among your peers who are also attempting the exam if you prefer one-on-one collaboration. If you favor multiple study partners, contact professional invasive cardiovascular organizations to see if they conduct any study groups in your location. If they do, determine whether they have a study group operating during the time you\u2019ll be studying and learn what\u2019s required to sign up. These organizations may only offer study groups to their members and may or may not charge a fee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_complete_a_self-assessment_exam\"><\/span><strong>5. Complete a Self-Assessment Exam<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCI offers a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">self-assessment exam<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that may be useful in helping you determine your weak areas. Learning your weaknesses enables you to focus your efforts on the content areas where you\u2019re more likely to miss questions on the exam. However, CCI doesn\u2019t recommend using self-assessment exams as your sole reference or study guide. They\u2019re simply a means to assess your performance before taking the credentialing exam and help you become more familiar with the exam format.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online CCI RCIS self-assessment exams cost $55 and can be accessed 24\/7. You can only take the exam once per purchase and can\u2019t access it again after completion. Once you initiate the exam, you have 72 hours to complete it. Your results include the percentage of questions you answered correctly within each exam content area but don\u2019t include the questions and answers or go over the questions you missed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also find several free or fee-based practice tests online. Some of these tests provide information on the questions you missed. These details may help prevent you from missing similar questions dealing with the same content on the actual exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"keep_your_eye_on_the_prize\"><\/span><strong>Keep Your Eye on the Prize<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even veteran cath lab professionals with years of experience may not be as prepared to pass the RCIS certification exam as they think. It\u2019s even relatively common for experienced personnel to fail the first time around, simply because they didn\u2019t properly prepare and study for the test. In 2023, the <a href=\"https:\/\/cci-online.org\/communities\/students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pass rate was only 72%<\/a>, so don&#8217;t skimp on your studying. Be sure you\u2019re fully prepared to pass with flying colors by exploring all the different ways you can train to be successful on your test. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/rcis-cci\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CCI RCIS certification<\/a> details on Vivian and CCI&#8217;s site to help ensure you&#8217;re fully prepared on exam day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #124e3b; color: #fdfeff; font-size: 20px; border-radius: 10px; padding: 15px; min-height: 30px; min-width: 120px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/browse-jobs\/landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Browse Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Earning RCIS certification requires serious study time. Use these tips to succeed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":8562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[325,3,109],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-5203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allied-health","category-career-resources","category-healthcare-education","tag-allhcp"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/Studying-for-RCIS-Certification-Exam-iStock-Resized-scaled-e1724445383732.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5203\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}