RCIS exam guide
About the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) exam
The CCI Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist examination is designed for professionals working in cardiac catheterization and cardiovascular interventional laboratories. Use this short diagnostic to identify gaps in hemodynamics, angiography, imaging, vascular access, coronary and peripheral intervention, structural procedures, emergency response, and patient safety, then organize further study around the official examination matrix.
MedPorium is an independent education platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). Exam details can change; confirm them with the official source before applying.
RCIS exam format at a glance
- Questions
- 170
- 150 scored; 20 unscored
- Time
- 3 hours (2 hours 50 minutes for questions, plus 10 minutes for the tutorial and survey)
- Delivery
- Computer-based at Pearson Professional Centers; offered year-round based on availability
Knowledge to review for the RCIS exam
These foundations support the practical tasks in the official examination matrix.
Cardiovascular and hemodynamic foundations
- Cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, and medical terminology
- Hemodynamic waveform recognition, pressure measurement, shunt calculations, valve area calculations, mathematics, and unit conversion
- 12-lead ECG interpretation, normal and abnormal laboratory values, patient assessment, and pharmacology
Imaging and invasive procedures
- Angiography, radiographic equipment, radiation safety, image acquisition, and interpretation
- Intravascular and intracardiac imaging, including IVUS, OCT, and ICE
- Cardiac and vascular diagnostic procedures, coronary and peripheral interventions, structural procedures, and device implants
Patient safety and procedural support
- Sterile technique, universal precautions, body mechanics, vascular access, and hemostasis
- Procedural indications, contraindications, equipment, medications, and complications
- Emergency procedures and equipment, regulatory standards, documentation, patient education, and transfer of care
RCIS examination matrix
The percentages below are the approximate exam-score weights published by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). Use them to allocate study time, then adjust for your own weak areas.
8%
Conducting Pre-Procedural Activities
Prepare the procedure and control rooms, equipment, radiation protection, sterile field, personnel, patient, and documentation for a safe and correctly matched case.
- Prepare the procedure and control rooms, including equipment, radiation protection, sterile technique, quality control, and quality assurance
- Prepare the patient and personnel for the procedure
- Review and validate medical records, laboratory values, consent, time-out information, procedure details, and current patient status
40%
Conducting Diagnostic Procedures
The largest domain integrates patient monitoring, left and right heart catheterization, hemodynamics, ECG analysis, imaging, physiology studies, radiation safety, pharmacology, and vascular access.
- Monitor vital signs, rhythm, oxygenation, ventilation, and patient status
- Assist with left and right heart catheterization, angiography, waveform analysis, calculations, and biopsy
- Analyze 12-lead ECGs and identify cardiac structures on ultrasound, ICE, IVUS, and OCT
- Assist with FFR and iFR studies and recognize pharmacologic needs and effects
- Apply ALARA principles, operate radiographic equipment, and acquire or interpret cardiac and peripheral images
- Assist with femoral, radial, brachial, jugular, peripheral, and ultrasound-guided vascular access
34%
Conducting Interventional Procedures
Support a broad range of coronary, peripheral, structural, device, thrombectomy, support-device, and emergency therapeutic procedures.
- Assist with pacemaker, ICD, CRT, and loop-recorder implantation
- Assist with routine and complex coronary intervention, including balloon angioplasty, stenting, CTO techniques, atherectomy, and alcohol ablation
- Assist with routine and complex peripheral intervention, vascular closure, thrombectomy, thrombolysis, and distal protection
- Assist with mechanical circulatory support, temporary pacing, and pericardiocentesis
- Assist with nonvalvular structural therapies and percutaneous valve interventions, including TAVR and valve repair
13%
Responding to Emergency Procedures and Protocols
Recognize and respond to unstable presentations and procedural complications while maintaining immediate readiness of resuscitation and airway equipment.
- Respond to STEMI, cardiogenic shock, pulmonary edema, stroke, and other emergency presentations
- Respond to coronary complications such as perforation and no-reflow
- Respond to peripheral and structural complications such as embolism, dissection, device migration, and perforation
- Maintain and operate defibrillation, code-cart, suction, and airway-management equipment
5%
Conducting Post-Procedural Activities
Establish arterial or venous hemostasis, recognize access-site complications, educate the patient, and transfer care with an accurate report.
- Assist with or obtain arterial and venous hemostasis
- Recognize and manage access-site bleeding, occlusion, and other complications
- Provide post-procedure patient education
- Report findings and transfer care safely
How to use this RCIS diagnostic
The 15 questions emphasize diagnostic and interventional procedures because those domains account for 74% of the official matrix. This is a short baseline rather than a pass prediction. Review every rationale, classify each gap as hemodynamics, imaging, pharmacology, equipment, procedural workflow, or complication response, and follow with larger mixed sets that require you to connect findings with safe next actions.
High-yield RCIS study priorities
Priority 1
Make diagnostic cath-lab reasoning the foundation
At 40% of the matrix, diagnostic procedures deserve the largest share of study time. Practise interpreting pressure waveforms, angiography, ECGs, IVUS, OCT, ICE, and physiologic measurements while linking each finding to equipment setup, patient monitoring, pharmacology, and vascular access.
Priority 2
Organize interventions by goal, equipment, and complication
Interventional procedures account for 34%. For each coronary, peripheral, structural, device, thrombectomy, or support procedure, know the indication, access and equipment sequence, expected endpoint, contraindications, and the complication that must be recognized early.
Priority 3
Rehearse high-risk events as team workflows
For emergencies, move beyond naming the complication. Practise the first observable clues, the immediate communication, which equipment or medication should be prepared, how hemodynamics may change, and which action would be unsafe or outside scope.
Priority 4
Connect the case from preparation to hemostasis
Use end-to-end cases to integrate consent and laboratory review, sterile and radiation safety, anticoagulation, access-site selection, intraprocedural monitoring, documentation, hemostasis, complication checks, education, and handoff.
RCIS exam FAQ
How many questions are on the CCI RCIS exam?
CCI currently lists 170 questions: 150 scored questions and 20 unscored questions that are not identified during the examination.
How long is the RCIS exam?
The exam appointment is three hours. CCI allocates 2 hours 50 minutes to answer questions and 10 minutes to the tutorial and post-exam survey.
What is the largest RCIS exam domain?
Conducting Diagnostic Procedures is the largest domain at approximately 40% of the exam, followed by Conducting Interventional Procedures at 34%.
What procedures does the RCIS exam cover?
The matrix covers diagnostic cardiac catheterization, hemodynamics, angiography, physiology and intravascular imaging studies, coronary and peripheral intervention, structural heart therapies, device implants, mechanical circulatory support, thrombectomy, temporary pacing, pericardiocentesis, and emergency response.
Is the RCIS exam offered year-round?
CCI states that its computer-based examinations are administered year-round through Pearson testing centers, subject to site availability and the candidate's authorization window.
Does this diagnostic predict whether I will pass?
No. A 15-question diagnostic is a low-confidence baseline, not a validated pass prediction. Use it to identify review priorities and confirm current requirements with CCI.
Is MedPorium affiliated with CCI?
No. MedPorium is an independent education platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cardiovascular Credentialing International.
Review and official source
Clinical reviewer: J. D. Primrose
Exam format and matrix information were checked against the CCI Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist credential page. Source reviewed October 10, 2026.
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