There are many ways for a biomedical technician to obtain or further their education. Obviously, on the job training (OJT) is related to specific circumstances and provides experience with the equipment at hand. OJT is a valid and beneficial source of knowledge that can be complemented with training and education.

Traditional college classes, private teaching facilities and even on-line courses are available to all biomedical technicians and, while they cannot all offer hands-on experience, they can add a substantial impact to a resume.
There are many local colleges and universities which offer biomedical courses (too many to site here) as well as a couple with transfer programs in which students attend classes in their local area and transfer the credits into their biomedical program. Once the student has transfers in the appropriate courses, they receive their degree.

Thomas Edison State College offers associate and bachelor programs in biomedical electronics. Their degrees have a strict curriculum that can be completed locally or by correspondence. Thomas Edison also allow students to complete the prescribed courses in the curriculum at other locations and have the transcripts sent to the registrar. TESC also offers video, audio, and correspondence courses, and telecourses. TESC does accept military credit for those veterans who are medical equipment repairs, information can be found at the military's education website (http://www.soc.aascu.org/socad/91A.html) or at the college website: http://www.tesc.edu/prospective/undergraduate/areas.php/areas.php?section=degreeprogs#B.

On a more traditional note, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (www.iupui.edu) also offers associate and bachelor-level programs at its campus but in addition has a certificate program that can be completed online.
This program includes just four courses. There are some prerequisites, so look into this course closely before enrolling. The certificate offered is aimed toward laboratory equipment. The courses involved do transfer into IUPUI's degree programs, allowing the student to move easily toward a degree.

DeVry University (www.devry.edu ) has initiated a biomedical technology program which is gradually being added to all of its major campuses. With its national reach, biomedical classes should soon be available almost anywhere.
Other educational resources available are targeted toward working biomeds who are either studying for certification or looking for ways to earn credit toward recertification.

Scientific Enterprises (www.scientificenterprises.com) has for years offered a correspondence program. The program is sold in individual modules, and students can purchase just the courses pertaining to their needs. This program has approximately 30 biomedical separate modules. Scientific Enterprise's courses all have continuing education units offered with them. There is a test (or tests) included with each module which is to be completed and sent to Scientific Enterprise's staff for grading. Credit is then awarded upon successful completion of the module.

Private schools have formed over the years which offer specialized training in various areas. Imaging seems to be the most popular. Radiologic Service Training Institute (www.rsti-training.com) has been training x-ray service professionals for over twenty years. They have also has put together a correspondence course that is specifically written for certification on imaging equipment. There are nine graded modules based on the outline for the certification exam. The courses comprise discussions of anatomy, film processing, radiograph techniques, and biomedical equipment.

If time and budget allows, RSTI and DICTEC (www.ditecnet.com) both offer excellent training classes on general and model specific imaging equipment. If diagnostic ultrasound training is sought Conquest Imaging (www.conquestimaging.com/training) offers basic theory and multi vendor training.

Other types of training range from endoscope repair offered by Matlock Endoscopic (www.matlockendo.com) to medical laser repair courses hosted by the Laser Training Institute (www.lasertraining.org).

All of the mentioned independent training institutions teach basic theory, provide hands-on practice and offer their graduates telephone support in the field. With the innumerable training opportunities for biomedical technicians, the ones included here are just a representative cross-section of a much larger educational base. Aside from these general and modality focused courses, many manufacturers themselves provide the means to obtain training directly from them.

On the job training was once the most common means of learning the biomedical profession. Yet, now with the variety of training available, OJT may soon give way to technicians with more formalized education and skills. Whether obtained in a classroom, on-line, or by correspondence, a biomedical degree is available to all technicians. To complement a degree, specific skills can be honed via independent training facilities, or by manufacturers' courses. As with any technical profession, the proper mix of theory and experience equips the service person with confidence and competence to master the trade.

This story is from Glen L. Wolfe CBET CET EHF a DOTmed user since February 2005 and Manager of Biomedical Services at Trace Services Inc. in Bloomingdale, Illinois.