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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. State the characteristics of electronic components and circuits.
  2. Calculate circuit parameters.
  3. Demonstrate proper safety procedures.
  4. Construct electronic circuits.
  5. Use electronic test equipment to evaluate and troubleshoot electronic circuits and biomedical equipment.
  6. Explain career related regulatory requirements.

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 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.
 
Successful completion will be determined by meeting the following criteria:

  • A student must achieve an overall grade point average of 2.75 in all the required electronics classes, biomedical classes, and required 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
Note: upon review, the department chairperson and/or Technical Education Dean may waive any or all of the previous criteria when extenuating circumstances arise.

Program Map for

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Total Program Credits: 115


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ELECT133
Computer Systems  
4
ELECT134
Computer Systems Lab  
2
ELECT225
Internet of Things   1
4
ELECT226
Internet of Things Lab  
4
Total Credits
 
14

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
APLED121
Applied Written Communication   2
4
ELECT111
Circuit Theory 1  
5
ELECT112
Circuit Theory I Lab  
4
ELECT113
Electronics Math I   3
5
Total Credits
 
18

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ELECT121
Circuit Theory II  
5
ELECT122
Circuit Theory II Lab  
3
ELECT123
Electronics Math II   3
5
PHYS 100
Introductory Physics   4
5
Total Credits
 
18

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CHEM&121
Introduction to Chemistry with Lab   4
5
ELECT131
Solid State Devices  
5
ELECT132
Solid State Devices Lab  
3
ELECT211
Digital Concepts  
5
ELECT212
Digital Concepts Lab  
3
Total Credits
 
21

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
APLED125
Employment Preparation   1
3
ELECT215
Linear Devices  
4
ELECT216
Linear Devices Lab  
3
ELECT221
RF Communications  
4
ELECT222
RF Communications Lab  
3
Total Credits
 
17

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ199
Medical Terminology for Biomedical Equipment Technology   5
2
BIOEQ242
Physiology for Biomedical Equipment Technology   5
3
BIOEQ251
Biomedical Instrumentation Patient Monitoring and Clinical   5
5
BIOEQ252
Biomedical Instrumentation Laboratory   5
4
Total Credits
 
14

Seventh Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOEQ271
Biomedical Equipment Technology Clinical Rotation  
9
BIOEQ272
Biomedical Seminar  
4
Total Credits
 
13

1 APLED 125 and one credit of imbedded Humanities instruction (globalization of electronics) in ELECT 225 Internet of Things are structured to meet Humanities requirement.
2 APLED 121 may be substituted by any course or combination of courses approved by the instructional dean. APLED 121 meets the WA State Communications Requirement. It is recommended that students starting fall quarter should take APLED 121 during summer quarter to lighten their credit load for the third and fourth quarters.
3 ELECT 113 and ELECT 123 meet the WA State Computational requirement.
4 It is recommended that students starting fall quarter should take APLED 121, CHEM& 121, and PHYS 100 during summer quarter to lighten their credit load for the third and fourth quarters.
5 This course is offered every odd year, spring quarter only.

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 11,266
$ 13,697
$ 25,297
Books
$ 150
$ 150
$ 150
Course Fees
$ 1,639
$ 1,639
$ 1,639
Institutional Fees
$ 3,747
$ 3,747
$ 3,747
Total Costs
$ 16,802
$ 19,233
$ 30,833

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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Douglas Stewart

Douglas.Stewart@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7131