A cardiovascular perfusionist is a highly specialized healthcare professional who operates the heart-lung machine and other equipment during open-heart and other major surgeries. They play a critical
role in keeping the patient alive and stable when the heart or lungs are temporarily
nonfunctional during procedures.
A perfusionist is responsible for operating extracorporeal circulation equipment (especially the cardiopulmonary bypass machine) during cardiac surgery. The key responsibilities of a perfusionist include:
Managing heart-lung bypass systems during open-heart surgeries
Administering oxygen, anesthesia agents, blood products, and medications via the machine
Monitoring vital signs, blood gases, electrolytes, and temperature
Assisting in circulatory support (e.g., ECMO) in critically ill patients
Collaborating closely with cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical nurses
To become a perfusionist one needs to:
Earn a bachelor’s degree (any major with required prerequisites). There is no required major, but most students pursue: Biology, Chemistry, Physiology, Biomedical Science, Nursing
or Health Sciences
Complete prerequisite coursework, which varies by program
Gain healthcare exposure (e.g., shadowing, volunteering)
Apply to and complete an accredited perfusion program (Master’s or certificate level)
Complete clinical rotations and perfusion cases
Pass national certification exams from the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP)
Obtain state licensure (if required) and maintain certification with continuing education
The typical workplaces include:
Cardiac surgery centers
Large hospitals and academic medical centers
Pediatric hospitals
Organ transplant teams
ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) transport and ICU (intensive care unit)
teams
Travel perfusion companies
Average starting salary: $90,000–$110,000 Experienced perfusionists: $120,000–$160,000+ Travel perfusionists or high-demand regions: Exceeding $200,000
The job outlook reflects strong growth due to aging population, cardiovascular disease,
and advances in heart surgery and ECMO. It is a small profession (fewer than 5,000
CCPs in the U.S.) with high demand for qualified individuals.
Perfusion Basic Science Exam (PBSE) – after completing classroom instruction
Clinical Applications in Perfusion Exam (CAPE) – after completing required clinical cases
Once you pass both, you become a Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP). Some states require perfusionists to hold a state license in addition to ABCP certification.
Examples: New York, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and a few others.
Understand the profession early by:
Shadowing a perfusionist in an operating room (OR) or cardiac surgery center
Watching videos of perfusion procedures or attend info sessions from perfusion programs
Joining a pre-health club or medical interest group
Talking to a practicing perfusionist or school admissions office
Accredited programs are overseen by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the Accreditation Committee for Perfusion Education (AC-PE).
Program Formats:
Master’s Degree (most common)
Post-baccalaureate certificate (less common, often for healthcare professionals)
