What does a Biomedical Electronics Technician do?

A biomedical electronics technician installs and maintains a wide variety of hospital equipment and small home health-care devices. A professional may work with diagnostic imaging machines, electronic monitoring and treatment equipment, and clinical laboratory tools. He or she conducts routine preventive maintenance to make sure machines are kept in proper working order and performs delicate repairs when necessary. Most biomedical electronics technicians are employed full-time by hospitals, but some experts work for equipment manufacturers and retail companies.

In a hospital setting, a biomedical electronics technician may make routine visits to different laboratories and patient rooms to inspect equipment. He or she makes sure computer monitors, scales, vital sign scanners, defibrillators, and other tools are working correctly. The technician might test the strength electrical currents and check wires to see if they are worn. Maintenance jobs may be as simple as cleaning the dust out of a monitor or as complex as taking apart a circuit board for extensive troubleshooting.

Biomedical electronics technicians also install new equipment in labs and hospitals. They follow blueprints and written instructions to put together and test new machinery. If a system is complicated, a technician may provide training to doctors, nurses, or patients on how to use it properly.

A biomedical electronics technician who specializes in small devices, such as external pacemakers, sleep apnea aids, and blood pressure monitoring systems, may make house calls to home-bound patients. He or she can check machinery on a regular basis, teach patients and caregivers about correct usage, and obtain replacement parts as necessary. Some traveling technicians work for hospitals, but most are employees of product manufacturers or distribution centers.

The requirements to become a biomedical electronics technician can vary between regions and employers. Most professionals complete six-month to two-year training programs at technical schools or community colleges before applying for jobs in the field. Certification is available from many different government and private organizations, including the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation in the United States. By completing education requirements and passing written exams, a person can earn credentials that are highly respected by most employers in the biomedical electronics industry.

A biomedical electronics technician can pursue advancement opportunities with continuing education and ongoing experience. Many technicians decide to return to school to study electronics engineering or biomedical technology in more detail. With an advanced engineering degree, a person may be able to become a research and development engineer at a biomedical company, where he or she can design new, innovative types of equipment.