Biomedical Equipment Technician Schools
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The job title biomedical technician can sound alarming to someone with no experience in the medical field. But the truth is that healthcare relies heavily on technical machinery to provide accurate results and care for patients. Therefore, becoming a biomedical equipment technician is an excellent pathway into the rapidly expanding healthcare industry for people who are more mechanically minded and less interested in interacting with patients directly.
A biomedical technician, also known as a biomedical equipment technician (or BMET for short), specializes in calibrating, maintaining, and repairing the medical machinery used in a healthcare facility. Most entry-level positions require a two-year degree, and more advanced roles require a four-year degree.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) differentiates objective skills from each type of program: “Graduates of associate degree programs typically have strengths in the building, testing, operation, and maintenance of existing biomedical equipment or systems, whereas baccalaureate degree graduates are well prepared for development and implementation of computer systems […] These program criteria apply to engineering technology programs that include healthcare, bioengineering, biomedical, biomedical equipment, clinical technology, medical equipment, medical electronics, or similar modifiers in their titles.”
There are three general pathways to pursuing a career in bioengineering technology. For instance, someone already working in healthcare can pursue a biomedical technician certificate on nights and weekends. Graduating high school seniors can enroll at a community college and pursue a two-year associate’s degree in this field. Finally, those with two-year degrees or absolute certainty of their career paths can enroll in four-year bachelor’s degree programs and see to it that facilities are equipped with well-maintained state-of-the-art systems.
Biomedical technicians can learn much from formal training, and most programs include hands-on learning. Many degree biomedical equipment technology programs require a practicum or internship for graduation. This is a great way to learn technical skills and help students foster critical professional connections when looking for jobs. The most important thing any biomedical technician can bring to the job is a passion for maintaining and fixing machinery so healthcare facilities can provide life-saving care for their patients.
Keep reading to learn more about how to pursue an exciting career as a biomedical equipment technician, including accredited degree and certificate programs, career outlook, core courses, and licensing requirements.
Biomedical Equipment Technician Degree & Certificate Programs
Most biomedical technicians begin their careers by earning an associate’s degree from an accredited biomedical technology program. These programs take approximately two years to complete and include some hands-on training and classroom-based or online coursework.
Students can seek work in the biomedical technology field after completing an associate’s degree program. Some of the programs below also feature a one-year certificate and four-year bachelor of science programs in biomedical engineering technology.
Following are a few accredited programs that provide a strong foundation for anyone seeking a career as a biomedical technician.
Vincennes University, located in Vincennes, Indiana, offers an associate of science in electronics technology with a biomedical equipment technician specialization. The curriculum covers technical skills as well as hospital operations, administration, medical field safety, and operations of biomedical facilities. Technical skills include installation, repair, calibration, and safety testing.
Once completing the program, graduates go on to secure employment in hospitals, clinics, contract maintenance, and medical equipment manufacturers. A unique feature of this program is that residents of Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan qualify for resident tuition rates, given their proximity to Indiana.
- Location: Vincennes, IN
- Duration: Two years
- Tuition: $3,180 per semester (residents); $7,722 per semester (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
At Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in Cincinnati, Ohio, students can study in the school’s electrical engineering technology – biomedical equipment (BMT) program. The associate of applied science (AAS) program takes an average of six semesters to complete.
This program teaches students how to maintain and repair complex high-value equipment such as MRI, CT, sonogram, and x-ray machinery. In addition, internships at several clinical healthcare facilities are available through co-op internship sites. Graduates are prepared to find entry-level work in the field but may choose to enroll at a university to complete a bachelor’s degree with their transfer credits.
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Duration: Six semesters
- Tuition: $178.64 per credit (residents); $357.28 per credit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) in Valley Glen, California, offers an associate’s of science (AS) degree and a certificate in biomedical equipment technology as part of the school’s electronics program. The 34-credit certificate program features courses in biophysical measurements and introduction to electronics.
