Become A Biomedical Engineering Technician

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Working As A Biomedical Engineering Technician

$61,260
Average Salary

What Does A Biomedical Engineering Technician Do

Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.

Duties

Biomedical engineers typically do the following:

Design equipment and devices, such as artificial internal organs, replacements for body parts, and machines for diagnosing medical problems
Install, adjust, maintain, repair, or provide technical support for biomedical equipment
Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment
Train clinicians and other personnel on the proper use of equipment
Work with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists to research the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals
Prepare procedures, write technical reports, publish research papers, and make recommendations based on their research findings
Present research findings to scientists, nonscientist executives, clinicians, hospital management, engineers, other colleagues, and the public

Biomedical engineers design instruments, devices, and software used in healthcare; bring together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new procedures; or conduct research needed to solve clinical problems.

They often serve a coordinating function, using their background in both engineering and medicine. For example, they may create products for which an indepth understanding of living systems and technology is essential. They frequently work in research and development or in quality assurance.

Biomedical engineers design electrical circuits, software to run medical equipment, or computer simulations to test new drug therapies. In addition, they design and build artificial body parts, such as hip and knee joints. In some cases, they develop the materials needed to make the replacement body parts. They also design rehabilitative exercise equipment.

The work of these engineers spans many professional fields. For example, although their expertise is based in engineering and biology, they often design computer software to run complicated instruments, such as three-dimensional x-ray machines. Alternatively, many of these engineers use their knowledge of chemistry and biology to develop new drug therapies. Others draw heavily on mathematics and statistics to build models to understand the signals transmitted by the brain or heart.

The following are examples of specialty areas within the field of biomedical engineering:

Bioinstrumentation uses electronics, computer science, and measurement principles to develop devices used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Biomaterials is the study of naturally occurring or laboratory-designed materials that are used in medical devices or as implantation materials.

Biomechanics involves the study of mechanics, such as thermodynamics, to solve biological or medical problems.

Clinical engineering applies medical technology to optimize healthcare delivery.

Rehabilitation engineering is the study of engineering and computer science to develop devices that assist individuals with physical and cognitive impairments.

Systems physiology uses engineering tools to understand how systems within living organisms, from bacteria to humans, function and respond to changes in their environment.

Some people with training in biomedical engineering become professors. For more information, see the profile on postsecondary teachers.

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How To Become A Biomedical Engineering Technician

Biomedical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or bioengineering from an accredited program in order to enter the occupation. Alternatively, they can get a bachelor’s degree in a different field of engineering and then either choose biological science electives or get a graduate degree in biomedical engineering.

Education

Prospective biomedical engineering or bioengineering students should take high school science courses, such as chemistry, physics, and biology. They should also take math courses, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Courses in drafting or mechanical drawing and in computer programming are also useful.

Bachelor’s degree programs in biomedical engineering and bioengineering focus on engineering and biological sciences. Programs include laboratory-based courses, in addition to classroom-based courses, in subjects such as fluid and solid mechanics, computer programming, circuit design, and biomaterials. Other required courses may include biological sciences, such as physiology.

Accredited programs also include substantial training in engineering design. Many programs include co-ops or internships, often with hospitals and medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, to provide students with practical applications as part of their study. Biomedical engineering and bioengineering programs are accredited by ABET.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Biomedical engineers must be able to analyze the needs of patients and customers to design appropriate solutions.

Communication skills. Because biomedical engineers sometimes work with patients and frequently work on teams, they must be able to express themselves clearly. They must seek others’ ideas and incorporate those ideas into the problem-solving process.

Creativity. Biomedical engineers must be creative to come up with innovative and integrative advances in healthcare equipment and devices.

Math skills. Biomedical engineers use the principles of calculus and other advanced topics in mathematics, as well as statistics, for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills. Biomedical engineers typically deal with and solve problems in complex biological systems.

Advancement

Biomedical engineers typically receive greater responsibility through experience and more education. To lead a research team, a biomedical engineer generally needs a graduate degree. Some biomedical engineers attend medical or dental school to specialize in applications at the forefront of patient care, such as using electric impulses in new ways to get muscles moving again. Some earn law degrees and work as patent attorneys. Others pursue a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) and move into managerial positions. For more information, see the profiles on lawyers and architectural and engineering managers.

