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Biomedical Equipment Technician

Career Explore NW Video - Electronics Engineering Technology at SCC

Are you interested in working in the medical field and enjoy electronics? A career as a Biomedical Equipment Technician would be a good choice for you.

In this program, you will learn to install, calibrate, maintain and repair medical equipment such as:  defibrillators, heart monitors, ventilators, and medical imaging equipment. In addition to electronics, you will study the fundamentals of physics, chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, hospital ethics and safety.

Graduates of this program qualify as entry-level biomedical equipment technicians in hospitals, field service or manufacturing and research.

Detailed Information

A student must achieve an overall grade point average of 2.75 in all required electronic, biomedical, and specific related classes.

  • A student must pass each of the electronics classes during the first three quarters of the program with a minimum grade of 1.7
  • A student must pass each of the electronics classes during the fourth through seventh quarters with a minimum grade of 2.0
  • A student must pass each required related course with a minimum grade of 2.0

  1. Students will apply troubleshooting skills with specialized equipment.
  2. Students will demonstrate proper safety procedures.
  3. Students will comprehend career related regulatory requirements.
  4. Students will comprehend how to build complex electronic circuits
  5. Students will produce quality documentation used in the biomedical industry  
  6. Students will administer diagnostic procedures for medical devices in accordance with AAMI standards.
  7. Students will apply troubleshooting skills with specialized equipment.
  8. Students will demonstrate proper safety procedures.
  9. Students will comprehend career related regulatory requirements.
  10. Students will comprehend how to build complex electronic circuits.
  11. Students will demonstrate quality documentation.
  12. Students will administer diagnostic procedures for medical devices in accordance with AAMI standards.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Placement

Math placement is not required for this program.
English placement is not required for this program.

This program is designed to prepare students for employment in the specialized field of biomedical electronics in a hospital or other healthcare technology settings. 

The curriculum has been planned to give comprehensive training in medical equipment, circuit analysis, labratory techniques, and the use of modern test equipment. A balanced study of perhipheral subjects that make the biomedical equipment technician unique is included. These subject include fundamentals of chemistry, physiology, medical terminology, hosptial ethics, and hosptial safety. The curriculum provides lectures and laboratories in repair and preventative maintenance of medical electronic equipment throughout the course. Graduates are prepared for employment as entry level biomedical equipment technicians. 

To qualify for an associate in applied science degree students must successfull complete seven quarters of study including  required courses in chemistry, employment preparation, and an internship in the seventh quarter. The clinical practicum is available during summer quarter only. Students may enroll in the program during fall, winter, or spring quarters. 

The goal of the program is to provide the health care field with biomedical equipment technicians who have a thorough understanding of electronic fudamentals, a practical ability to design, construct and troubleshoot electronic circuits, and knowledge about the theory of operation, physiological principles, and the safe and practical applications of biomedical equipment. There are a limited number of clinical sites available in the Spokane area so students must be willing to travel to available clinical sites. 

Successful completion will be determined by meeting the following criteria:

  • A student must pass each required class with a minimum grade of 2.0
  • A student must achieve an overall grade point average of 2.75 to be considered for clinical rotation.

Note: upon review, the department chair and/or Technical Education Division Dean may waive any or all previous criteria when extenuating circumstances arise. 

Program Map for

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Total Program Credits: 102


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ141
Digital Electronics  
5
BIOEQ142
Digital Electronics Lab   2
3
BIOEQ143
Biomedical Regulations and Standards  
5
CHEM&121
Introduction to Chemistry with Lab  
5
Total Credits
 
18

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ242
Human Body Structure & Function   2
5
BIOEQ243
Life-Saving Equipment  
3
BIOEQ244
Electronic Devices  
4
BIOEQ245
Electronic Devices Lab   2
2
Total Credits
 
14

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
APLED125
Employment Preparation   1
3
BIOEQ231
Blood Born Pathogens & HIPPA  
3
BIOEQ232
Introduction to Networking  
4
BIOEQ233
Electronic Components  
4
BIOEQ234
Electronic Components Lab   2
3
Total Credits
 
