Program Overview
This Dialysis Technician program trains students for entry-level roles in dialysis centers, hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Graduates gain the technical skills to operate dialysis machines, monitor patients, and provide compassionate care throughout the dialysis process.
The program is an ideal starting point for individuals entering the healthcare field.
Additionally, this course is available as a continuing education or professional development opportunity for individuals looking to enhance their current roles in the medical field.
Entrance Requirements:
- You need to be at least 18 years old
- Minimum High School Diploma or Equivalency Diploma (GED)
Additionally, applicants must have completed a graduation certificate from a recognized program, such as the Patient Care Technician (PCT) program (with Phlebotomy and EKG), Medical Assistant (MA) program, Nurse Aide/Assistant (CNA) program, or another comparable medical training or education.
Dialysis Technician Duties May Include::
On a daily basis, a dialysis technician might perform the following duties:
- Operate the dialysis machine and ensure patient comfort
- Initiate and terminate the dialysis process
- Provide emotional and physical support before, during, and after the procedure
- Monitor patient well-being throughout the dialysis treatment
- Collaborate with doctors and nurses to provide effective care
- Play a key role in the treatment of renal disease
Certification:
After completion of the DT program from a vocational accredited school, a certification can be obtained at the state and national level. To receive national certification, dialysis technicians can go through one of several organizations such as the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) or the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT). National licensing requires that candidates work in the field for at least 1 year then pass an exam.
Job Outlook:
Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not give specific numbers for Dialysis Technicians, it does report that all medical laboratory technicians will have a projected growth of 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 24,200 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
This rate is above average when compared to other occupations.
There are several reasons for the rapid increase in the number of jobs. There are a large number of the population who are aging, and they will need treatments such as dialysis. In addition, a greater amount of people in this country now have access to medical care due to new insurance legislation. Those individuals will seek all types of medical services and this will create a demand for more medical professionals in all laboratory technician fields.
