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4H071 Career Guide

Air Force

4H071: Cardiopulmonary Laboratory Technician

Career transition guide for Air Force Cardiopulmonary Laboratory Technician (4H071)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 4H071 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Cardiovascular Technologist

$65K
High matchHigh demand

Respiratory Therapist

$78K
High matchVery high demand

Medical Equipment Repairer

$55K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Vendor-specific equipment certifications

Clinical Research Coordinator

$62K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certificationClinical trial management software proficiency

Healthcare Administrator

$75K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Healthcare management degree or certificationProficiency in healthcare billing and coding

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 4H071 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

Constantly monitoring patients' vital signs, equipment, and surroundings during critical procedures to anticipate and respond to changes in patient status or equipment malfunctions.

Maintaining a high level of vigilance and understanding of your environment to proactively identify and address potential issues.

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing and prioritizing patients' needs and tasks in a fast-paced environment, especially during emergencies like cardiac arrest or respiratory distress, to ensure the most critical issues are addressed first.

Efficiently evaluating and ranking tasks or projects based on urgency and importance, ensuring the most critical items receive immediate attention.

Procedural Compliance

Strictly adhering to established protocols and guidelines for performing diagnostic tests, administering treatments, and operating equipment to ensure patient safety and accurate results.

Consistently following standardized procedures and regulations to maintain quality, safety, and accuracy in all tasks.

Team Synchronization

Working closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals during complex procedures like cardiac catheterizations or bronchoscopies, requiring seamless coordination and communication to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Effectively collaborating with colleagues to achieve shared goals, ensuring smooth workflows and efficient task completion through clear communication and mutual support.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been expertly managing crises in a medical setting, rapidly assessing situations, and coordinating teams to deliver critical care. This translates directly to emergency management, where you'll develop and implement plans to respond to disasters and other emergencies.

Medical Equipment Sales Representative

SOC 41-9031.00

You possess in-depth knowledge of cardiopulmonary equipment and a strong ability to explain complex procedures. This makes you an ideal candidate for selling medical equipment, where you can leverage your expertise to build trust with clients and promote product adoption.

Healthcare Administrator

SOC 11-9111.00

You've managed cardiopulmonary labs, developed policies, and ensured regulatory compliance. This experience makes you well-suited for a healthcare administration role, where you can apply your organizational and leadership skills to improve healthcare delivery.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Cardiopulmonary Laboratory Technician Program, Fort Sam Houston, TX

1,120 training hours28 weeksUp to 20 semester hours recommended in allied health sciences, respiratory therapy, and cardiology technology.

Topics Covered

  • Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG)
  • Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)
  • Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis
  • Respiratory Therapy Techniques
  • Cardiac Catheterization Assistance
  • Echocardiography Principles
  • Airway Management and CPR
  • Equipment Maintenance and Quality Control

Certification Pathways

Ready to Certify

Basic Life Support (BLS) certificationAdvanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification

Partial Coverage

Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT)70% covered

Requires in-depth knowledge of pulmonary physiology, extensive hands-on experience with a variety of PFT equipment, and understanding of the nuances of test interpretation beyond basic spirometry and blood gas analysis.

Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)60% covered

Requires further education on advanced respiratory therapies, ventilation management, and a strong understanding of respiratory disease pathology.

Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)50% covered

Requires more specialized knowledge and hands-on experience in cardiac catheterization procedures, including angiography, angioplasty, and stent placement, as well as a deeper understanding of cardiovascular anatomy and physiology.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Healthcare Quality Professional (CHQP)Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM)Fellow of the American Association for Respiratory Care (FAARC)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) AnalyzersBlood gas analyzers (e.g., Roche cobas b 221, Siemens RAPIDLab 1200)
Electrocardiogram (ECG) MachinesECG/EKG machines (e.g., GE Healthcare MAC 2000, Philips PageWriter TC30)
SpirometersPulmonary function testing (PFT) systems (e.g., Vyaire Medical, COSMED)
Mechanical VentilatorsCritical care ventilators (e.g., Hamilton Medical, Dräger)
CO-OximetersLaboratory CO-Oximeters (e.g., Instrumentation Laboratory, Radiometer)
DefibrillatorsAutomated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and manual defibrillators (e.g., Philips, ZOLL)
Patient Physiological Monitoring SystemsPatient monitoring systems (e.g., GE Healthcare, Philips)

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