17

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ121
Vital Signs Monitoring Equipment  
3
BIOEQ122
Imaging Systems  
2
BIOEQ123
Medical Equipment Research   1
2
BIOEQ133
Computer Fundamentals  
4
BIOEQ134
Computer Fundamentals Lab   2
3
Total Credits
 
14

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ110
Biomedical DC Theory  
4
BIOEQ111
Biomedical DC Lab   2
3
BIOEQ112
Biomedical DC Math   3
2
BIOEQ113
Biomedical Soldering  
2
BIOEQ199
Medical Terminology for Biomedical Equipment Technology  
3
Total Credits
 
14

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ211
Biomedical AC Theory  
4
BIOEQ212
Biomedical AC Lab   2
3
BIOEQ213
Biomedical AC Math   3
2
BIOEQ220
Biomedical Project Management  
1
BIOEQ221
Specialized Testing Equipment   2
3
Total Credits
 
13

Seventh Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ271
Biomedical Equipment Technology Clinical Rotation   2
8
BIOEQ272
Biomedical Seminar   2
4
Total Credits
 
12

1 APLED 125 and one credit of embedded Humanities instruction (globalization of medical equipment in BIOEQ 123) satisfy Humanities requirements.
2 All labs have embedded writing and communication instruction to satisfy WA state communications requirements.
3 Satisfies WA state quantitative/computational requirements.

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 11,634
$ 13,738
$ 26,111
Books
$ 1,441
$ 1,441
$ 1,441
Course Fees
$ 644
$ 644
$ 644
Institutional Fees
$ 784
$ 784
$ 3,727
Supplies and Materials
$ 400
$ 400
$ 400
Total Costs
$ 14,903
$ 17,007
$ 32,323

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

  • Melody Fyre
    Melody Fyre
    Electronics Eng Technician
    B.S., Evergreen State College
    Melody.Fyre@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7133
  • Douglas Stewart
    Douglas Stewart
    Electronics Eng Technician
    Vocational, Spokane Community College; B.S., University of Washington
    Douglas.Stewart@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7131
  • Susan Williams
    Susan Williams
    Electronics Eng Technician
    A.A.S., Spokane Community College; B.S., M.Ed., Eastern Washington University
    Susan.Williams@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7136

This program is designed to prepare students for employment in the specialized field of biomedical electronics in a hospital or in the medical electronics industry.

The curriculum has been planned to give comprehensive training in circuit analysis, laboratory techniques and the use of modern test equipment. A balanced study of peripheral subjects that make the biomedical equipment technician unique also is included. These subjects include fundamentals of physics, chemistry, physiology, medical terminology, hospital ethics and hospital safety. The curriculum provides special lectures and laboratories in repair and preventive maintenance of medical electronic equipment.

Graduates are prepared for employment as entry–level biomedical equipment technicians.

To qualify for an associate in applied science degree, students must successfully complete five quarters of study including the additional required courses (chemistry and physics) and the six and seventh quarter biomedical sequence. The clinical practicum is available during summer quarter only.

The goal of the program is to provide the health care field with biomedical equipment technicians who have a thorough understanding of electronic fundamentals; a practical ability to design, construct and troubleshoot electronic circuits; and knowledge about the theory of operation, physiological principles, and the safe and practical applications of biomedical equipment. As there are a limited number of clinical sites in the Spokane area, students must be willing to go out of town to an available clinical site.


 

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Request Info

Michelle Grover

APLED Department Chair
Michelle.Grover@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7191

 

Kim Rose

Pathway Specialist
Kim.Rose@scc.spokane.edu

 

Bill Rambo

Academic Counseling Liaison
Bill.Rambo@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7038

 

Alaynah Hardesty

Workforce Transition Specialist
Alaynah.Hardesty@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7398

 

Susan Williams

Department Chair
Susan.Williams@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7136

 

Michelle Grover

APLED Department Chair
Michelle.Grover@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7191