Medical Equipment Repairers: Schools and Careers

Medical Equipment Repairers - Career Information

Medical Equipment Repairers

Medical equipment repairers, also called biomedical equipment technicians, work on medical equipment to make sure the equipment is safe and functioning correctly. They work with electromechanical, electronic and hydraulic equipment. Medical equipment repairers fix medical equipment such as heart monitors, biomedical equipment, medical imaging equipment, analog and digital electronics and other medical apparatuses.

Some of the common job titles are biomedical technician, biomedical equipment technician, biomedical engineering technician and biomedical electronics technician.

Biomedical equipment technicians utilize computers and specialized software, machining equipment and hand tools to diagnose and fix problems for a wide array of healthcare equipment, including medical laboratory equipment. Sometimes they repair the equipment while it is being used. A medical equipment repairer calibrates, repairs and maintains medical equipment. They work in the health and medical industry.

Responsibilities

• Identify and fix equipment problems
• Perform preventive maintenance
• Test and calibrate equipment and components
• Inspect and test malfunctioning medical and related equipment
• Remove and replace defective parts
• Keep records of repair and maintenance and required updates of equipment
• Test, evaluate and classify in-use and excess medical equipment
• Attend training sessions offered by equipment manufacturers to stay current with the latest equipment and information

Job Characteristics

Medical equipment repairers typically work daytime hours, however they are often expected to be on call. Some medical equipment repairers work irregular hours. They often work in a patient setting, thus they have the potential to be exposed to diseases and other health risks.

They need to be proficient at reading and understanding technical manuals. Biomedical equipment technicians should be good at solving problems and they should be detailed oriented. They often work alone with very little supervision.

Employment Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted a 22 percent growth for medical equipment repairer jobs from 2006 to 2016 which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for medical equipment repairers has increased due to an increase in demand for medical services and the use of increasingly complicated medical equipment. Those that have completed internships enhance their employment prospects. In 2006 there were an estimated 38,000 medical equipment repairer jobs. In 2008 the median annual salary for the occupation was $41,520.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Medical equipment repairers typically are required to have earned an associate degree in medical technology or electronics. They also receive on-the-job training and attend manufacturer sponsored training classes.

Those that repair complicated equipment such as defibrillators are usually required to have an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in medical technology or engineering and pass a certification exam. Biomedical equipment repairers are continually learning about new technologies and equipment via self-study and seminars.

Some of the typical college courses include specialized computer technology, biomedical equipment, digital electronics, analog electronics, network analysis, circuit analysis, and anatomy and physiology.

Skills offered in medical device repair programs include troubleshooting techniques, circuit and systems analysis, circuit and systems identification, medical terminology, practical problem solving, biomedical instrumentation, and schematic and diagram analysis.

Resources

• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
• Electronics Technicians Association International
• International Society of Electronics Technicians

Major Employers

The largest job providing sectors are hospitals, private medical practices, clinics, professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers, electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance companies, health and professional care stores and consumer goods rental companies.

Schools for Medical Equipment Repairers are listed in the column to the left.

The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Medical Equipment Repairers by major metro area.

The Top Industries tab shows which industries have the most jobs for Medical Equipment Repairers, along with salary data by industry.

The Find Schools tab lets you search for schools by field of study, degree level, and location.