4 Reasons to Become a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) and How to Qualify to Take the Certification Exam

Background Info: What does a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) do?

A Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) installs, repairs and maintains medical equipment in healthcare facilities. The need for a skillful and knowledgeable Biomedical Equipment workforce is a central concern of many facilities. With the right education and certification, you can enjoy a rewarding career in the field.

After you’ve chosen a career as a Biomedical Equipment Technician, what’s next? Well, now it’s time to take the steps to ensure a successful career and gain more opportunities for advancement. One of the best ways to garner these results is by obtaining one or more professional certifications along with your associate degree.

In this article, you will learn about:

• 4 Reasons to get your Professional Biomedical Equipment Technician Certification
• Becoming a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET)
• Qualifying to Take a BMET Professional Certification Exam

4 Reasons to get your Professional BMET Certification

BMET certifications are optional, but they can:

1. Demonstrate high competency and professionalism in the field of biomedical equipment technology.
2. Make a candidate highly desirable to employers.
3. Increase opportunities for future advancement.
4. Possibly be paid for by your employer to become a certified technician.

Becoming a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET)

This professional certification is given by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

According to the International Certification Commission for Clinical Engineering and Biomedical Technology (ICC), this certification is “a formal recognition that individuals have demonstrated excellence in theoretical as well as practical knowledge of the principles of biomedical equipment technology.”

Here is some basic information about the BMET certification exam:

• The ICC Certification for Biomedical Equipment Technicians (CBET) is a 165 question certification exam available to a current or prospective biomedical equipment technician.
• Students will receive their full certification after two years of experience in the field.
• Member application fee (full certification or candidate status) $300, Non member application fee (full certification or candidate status) $375, Special Testing Center Fee (for candidates outside the U.S. or Canada $100
• The application is available on the AAMI website under certification forms and documents.
• Applications may be submitted before the advertised deadline.
• The exam content consists of Anatomy and Physiology, Public (employee, patient, visitor) safety in the healthcare facility, Fundamentals of electricity and electronics, Healthcare technology function and operation, Healthcare technology problem solving and Healthcare information technology.
• Passing applicants receive scores and a certification package within 4 weeks of taking the exam.
• To maintain certification you must pay the required renewal fees and accumulate at least 15 points of continuing practice activities to be reported every three years in a continuing practice journal.

Qualifying to Take a BMET Professional Certification Exam

To qualify to take the BMET Professional Certification Exam one must have:

• At least an Associate’s degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology.
• Two years of experience as a biomedical equipment technician (BMET).
• Full-time status in your work experience.
• (As long as an individual has an associate’s degree in hand, upon passing the exam they can be awarded candidate status until they have worked the required two years of full time employment in the field. Then they can apply for full certification without having to retake the test.)

Or you can:

• Be involved in a U.S. military BMET program in addition to having two years of work experience as a BMET.
• Earn an Electronics Technology Associate’s degree and work for three years as a full-time BMET.
• Work four years as a BMET on a full-time basis.

In Summary

There are numerous benefits to obtaining a professional certification in biomedical equipment technology, so why not get it done today? The sooner you become certified, the sooner you can raise your potential to advance your career, earn more money and feel more confident in your industry knowledge and skills. Contact your local technical college and request more information about getting certified.

About IntelliTec College in Colorado Springs

IntelliTec College in Colorado Springs offers hands-on career training in the automotive, biomedical equipment repair, computer networking, medical, personal training and refrigeration-HVAC fields with associate degree (occupational) programs. Request more information at www.IntelliTec.edu or call 719-373-1690.

Sources

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Medical Equipment Repairers,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/medical-equipment-repairers.htm (visited November 05, 2014).

“The Certification for Biomedical Equipment Technicians Exam (CBET).” Testscorehelp.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2014. http://www.testscorehelp.com/cbet-certified-biomedical-equipment-technician.html.

“How to Become a Certified Biomedical Technician.” Educationportal.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2014. http://education-portal.com/articles/How_to_Become_a_Certified_Biomedical_Technician.html.

“Frequently Asked Questions.” AAMI: ICC/USCC Certification. Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. http://www.aami.org/certification/faq.html.