To become a biomedical technician, you generally need to earn at least an associate's degree in biomedical engineering technology or electrical engineering technology. This means you will take courses in the sciences (chemistry, physics), courses specifically relating to the human body and medicine (anatomy, physiology, medical terminology) and classes in engineering and technology (usually electrical engineering and computer engineering).
The next step in education, which is not required but can boost your career opportunities and salary, is to become certified through the International Certification Commission for Clinical Engineering and Biomedical Technology (ICC).
According to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), certification is increasingly important and "an essential investment in an applicant's future." Certification also allows you to specialize within the field, since you can become certified as a biomedical equipment technician (CBET), radiology equipment specialist (CRES) or laboratory equipment specialist (CLES). None of these certificates are prerequisites for the other.
To become certified, you must pass an exam demonstrating knowledge in the field. The exam contains 150 multiple choice questions in five areas:
1. Anatomy and physiology
2. Public (employee, patient, visitor) safety in the health care facility
3. Fundamentals of electricity, electronics and solid-state devices
4. Medical equipment function and operation
5. Medical equipment problem solving
To sit for the exam, you must first meet eligibility requirements in education and work experience. The first tier of requirements allows you to take the test in "candidate status." If you pass the test, you then have five years to build work experience to meet the requirements for full certification.
Requirements to take the exam as a CANDIDATE for certification:
Associate's degree in biomedical academic program
OR
Associate's degree in electronics technology and one full year of BMET work experience
OR
Completion of a U.S. military biomedical equipment technology program
OR
Two full years of BMET work experience
For the CLES test, there are two other ways to qualify as a candidate:
Associate's degree in medical laboratory technology and one year full time BMET work experience
OR
Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory technology
To take the exam as an applicant for full certification (rather than as a "candidate"), the requirements are more rigorous:
Associate's degree in biomedical academic program and two years full-time BMET work experience
OR
Associate's degree in electronics technology and three years full-time BMET work experience
OR
Four years' full-time BMET work experience.
CLES applicants only can also be eligible if they possess:
Associate's degree in medical laboratory technology and three years full-time BMET work experience
OR
Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory technology and two years full-time BMET work experience
The biomedical technician field allows you to pursue interests in both medicine and technology. However, unlike becoming a doctor or nurse, becoming a biomedical technician does not require a bachelor's or graduate degree.
The job pays relatively well: According to the AAMI, the median total salary for an entry-level position is about $43,000, although this varies by region. U.S. News and World Report cited data in December 2008 that the median for a biomedical technician with eight years experience is $49,000, and that the 25th to 75th percentile with eight or more years of experience is $46,100 to $63,400.