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Dialysis technicians are an essential part of patient care teams for people with kidney failure, end-stage renal disease and other medical conditions that damage the kidneys. Dialysis removes waste from the blood when the kidneys can no longer function properly. Some patients need dialysis for the rest of their lives, while others use it while they wait for a kidney transplant.
Working as a dialysis technician can be an incredibly rewarding experience if you enjoy helping people facing medical challenges. This article explores how to become a dialysis technician, including the education requirements and certifications you need to successfully secure a position in the field.
What Does a Dialysis Technician Do?
Dialysis technicians play an integral role in patient care by monitoring patients during dialysis. They evaluate patients before and after treatment, educate them on the dialysis process and answer questions regarding their treatment. They also set up, maintain and clean dialysis machines and equipment to ensure a clean and safe environment for patients.
Because they work directly with patients dealing with sensitive challenges, dialysis technicians must be tactful and empathetic. They also spend most of the day on their feet, and some may travel to different locations.
Dialysis technicians find work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, physicians’ offices and dialysis centers.
How To Become a Dialysis Technician
Becoming a dialysis technician requires understanding issues related to the kidneys and other bodily systems, plus interpersonal skills to interact compassionately with patients. You don’t need to spend years in college to prepare for this career, but you must take a few specific steps.
Step One: Earn a High School Diploma
The first step to becoming a dialysis technician is to earn your high school diploma or GED® certificate. If you can’t provide proof of graduation, you might be able to achieve certification by completing four years of work experience.
Dialysis technicians fall under the umbrella of clinical laboratory technicians, and some of these positions require higher education. Some employers prefer an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Step Two: Complete Dialysis Technician Training and Certification
Research the certification requirements in your state. Many states stipulate that you must earn certification through a state or national program. You also need certification to work at a dialysis facility that participates in Medicare or Medicaid.
To earn certification, you must complete an accredited dialysis technician training program and pass an exam. The course should cover everything you need to know for the examination, including medical terminology, bodily system functions, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, chronic kidney disease, principles of hemodialysis and laboratory testing.
The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT) and the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) both administer certification examinations. We will dive into these certification options later in this article.
Step Three: Gain Clinical Experience
Gaining relevant experience by working directly with patients is a crucial step in your dialysis technician training process, and your training program should incorporate supervised clinical hours.
Some states, such as Ohio, require you to complete several months of patient care before taking the certifying exam.
Dialysis Technician Salary and Job Outlook
For salary and job outlook data, we rely on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While the BLS doesn’t report specifically on dialysis technicians, it includes them under salary data for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.
These workers earned a median annual salary of $57,380 in May 2022, the BLS reports. The highest-paying jobs were found in outpatient care centers and hospitals, with a median annual wage of around $62,500. On the lower end, technicians working in physicians’ offices reported median earnings of $49,530.
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians will continue to be in demand over the next decade as the population of older adults increases. The BLS projects approximately 24,000 job openings in this field from 2022 to 2032. This amounts to an increase of 5%, a faster rate than the expected 3% growth across all jobs.
Certifications for Dialysis Technicians
As mentioned above, BONENT and NNCC offer certification for dialysis technicians. We explore both options, but you should check with these organizations to determine which certification is right for you.
BONENT Certifications
BONENT administers the certified hemodialysis technologist/technician (CHT) and certified hemodialysis biomedical technician (CHBT) exams. Applicants can choose between a paper exam or a computer-based test, which cost $225 and $250, respectively. In either format, candidates have three hours to answer 150 questions.
The CHT exam covers technical skills and knowledge in the following areas:
- Patient care
- Infection control
- Water treatment
- Machine technology
- Professional development and education
Topics covered in the CHBT certification include:
- Professional responsibilities
- Physical plant maintenance and life-safety
- Water treatment system management
- Maintenance of medical machines
- Quality assurance performance improvement
- Concentrate systems management
- Reprocessing of dialyzer
- Documentation
Regardless of which path you choose, you must recertify every four years. You can pay a $60 annual fee or prepay $210 to cover the duration of your certification.
NNCC Certifications
NNCC’s certified clinical hemodialysis technician (CCHT) distinction demonstrates your knowledge, comprehension and application of dialysis principles and concepts. The test covers four categories:
- Clinical activities related to dialysis procedures
- Technical activities, such as testing and troubleshooting equipment
- Environment activities that maintain a sanitary, safe facility
- Role responsibilities, including patient care and communication
Applicants pay a non-refundable $50 processing fee and $225 to take the exam. The three-hour test comprises 150 questions; candidates must get 74% correct to pass.
Becoming a CCHT benefits you at the beginning of your career, but after gaining more experience, you may want to pursue an advanced certification. The CCHT-A requires at least five years and 5,000 hours as a clinical dialysis technician, plus 30 hours of continuing education. This exam costs $225, plus a $50 application processing fee.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How To Become a Dialysis Technician
What is the top pay for dialysis technicians?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides salary data for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, including dialysis technicians. Of this category, the highest earners worked in outpatient care centers, with a median annual salary of $62,870. Overall, the top 10% of earners made more than $84,670.
Where do dialysis technicians make the most money?
Outpatient care centers paid the highest wages for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, including dialysis technicians. These workers earned a median annual wage of $62,870, the BLS reports. At a close second, technicians at general medical and surgical hospitals reported a median yearly salary of $62,470.
What are the prerequisites to becoming a dialysis technician?
If you want to become a dialysis technician, the typical prerequisites include a high school diploma or GED certificate, completion of an approved training program, certification and clinical work experience. However, requirements vary by state.