Biomedical Equipment Technician Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

Have you ever sat in a quiet hospital room while a loved one recovered from an illness or a surgical procedure? If so, you probably got pretty good at watching the monitors and other equipment that told you how strongly their heart was beating, how much medicine was being dispensed and what their temperature was. These pieces of equipment are vital to the diagnostic, treatment and recovery processes, and the professionals that are responsible for keeping them running correctly and accurately are called biomedical equipment technicians. In addition to being responsible for keeping the equipment calibrated and operating up to medical specifications, biomedical equipment technicians are also responsible for educating doctors and nurses about how to use the equipment correctly. With rapid advances in medical technology, these professionals are highly sought after to help ensure patient and doctor safety.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$40,300
Salary Range
$31,300 - $46,700

Work Environment

It is common for most biomedical equipment technicians to be employed by hospitals, research universities, and high volume medical clinics that are known for offering the latest and most cutting edge medical equipment. Some biomedical equipment technicians have also found jobs as salespeople and marketing professionals for the companies that manufacture these pieces of equipment.

High School Preparation

It is important that those students who think they might excel in a career as a biomedical equipment technician spend time studying biology, physics, and all types of advanced mathematics while they are in high school. It is also important for future technicians to have a firm grasp of English, mechanical drawing, industrial arts, computer skills, using computers for drafting, electricity and electronics, and the health occupations/medical professions.

Requirements

Any person that is interested in pursuing a professional career as a biomedical equipment technician should strive to get the best grades possible in their high school career. Following high school graduation, interested individuals should seek out technical college that offers at least a two year degree program concentrated on electronics, medical technology, or an engineering related field.

Career Outlook

Experts have stated that the demand for qualified biomedical equipment technicians should increase at a rate that is on average with all other occupations for the next several years. As new and more advanced medical technology becomes more affordable, there will be an increased demand from hospitals and private practices to utilize it. This will mean that more technicians are needed to make sure the equipment is used and functioning properly. The most highly desired technicians will continue to be those that are proactive in continuing their education in relation to a specific field, such as nuclear medicine, radiology or surgery.

Professional Organizations

American Society of Healthcare Engineering
1 N. Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 422-3800
www.ashe.org