The 60-credit AS degree includes courses in technical computer applications and cooperative education. Upon graduation from the two-year program, students can seek work in the biomedical technology field or transfer to one of California’s many four-year institutions to further their studies. Students in these programs may qualify for two years of free tuition and priority registration if they qualify.
- Location: Valley Glen, CA
- Duration: One to two years
- Tuition: $46 per unit (residents); $299 per unit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
State Technical College of Missouri, located in Linn, Missouri, offers a certificate and an associate of applied science (AAS) degree with an option in biomedical engineering technology as part of its electronics engineering technology program. The 71- to 76-credit AAS program includes general courses in electronics and physics, while the BET option includes specialized courses in applied human anatomy and physiology, internship, and instrumentation systems lab.
The 18- to 20-credit certificate program can be completed in less than a year and includes courses in diagnostic imaging and biomedical instrumentation systems and an internship component. Since 2009, this program has boasted a 100 percent graduation rate and a 91 percent job placement rate.
- Location: Linn, MO
- Duration: One to two years
- Tuition: $196 per credit (residents); $392 per credit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Penn State New Kensington is part of the Pennsylvania State University system. It operates a New Kensington (PSNK) campus that offers a two-year biomedical engineering technology (BET) program, resulting in an associate of science degree. The PSNK training program includes classroom training and hands-on medical equipment instruction courses such as electronics, physiology, chemistry, and computer networking.
In addition, the Penn State New Kensington campus features one of only two fully-equipped student intensive care units (ICUs) in the country. It requires students to complete a 400-hour clinical internship at more than 50 approved healthcare facilities near the Pittsburgh region, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland.
- Location: University Park, PA
- Duration: Two years
- Tuition: $765 per credit (residents); $1,498 per credit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
University of Vermont (UVM) in Burlington, Vermont, offers a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering (BME). The program is divided into three BME core areas:
- BME Core 1: biomechanics, instrumentation, and sensors
- BME Core 2: biophysics, biomaterials, and transport
- BME Core 3: approaches for modeling biological systems and analyzing biological signals
This degree was developed by UVM’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine to improve human health from a biomechanical engineering perspective.
The curriculum is vertically integrated, meaning students learn and integrate the principles covered in the core courses. Team-based projects and real-world experience are included in the UVM medical school. Undergraduate research and internships are available to deepen students’ experiences. A capstone design sequence is required for graduation and provides students with an innovative opportunity to develop and market a biomedical technology.
- Location: Burlington, VT
- Duration: Four years
- Tuition: $678 per credit (residents); $1,720 per credit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
List of Biomedical Technician Schools
| School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State Technical College | Waco | Texas | www.tstc.edu | 99 |
| Southern California Institute of Technology | Anaheim | California | www.scitech.edu | 62 |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | California | www.miracosta.edu | 59 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Illinois | www.jjc.edu | 58 |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Texas | www.sanjac.edu | 50 |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | California | www.ccsf.edu | 37 |
| Laney College | Oakland | California | laney.edu | 35 |
| San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | California | www.sdmiramar.edu | 29 |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield | California | www.solano.edu | 29 |
| American River College | Sacramento | California | www.arc.losrios.edu | 28 |
| Ohlone College | Fremont | California | www.ohlone.edu | 26 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | www.ccp.edu | 20 |
| Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.iupui.edu | 19 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | California | pasadena.edu | 19 |
| Berkeley City College | Berkeley | California | www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/wp | 18 |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Kentucky | madisonville.kctcs.edu | 18 |
| Mech-Tech College | Caguas | Puerto Rico | www.mechtech.edu | 18 |
| Citrus College | Glendora | California | www.citruscollege.edu | 16 |
| Howard Community College | Columbia | Maryland | www.howardcc.edu | 16 |
| Bates Technical College | Tacoma | Washington | www.batestech.edu | 15 |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community College | Coon Rapids | Minnesota | www.anokaramsey.edu | 15 |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati | Ohio | www.cincinnatistate.edu | 15 |
| Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount | Minnesota | www.dctc.edu | 15 |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de Ponce | Ponce | Puerto Rico | itec.dde.pr | 15 |
