Medical Equipment Repairers

Summary

Medical equipment repairers adjust and repair medical equipment.

Quick Facts: Medical Equipment Repairers
2010 Median Pay	$44,490 per year $21.39 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Associate’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	37,900
Job Outlook, 2010-20	31% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	11,900

What Medical Equipment Repairers Do

Medical equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair patient care equipment.

Work Environment

Although medical equipment repairers usually work during the day, they are sometimes expected to be on call, including nights and weekends. Repairing vital medical equipment is urgent, so the work is occasionally stressful.

How to Become a Medical Equipment Repairer

Employers generally prefer candidates who have an associate’s degree in biomedical technology or engineering. Depending on the area of specialization, a bachelor’s degree may be needed, especially for advancement.

Pay

The median annual wage of medical equipment repairers was $44,490 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of medical equipment repairers is projected to grow 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Greater demand for healthcare services and the use of increasingly complex medical equipment will drive employment growth. Those who have an associate’s degree in biomedical equipment technology or engineering should have the best job opportunities. 

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of medical equipment repairers with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about medical equipment repairers by contacting these additional resources.

What Medical Equipment Repairers Do About this section

Medical equipment repairers often test and calibrate equipment.

Medical equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair patient care equipment.

Duties

Medical equipment repairers typically do the following:

• Test and calibrate parts and equipment
• Repair and replace parts
• Perform preventive maintenance and service
• Keep records of maintenance and repairs
• Review technical manuals and regularly attend training sessions
• Explain and demonstrate correct operation of medical equipment

Medical equipment repairers, also known as biomedical equipment technicians (BMET), repair a wide variety of electronic, electromechanical, and hydraulic equipment used in hospitals and health practitioners’ offices. They may work on patient monitors, defibrillators, medical imaging equipment (X rays, CAT scanners, and ultrasound equipment), voice-controlled operating tables, and electric wheelchairs, as well as on sophisticated medical equipment that dentists and eye doctors use.

If a machine has problems or is not functioning to its potential, the repairer may have to adjust the mechanical or hydraulic parts, or adjust the software to bring electronic equipment back into calibration. To do their work, medical equipment repairers use a variety of tools. They may use hand tools, such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and soldering irons. They may use electronic tools, such as multimeters (an electronic measuring device that combines several measures) and computers. Many of the pieces of equipment that they maintain and repair use specialized software, and repairers use that software to adjust the machines.

Many doctors, particularly specialty practitioners, rely on complex medical devices to run tests and diagnose patients, and they must be confident that the readings are accurate. Therefore, medical equipment repairers sometimes do routine scheduled maintenance to ensure that all equipment is in good working order.

In a hospital setting, medical equipment repairers must be comfortable working around patients because repairs occasionally must take place while equipment is being used. When this is the case, the repairer must take great care to ensure that repairs do not disturb patients.

Although some medical equipment repairers are trained to fix a variety of equipment, others specialize in repairing one or a small number of machines. For less complicated equipment, such as electric hospital beds, workers make repairs as needed.

Work Environment About this section

Medical equipment repairers often must work in a patient environment.

Medical equipment repairers held about 37,900 jobs in 2010. About 13 percent were self-employed.

The following industries employed the most medical equipment repairers in 2010:

Medical equipment repairers work for wholesale suppliers and at hospitals, electronic repair and maintenance shops, and health and personal care stores. Because repairing vital medical equipment is urgent, the work can sometimes be stressful.

Medical equipment repairers who work as contractors often have to travel—sometimes long distances—to do needed repairs. Medical equipment repairers often must work in a patient environment, which has the potential to expose them to diseases and other health risks.

Work Schedules

Although medical equipment repairers usually work during the day, they are sometimes expected to be on call, including nights and weekends. Most work full time, but some repairers have variable schedules.

How to Become a Medical Equipment Repairer About this section

Most repairers obtain an associate’s degree and receive moderate-term on-the-job training.

