How To Become A Biomedical Equipment Technician
A career that gives you the chance to combine your repair abilities with work in a medical environment is that of a biomedical equipment technician, more completely known as a biomedical equipment technician (BMET). In this profession, you will be called upon to install, maintain and repair hospital equipment like patient monitors, defibrillators and medical imaging equipment like X-rays and others and ensure that they function correctly. You will be reviewing manuals and attending training sessions to keep your knowledge up to date. You will also be demonstrating the proper way to use medical equipment to other healthcare personnel. A BMET is also known as a medical equipment repairer.
Having manual dexterity and good hand-eye coordination is a must in this career since you will be using hand tools to connect and repair various parts of medical equipment. Moreover, you also need to have excellent troubleshooting skills as you will be encountering situations where the problem is not immediately apparent. Needless to say, technical and mechanical skills are extremely important in this job.
Why Become A Biomedical Equipment Technician
Those who find satisfaction in using hand tools to install and repair things are best suited for this career. There is also a sense of fulfillment in knowing that your work is going to benefit in the diagnoses and treatment patients. Aside from giving decent pay, it’s also a fast-growing occupation that can provide a lot of work opportunities for aspiring BMETs in the coming years.
Biomedical Equipment Technician Work Environment
Most of the medical equipment repairers in 2012 worked with professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Others were employed with electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance companies, hospitals, ambulatory healthcare services firms and health and personal care stores. Their work schedule is usually in the daytime but if they are on-call, they can work on weekends and evenings.
Biomedical Equipment Technician Salary
The May 2013 Occupational Employment and Wages report of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that biomedical equipment technicians received a mean annual wage of $47,120. This is higher than that of camera and photographic equipment repairers and musical instrument repairers and tuners. In 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that biomedical equipment technicians who worked in hospitals were the highest paid with median annual salaries of $48,870.
Biomedical Equipment Technician Career Outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the employment rate of biomedical equipment technicians is expected to be very positive from 2012 to 2022. In this ten-year period, the employment rate is set to grow 30 percent, a figure that is faster than the average for all occupations. The demand will be spurred by the increasing need for healthcare services brought about by the aging population. Moreover, the advancement in technology will also contribute to the hiring demand because there are more kinds of medical equipment to maintain and repair. From the 42,300 biomedical equipment technicians hired in 2012, the number is expected to increase to 55,100 in 2022.
Biomedical Equipment Technician Degree
Aspiring medical equipment repairers need to get an associate degree in biomedical equipment technology or engineering. Those who want to install and repair more complex equipment such as defibrillators and CAT scanners may have to get a bachelor’s degree. On the other end of the spectrum, those who only wish to repair hospital beds and other less sophisticated medical equipment may learn the craft entirely through on-the-job training. Because each kind of medical equipment is not like others, biomedical technicians must learn each one individually. Moreover, those who want to make their credentials more attractive to employers can get certified. The Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician, Certified Radiology Equipment Specialists and Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist certifications can be obtained from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