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Biomedical Engineering Technician jobs

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Biomedical Engineering Technician Typical Career Paths

Average Length of Employment

Biomedical Equipment Technician 4.6 years
Biomed Technician 4.1 years
Biomedical Engineering Technician 4.0 years
BIO Medical Technician 3.6 years
Biomedical Engineer 2.7 years
Batch Room Technician 2.5 years
Biomedical Engineering Internship 0.5 years

Top Careers Before Biomedical Engineering Technician

Top Careers After Biomedical Engineering Technician

Biomedical Engineering Technician Demographics

Gender

Male
77.8%
Female
20.7%
Unknown
1.5%

Ethnicity

White
74.3%
Hispanic or Latino
14.9%
Asian
7.7%
Unknown
2.3%
Black or African American
0.7%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
38.1%
French
15.9%
Arabic
9.5%
Russian
7.9%
Chinese
4.8%
Mandarin
3.2%
German
3.2%
Indonesian
1.6%
Welsh
1.6%
Turkish
1.6%
Marathi
1.6%
Greek
1.6%
Bambara
1.6%
Malayalam
1.6%
Hindi
1.6%
Sanskrit
1.6%
Bhojpuri
1.6%
Wolof
1.6%

Biomedical Engineering Technician

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Biomedical Engineering Technician Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
13.1%
Texas State Technical College - Waco
6.9%
Community College of the Air Force
6.9%
Texas State Technical College - Harlingen
6.3%
Howard Community College
5.6%
Vincennes University
5.6%
Johnson College
5.6%
Bates Technical College
5.0%
Mech-Tech College
5.0%
St. Philip's College
5.0%
ECPI University
4.4%
Southern California Institute of Technology
4.4%
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
3.8%
Wentworth Institute of Technology
3.8%
Illinois Institute of Technology
3.1%
Florida State College at Jacksonville
3.1%
Regis University
3.1%
University of Iowa
3.1%
New Jersey Institute of Technology
3.1%
American InterContinental University
3.1%

Majors

Electrical Engineering 23.5%
Biomedical Engineering 17.6%
Electrical Engineering Technology 12.4%
Electromechanical Instrumentation And Maintenance Technologies/Technicians 11.5%
Business 8.3%
Computer Information Systems 3.0%
Computer Science 2.8%
Biology 2.4%
Medical Technician 2.3%
Nursing 1.9%
Management 1.6%
Medical Assisting Services 1.6%
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians 1.6%
Computer Networking 1.6%
Criminal Justice 1.5%
Health Care Administration 1.5%
Information Technology 1.5%
Computer Engineering Technology 1.5%
Automotive Technology 1.0%
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance And Repair Technology 1.0%

Degrees

Associate
34.3%
Bachelors
26.8%
Other
21.6%
Masters
9.0%
Certificate
5.4%
Diploma
1.9%
Doctorate
0.6%
License
0.2%

Biomedical Engineering Technician

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Real Biomedical Engineering Technician Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Biomedical Sales Engineering Technical Superviosor	ECO America, Inc.	Miami, FL	Oct 01, 2009	$60,000
Biomedical Sales Engineering Technical Supervisor	ECO America, Inc.	Miami, FL	Oct 25, 2007	$60,000
Biomedical Technician	Biocanton, LLC	Canton, MA	Sep 12, 2015	$58,895
Biomedical Technician	Fladger & Assoc. Inc.	Wilmington, DE	Jan 28, 2013	$54,617
Biomedical Technician	Fladger & Assoc. Inc.	Bear, DE	Jun 30, 2012	$54,617
Biomedical Engineer Technician/Information Systems	Diagnostic Mobile X-Ray Inc.	Edmond, OK	Oct 01, 2010	$54,507
Biomedical Electronics Technician	Future Medical Services, Corp	Miami, FL	Nov 10, 2010	$44,595

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Top Skills for A Biomedical Engineering Technician

Top Biomedical Engineering Technician Skills

Complex Medical Equipment
Safety Checks
Preventive Maintenance

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Performed maintenance on ventilators and other complex medical equipment.
Performed electrical safety checks and preventative maintenance in a timely manner.
Performed repair and preventive maintenance on critical care medical equipment while ensuring that all documentation was completed in a timely manner.
Repaired and maintained kidney dialysis machines, facility water systems, and other associated equipment at company fixed location facilities.
Calibrated, validated, installed, and repaired laboratory equipment.