Employers generally prefer candidates who have an associate’s degree in biomedical technology or engineering. Depending on the area of specialization, and especially for advancement, repairers may need a bachelor’s degree.

Education and Training

Education requirements for medical equipment repairers vary, depending on a worker’s experience and area of specialization. However, the most common education is an associate’s degree in biomedical equipment technology or engineering. Those who repair less-complicated equipment, such as hospital beds and electric wheelchairs, may learn entirely through on-the-job training. Others, particularly those who work on more sophisticated equipment, such as CAT scanners and defibrillators, may need a bachelor's degree.

New workers generally start by watching and helping experienced repairers for 3 to 6 months, learning about one piece of equipment at a time. Gradually, new workers begin working more independently while still under supervision.

Each piece of equipment is different, so medical equipment repairers must learn each one separately. In some cases, this requires studying a machine’s technical specifications and manual. Medical device manufacturers also may provide technical training.

Medical equipment technology is rapidly evolving, and new devices are frequently introduced. Repairers must continually update their skills and knowledge of new technologies and equipment through seminars and self-study.

Certification

Certification is optional, but it allows medical equipment repairers to show that they have a level of competency that can make them more attractive to employers. It can also increase a repairer’s opportunities for advancement. Most employers, particularly in hospitals, often pay for their in-house medical repairers to become certified.

Some associations offer certifications for medical equipment repairers. For example, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) offers certification in three specialty areas—Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialists (CRES), and Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLEB).

Important Qualities

Dexterity. Many tasks, such as taking apart mechanical parts, connecting or attaching parts, and using handtools, require a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination.

Mechanical skills. Medical equipment repairers must be familiar with medical components and systems and how they interact. Often, repairers must take apart major parts for fixing and be able to put them back together when the work is complete.

Stamina. Standing, crouching, and bending in awkward positions are common when making repairs to equipment. Therefore, workers must be able to be physically active for long periods without tiring.  

Technical skills. Technicians use sophisticated diagnostic equipment when working on complex medical equipment. They must be familiar with both the equipments’ internal parts and the appropriate tools needed to fix them.

Time-management skills. Because repairing vital medical equipment is urgent, workers must make good use of their time and do repairs quickly.

Troubleshooting skills. As medical equipment becomes more intricate, problems become more difficult to identify. Therefore, repairers must be able to find and solve problems that are not immediately apparent.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of medical equipment repairers was $44,490 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,040, and the top 10 percent earned more than $70,260.

In May 2010, median annual wages in industries employing the largest numbers of medical equipment repairers were as follows:

Although medical equipment repairers usually work during the day, they are sometimes expected to be on call, including nights and weekends. Most work full time, but many workers have variable schedules.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of medical equipment repairers is expected to grow 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will stem from both greater demand for healthcare services and the increasing types and complexity of the equipment these workers maintain and repair.

A major factor in the greater demand for healthcare services is the aging population. As people age, they usually need more medical care. With the expected increase in the number of older adults and with people living longer, health professionals are prescribing more medical tests that use new, complex equipment.

Changes in technology are bringing hospitals and health professionals more types of equipment and more complex equipment. Medical equipment repairers will be needed to maintain and repair CAT scans, electrocardiograms, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, x-ray machines, and other new technology. They also will be needed to maintain and repair the sophisticated machines that private practitioners and technicians use to diagnose and treat problems with eyes, teeth, and other parts of the body. And they will still be needed to maintain and repair less complex health equipment, such as electric beds and wheelchairs.

Job Prospects

A combination of rapid employment growth and the need to replace workers leaving the occupation will likely result in excellent job opportunities from 2010 to 2020. Candidates who have an associate’s degree in biomedical equipment technology or engineering should have the best job prospects. Job opportunities should be even better for those who are willing to relocate, because often there are relatively few qualified applicants in rural areas.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about medical equipment repairers, including a listing of schools offering related programs of study and information about certification, visit

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation