Learn about biomedical electronics technician education programs designed to train you for a career in medical equipment maintenance. Find out how you can become certified in this field.
What You Need to Know
Medical equipment repairers, also known as biomedical electronics technicians (BMET), are responsible for maintaining the medical equipment in health care facilities. Training for these positions is available at the associate's and bachelor's degree levels. Students learn about electronics as well as computers and general sciences, and can seek certification with the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation after they have completed their degrees and gained experience in the field.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degrees</b></td><td>Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td>Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Responsibilities</b></td><td>Upkeep, repair and maintenance of medical equipment</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatDoMedicalEquipmentRepairersDo">What Do Medical Equipment Repairers Do?</h3><p>As a technician, you can work directly for a hospital, physician's office or long-term care facility. Opportunities are also available to work for a third party contractor, servicing the equipment of multiple facilities. It will be your responsibility to keep medical equipment such as heart monitors, electric wheelchairs, operating tables and respirators running properly. Your work will require that you have knowledge of electronics, hydraulics and computer technology.
</p><p>New maintenance technicians generally work under the supervision of an experienced technician for three to six months upon entry into the industry.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindOfEducationDoINeed">What Kind of Education Do I Need?</h3><p>You can earn an associate's degree in biomedical equipment technology, although a bachelor's degree may be necessary for advancement in the field or to work on complicated or technologically advanced equipment. Technicians who work with less complicated equipment may be able to learn skills entirely on the job. Some online programs for medical equipment maintenance are available.
</p><p>Because technology in the medical industry is continually changing and advancing, the work of a medical equipment technician also changes. This requires technicians to work regularly on advancing their knowledge of new technologies and skills through individual study or by taking courses and seminars through professional organizations, colleges or from the manufacturers of medical equipment themselves.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDoTrainingProgramsCover">What Do Training Programs Cover?</h3><p>An associate's or bachelor's degree program covers the skills and knowledge you'll need to enter the field. Biomedical equipment technology programs will require that you take courses in subjects such as:
</p><ul><li>Electronics and electronic circuitry
</li><li>Algebra
</li><li>Calculus
</li><li>Physics
</li><li>Chemistry
</li><li>Computer technology and microprocessors
</li></ul><p>You will also learn how to use equipment designed to diagnose and fix malfunctioning medical equipment. Classes will teach you the techniques used to calibrate and repair machinery that monitors patients. When studying for a bachelor's degree, you may also have an opportunity to take courses in project design and ethics. You will also have to take advanced courses in information technology and computer processing.
</p><h3 id="section---DoINeedToBeCertified">Do I Need to Be Certified?</h3><p>The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) offers certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET). To become eligible to take the exam, you need to have a bachelor's degree in biomedical electronics with two years of work experience or an associate's degree in electronic technology and three years of work experience. The exam will cover anatomy and physiology, electronics and healthcare technology.</p>
