Clinical engineers assess medical technology needs and supervise medical equipment in health-care settings. Biomedical engineering is usually classified as a sub-field or branch of the field. To work as a clinical engineer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree or higher in an engineering field, as well as clinical engineering training. Although certification is not required to work as a clinical engineer, it can increase your employability by signaling to employers that you have achieved a certain level of competence in the field. The American College of Clinical Engineering awards certification to clinical engineers in the United States (ACCE).
Clinical engineering is a rapidly evolving field, with few college degree programs dedicated to the subject. Many clinical engineers have a background in biomedical engineering or other engineering disciplines, or have studied engineering technology. Some students major in math or science.
Plan on taking additional courses after you’ve decided on a degree field and are working toward that degree to learn how to apply the engineering principles you’re learning in a clinical setting. Human factors engineering, medical terminology, systems analysis, physiology, and other courses should be included in this curriculum. Some engineering degrees, particularly in the field of bioengineering, include clinical engineering internships that teach students about medical procedures and protocols.
There are several options for becoming a clinical engineer if you decide to pursue certification. You can get certified if you have a certain combination of education and experience. Earning a bachelor’s degree or higher in an engineering field and then working in engineering for four years or more, including three years in a clinical setting, is one example. You can apply for clinical engineering certification after you’ve completed the required education and experience, which includes an application review process as well as written and oral testing.
If you want to be a clinical engineer, you should have good analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills. Working in the health-care industry necessitates empathy for others and a strong sense of ethics. Curiosity about how things work, as well as creativity, will be beneficial to you as a clinical engineer.
The role of a biomedical equipment technician is frequently confused with that of a clinical engineer. Both jobs are critical, but they are not interchangeable. The clinical engineer is responsible for assessing and managing technology needs as well as analyzing problems on a larger scale. The biomedical equipment technician’s job entails servicing and repairing medical equipment in a more hands-on manner.