Reasons for Earning Medical Equipment Technician Associate Degree
A medical equipment technician associate degree prepares students to run, repair and assume responsibility for various types of machinery, such as echocardiograms. The degree program focuses on the technologies that make these pieces work and what is needed to keep them running optimally. The degree will instill the technical knowledge to go into a variety of fields, including equipment repair for other industries. Additionally, with time, and possibly additional training, graduates can go onto managerial positions within this or a related field.
Career Related Information
Occupational Outlook for Medical Equipment Technicians
The field of medical equipment technology is expected to grow about 15 percent through 2014, according to CareerInfoNet at www.careerinfonet.com. The site estimates that there will be 33,600 positions nationally in the field in 2014.
Salary Information for Medical Equipment Technicians
According to CareerInfoNet, the median income for medical equipment technician is $39,600. Training level, geography and facility size, however, all play an important piece in the compensation puzzle.
Degree Specifics
Typical Courses in a Medical Equipment Technician Associate Degree
To complete a degree in medical equipment, students will have to learn about both the technology and the medical elements to diagnostic machinery. To that end, students will need to take classes in:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Technology
- Electronics
- Medical Terminology
- Science
- Math
- Communications
Skills Obtained in a Medical Equipment Technician Associate Degree
Students who are in medical equipment associate's degree programs will learn a great deal about technology, so many of the skills they come away with will be hi-tech. Some of the possible skills students will acquire in this degree program may include the following:
- Medical principles
- Communication skills
- Critical-thinking skills
- Decision-making skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Computer skills
- Equipment testing, repairing and inspection skills
- Record keeping skills
- Teaching and equipment demonstration skills
- Calibration and troubleshooting skills
- Comprehension skills (blueprints, manuals)
