How to become a Dialysis Technician
There are over 26 million people living with chronic kidney disease in the United States today. Another 28.6 million people in the United States are living with diabetes – which can affect liver and kidney function. Because of this great demand in a growing healthcare field, many people are asking how to become a dialysis technician.
For patients such as this, dialysis can provide a life-saving 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 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.
So how long does it take to become a dialysis technician? That depends on the program chosen. There are two options when it comes to training.
• Certificate Program: 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.
• Associate Degree: This level of 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.
Since 2010, all dialysis technicians have been required to pass a federally-mandated dialysis technician certification exam. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid are responsible for overseeing this process. The exam is administered through one of three organizations: the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission, the National Nephrology Certification Organization or the Board of Nephrology Examiners.
In order to be eligible to sit for the certification exam, candidates must have obtained a minimum of six months of experience in nephrology technology.
Once candidates have received certification, the process is not over. 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.
Article by Shari Berg, SmartSchoolFinder.com