Dialysis Technician Training, Hemodialysis Technician Training

If you enjoy working with people, and are interested in a job within the healthcare industry, than getting dialysis technician training may be a good career choice.

Dialysis technicians are the healthcare professionals who perform a number of duties related to dialysis treatment.

Dialysis is the process by which waste and excess water is removed from the blood. It is necessary for patients suffering from loss of kidney function or who are in renal failure to receive this treatment. A dialysis machine is used for the process. In layman’s terms, a dialysis machine extracts the blood from a patient’s body, “cleans it,” and then returns the filtered product to the patient. It is an option for people who do not need or who do not qualify for a kidney transplant. Without this device and the procedure it performs, those suffering from kidney-related issues would live shorter lives.

The entire procedure requires the knowledge and ability of a dialysis technician with dialysis technician training in order to be performed properly. Dialysis technicians receive special training on how to properly operate a dialysis machine, monitor patients while the machine is in use and record patient data.
Education and Training

Dialysis technicians receive training through an accredited program offered through technical and trade schools, as well as community colleges.

Dialysis technician training will result in the successful candidate earning either certificate in clinical hemodialysis technician training, or an Associate in Applied Science Degree from a technical or trade school, or a community college.

To become certified, a candidate must possess a high school diploma or GED and have completed what is referred to as a clinical hemodialysis technician training program. This program can take six months to a year to complete. Following completion, the candidate must receive certification by passing an exam that is administered through one of three organizations: the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission, the National Nephrology Certification Organization or the Board of Nephrology Examiners. The certification expires after three years, and technicians who wish to renew it must have at least 3,000 hours of work experience and have completed 30 hours of continuing education in the field.

An associate degree, while not required to work in the industry, is recommended. Many community colleges and technical training programs offer this level of training for dialysis technicians. Candidates who complete this two-year program will have earned an Associate in Applied Science degree. Those who possess an associate degree still are required to pass a certification exam through one of the three approved certification commissions and also must participate in continuing education programs to maintain their certification.

While some of the courses related to this profession can be taken through dialysis technician online training programs, not all courses required for completion of the degree are available online. Hands-on work with patients and equipment is required to complete the course, which only can be conducted in a traditional setting.

Dialysis Technician Employment Outlook

Dialysis technicians earn, on average, $35,000 annually. Some technicians on the highest end of the wage scale earn just over $45,000 a year, and the lowest-paid technicians in the field earn $28,000 annually.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities for dialysis technicians will continue to grow through 2018, with over 3 million new jobs created in that time frame. Demand for dialysis technicians is showing extreme growth due to the aging population and the number of people now living with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.

Article by Shari Berg, SmartSchoolFinder.com