| Los Angeles Mission College | Sylmar | California | www.lamission.edu | 14 |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | California | www.lavc.edu | 14 |
| DeVry College of New York | New York | New York | www.devry.edu | 13 |
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine | California | www.ivc.edu | 13 |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | California | www.sac.edu | 13 |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange | California | www.sccollege.edu | 13 |
| St Philip's College | San Antonio | Texas | www.alamo.edu/spc | 13 |
| Moorpark College | Moorpark | California | www.moorparkcollege.edu | 12 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson | North Carolina | www.cccti.edu | 12 |
| Stanly Community College | Albemarle | North Carolina | www.stanly.edu | 12 |
| North Seattle College | Seattle | Washington | www.northseattle.edu | 11 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington | New Kensington | Pennsylvania | newkensington.psu.edu | 11 |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | California | www.collegeofsanmateo.edu | 10 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | matc.edu | 10 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Missouri | www.otc.edu | 10 |
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo | California | www.contracosta.edu | 9 |
| DeVry University-California | Pomona | California | www.devry.edu | 9 |
| Schoolcraft College | Livonia | Michigan | www.schoolcraft.edu | 9 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud | Minnesota | www.sctcc.edu | 9 |
| Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology | Boston | Massachusetts | www.bfit.edu | 8 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.fscj.edu | 8 |
| Gateway Community College | New Haven | Connecticut | www.gatewayct.edu | 8 |
| Mountwest Community and Technical College | Huntington | West Virginia | www.mctc.edu | 8 |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Washington | scc.spokane.edu | 8 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | Wisconsin | www.westerntc.edu | 8 |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake | Washington | www.bigbend.edu | 7 |
| Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Louisiana | www.dcc.edu | 7 |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | California | www.swccd.edu | 7 |
| St Petersburg College | Clearwater | Florida | www.spcollege.edu | 7 |
| DeVry University-Arizona | Phoenix | Arizona | www.devry.edu | 6 |
| DeVry University-Illinois | Chicago | Illinois | www.devry.edu | 6 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Massachusetts | www.qcc.edu | 6 |
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Minnesota | www.anokatech.edu | 5 |
| Intellitec College-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Colorado | www.intelliteccollege.com | 5 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | California | www.lattc.edu | 5 |
| Merritt College | Oakland | California | www.merritt.edu | 5 |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona | Minnesota | www.southeastmn.edu | 5 |
| New Mexico State University-Alamogordo | Alamogordo | New Mexico | nmsua.edu | 5 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Ohio | www.owens.edu | 5 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.cpcc.edu | 4 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | www.cod.edu | 4 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Iowa | www.dmacc.edu | 4 |
| DeVry University-Florida | Miramar | Florida | www.devry.edu | 4 |
| DeVry University-New Jersey | North Brunswick | New Jersey | www.devry.edu | 4 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | North Carolina | www.durhamtech.edu | 4 |
| South Florida State College | Avon Park | Florida | www.southflorida.edu | 4 |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | California | www.fullcoll.edu | 3 |
| Muskegon Community College | Muskegon | Michigan | www.muskegoncc.edu | 3 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Wisconsin | www.nwtc.edu | 3 |
| Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences | Tulsa | Oklahoma | health.okstate.edu | 3 |
| Long Island University | Brookville | New York | liu.edu/cwpost | 2 |
| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology | Media | Pennsylvania | www.pit.edu | 2 |
| Brescia University | Owensboro | Kentucky | www.brescia.edu | 1 |
| DeVry University-Ohio | Columbus | Ohio | www.devry.edu | 1 |
| DeVry University-Pennsylvania | Ft. Washington | Pennsylvania | www.devry.edu | 1 |
| Johnson College | Scranton | Pennsylvania | www.johnson.edu | 1 |
| Merced College | Merced | California | www.mccd.edu | 1 |
| New Mexico State University-Dona Ana | Las Cruces | New Mexico | dacc.nmsu.edu | 1 |
| Rend Lake College | Ina | Illinois | www.rlc.edu | 1 |
| Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Missouri | www.stlcc.edu | 1 |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | California | www.sdmesa.edu | 1 |
| Southeast Technical Institute | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | www.southeasttech.edu | 1 |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | Iowa | www.scciowa.edu | 1 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Michigan | www.wcccd.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & Online Biomedical Equipment Technician Programs
Many students looking to study biomedical technology may already be working in healthcare or another related field, making it difficult to attend traditional classes offered during working hours.
Luckily, many institutions now offer online options for some of their biomedical technician courses. However, keep in mind that most biomedical technology programs require some type of hands-on training or practicum experience in addition to fully online or hybrid-based courses.
Collin College in McKinney, Texas, offers a 60-credit applied associate of science (AAS) degree in biomedical equipment technology. Students can complete courses in this program in on-campus, hybrid, or virtual learning formats.
Students in this program learn how to install, repair, and maintain equipment in hospitals and medical facilities. Graduates from this program leave with marketable skills in troubleshooting, identifying necessary tools, communicating effectively, and working ethically, responsibly, and conscientiously.
- Location: McKinney, TX
- Duration: Two years
- Tuition: $60 per credit (residents); $115 per credit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IU-PUI) in Indianapolis, Indiana, offers both a two-year associate of science (AS) healthcare engineering technology management degree and a four-year bachelor of science (BS) degree program. The 67-credit AS program emphasizes fundamentals and maintenance of state-of-the-art healthcare technology and teaches hands-on skills through an internship course.
The 119-credit BS program in biomedical engineering is one of the few ABET-accredited online programs offered. This is ideal for those who want the broadest opportunities upon graduation or plan to continue their formal education past the undergraduate level. Many junior- and senior-level courses are offered virtually, allowing students to take didactic courses in environments that work well for their schedules.
Graduates earn degrees from Purdue University and are prepared with technical and management skills to be influential leaders of healthcare technical teams. IU-PUI also offers a fully online certificate in medical device cybersecurity, which requires no campus visits, and a master’s of science in engineering technology.
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Duration: 15 weeks (certificate program); two to four years (degree programs)
- Tuition: $420.25 per credit-hour (residents); $1,275 per credit-hour (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio, offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in biomedical electronics. The 64- to 65-credit degree is offered entirely at the school’s Toledo, Ohio campus or as a hybrid program that features online coursework and Toledo-based classroom experiences.
The program includes courses such as circuit analysis and mathematics for technology. Graduates from this program are prepared to repair, calibrate, and evaluate the performance of electro-mechanical equipment.
- Location: Toledo, OH
- Duration: Two years
- Tuition: $167.50 per credit (residents); $335 per credit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
Texas State Technical College offers a biomedical equipment technology associate degree from Texas State Technical College at the Harlingen and Waco campuses. The associate degree program requires 60 credits and can be completed in 20 months. The final semester of the program includes a hands-on internship experience to ready students for the workforce. Courses are offered at both campuses via in-person and in hybrid formats.
- Location: Waco TX
- Duration: 20 months
- Tuition: $294 per credit (residents); $439 per credit (non-residents)
- Accreditation: Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
| School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | California | www.miracosta.edu | 59 |
| Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Florida | www.sfcollege.edu | 9 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Illinois | web.iit.edu | 5 |
Biomedical Technician Core & Elective Courses
Though biomedical technician schools can have somewhat varied programs, there are similarities in core and elective courses. These courses fall into the main categories of biomedical technology-specific courses, mathematics, general science courses, and electives.
The courses that focus on biomedical technology and equipment include titles like:
- Biomedical instrumentation
- Circuit analysis
- Diagnostic imaging systems
- Healthcare tech diagnosis and repair
- Introduction to circuit analysis
- Medical circuits
- Networking and data communication in healthcare
- Physiological instruments
- Semiconductor devices and analog circuits
- Shop skills for biomedical equipment
- Solid-state devices
Students should keep in mind that although the titles of courses are different from school to school, the general biomedical equipment topics covered are the same.
In more general courses, many students will take algebra, physics, and chemistry. In addition, students may select non-technical courses from the humanities or the arts course catalogs in programs that allow electives. However, these electives are more common in the two to four-year training programs and are not likely to be found in the shorter certificate programs available.
Biomedical Technology Program Accreditation
There are two accrediting bodies for biomedical technology programs in the United States: The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
The ATMAE offers accreditation in various technology-based programs, from biomedical technician programs to architectural science programs to web analyst degrees. For a complete listing of ATMAE accreditation offerings, visit their ATMAE directory of accredited programs. The organization also offers accreditation beginning at the associate of applied science and extending through master of science (MS) programs.
ATMAE accreditation includes an application from the program and a thorough on-site visit consisting of a team of at least three experts who evaluate the school for its curriculum, facilities, faculty, and more. In addition, the ATMAE accreditation is currently using its 2021 Accreditation Handbook to assess all new applicant schools.
ABET offers accreditation to many different types of engineering programs. The ABET accreditation process includes a self-study completed by program administrators and an on-site visit to determine eligibility. With ABET, the process takes approximately 18 months to complete. A full explanation of that process is available on the ABET site.
Interested students should also keep in mind that schools can seek overall institutional accreditation in addition to the program-specific accreditation provided by bodies such as the ATMAE and ABET. Institutional accreditation considers many facets of the school and generally comes from an organization that the US Department of Education recognizes.
Some such accrediting bodies are the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). To ensure educational quality, prospective students are encouraged to confirm a school’s accreditation status before enrolling.
Career Outlook
From 2021 to 2031, job openings for medical equipment repairers are expected to grow 17 percent, which is more than three times the national average for all occupations during that time period (BLS 2022).
In addition, advancements in medical technology will continue to lead to more advanced medical equipment that will need regular service and maintenance from trained biomedical technicians. However, those with more education and experience will have a better time competing for jobs.
The growth of the aging population in the United States and increased overall access to healthcare are expected to lead to an increased demand for virtually all healthcare professionals, including biomedical technicians.
Consumers and physicians will continue to stress the need for non-invasive procedures and sophisticated diagnostics, which necessitate more complex machinery and the people to repair those machines. The BLS estimates that 10,000 new positions will be needed in the coming decade (BLS 2022).
As the complexity of machines continues to increase, biomedical technicians entering the field may be more inclined to specialize in one type of machine or one area of diagnostics because there will simply be more to know about the inner workings of these highly sophisticated machines.
| Career Facts | Biomedical Technician |
|---|---|
| Related Careers | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician |
| Common Job Titles | Biomedical Technician, Biomedical Technician (Biomed Tech), Biomedical Electronics Technician, Biomedical Engineering Technician (BMET), Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET), Dental Equipment Technician, X-Ray Service Engineer |
| Technology & Equipment | Pressure Indicators, Ventilator Accessories, Voltage or Current Meters, Office and Productivity Software |
| Sourced from BLS 2022 | |
Biomedical Technician Licensing & Certification
There is no standard licensing or certification procedure for biomedical technicians. Instead, like many medical technologist careers, those who wish to improve their career options by obtaining an officially recognized biomedical technician certification may do so.
The most common certification for biomedical technicians in the US is the Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) credential awarded by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
According to the AAMI, this certification shows that a BMET is “expected to have experience in a wide range of electromechanical devices, computers, networks, and software used in the delivery of healthcare.”
Although there is no requirement that any biomedical technician obtains this certification, certified technicians may find more and better-paying career opportunities available to them. Further, those biomedical technicians who are currently working and wish to improve their position in the workplace may want to pursue certification.
Indeed, to apply for certification, there is a work experience prerequisite, with a minimum of two years of full-time BMET work in addition to an associate's degree from a biomedical academic program or four years of full-time work as a BMET. Information about other avenues for certification is available on the Certification FAQ page of the AAMI website.
Biomedical equipment technicians who wish to be certified but do not yet qualify may become certified candidates, demonstrating a professional commitment to employers when seeking career and advancement opportunities.
