For many people with kidney problems, dialysis keeps them alive. An important part of dialysis is the dialysis technician, who helps ensure everything is going smoothly and working properly.
To become a dialysis technician, you'll need to meet specific requirements. Keep reading to learn more about the career of a dialysis technician and what requirements you need to meet to become one.
What Is a Dialysis Technician?
When someone's kidneys are not functioning properly, they may be required to go through dialysis. Dialysis is a treatment that helps your body remove extra fluid and waste from your blood.
There are different types of dialysis, but all require being hooked up to a machine that performs the duties that kidneys are supposed to perform.
Dialysis technicians are primarily responsible for these machines, though they also assist patients.
The job duties of a dialysis technician may include:
- assembling dialysis machines
- disassembling and sterilizing dialysis equipment
- drawing and analyzing patient blood
- ensuring dialysis machines are working properly
- explaining dialysis procedures to patients
- taking patients' vitals
- monitoring patients before, during, and after their dialysis treatment
- supporting patients during their dialysis treatment
Dialysis technicians work as part of the nephrology team alongside the nephrologist, who is a doctor who specializes in kidney health, and renal dialysis nurses.
The most common places for dialysis technicians to work are in hospitals or dialysis centers. Other places of employment may include clinics, nursing homes, or other long-term care facilities.
Requirements to Become a Dialysis Technician
To work as a dialysis technician, you'll need a certain level of education and dialysis technician training. You may also need certification.
Each state sets its own requirements for dialysis technicians, so it's important to check with the state you live in to see what requirements you need to meet.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has its own regulations for dialysis technicians. CMS is responsible for reimbursing dialysis facilities about 80% of the costs of dialysis.
If a facility wants to be reimbursed, its staff must meet CMS requirements, even if those requirements are more stringent than what the state requires.
Facilities can also set their own requirements for dialysis clinics, so long as they still meet state or CMS standards.
Below, we've outlined the basic requirements needed to become a dialysis technician.
Education Requirements to Become a Dialysis Technician
Generally speaking, the minimum education requirement for dialysis technicians is a high school diploma or the General Educational Development (GED) equivalent.
Most states don't set regulations around dialysis technicians, but some require a high school diploma or GED. On top of that, CMS requires that dialysis technicians have a high school diploma or GED.
Some states don't set a requirement for education, but do require that technicians are nationally certified. To become certified, you'll typically need a high school diploma or GED.
It's possible that an employer may prefer that you have an associate degree or certificate in dialysis technology or hemodialysis technician.
These programs are most likely to be found through career or technical colleges or medical training centers. Some are even offered in a mostly online format.
Most certification programs take a few months to earn and include a mix of classroom learning and hands-on clinical experience.
Training Requirements to Become a Dialysis Technician
Training is required to work as a dialysis technician, but training requirements vary by state, by certification, and by employer. Specific training requirements are also set by CMS.
Often, employers will offer dialysis technician training to new dialysis technicians. Certificate and training programs are also available through career colleges and medical centers.
Some states have specific topics that training must cover, but don't have requirements for where the technician gets their training.
CMS requires that dialysis technicians have completed an approved training program under the direction of a registered nurse.
The program should focus on the operation of kidney dialysis equipment and machines, providing direct patient care, and communication and interpersonal skills.
The training program must cover the following topics:
- principles of dialysis
- care of patients with kidney failure, including interpersonal skills
- dialysis procedures and documentation, including initiation, proper cannulation techniques, monitoring, and termination of dialysis
- possible complications of dialysis
- water treatment and dialysate preparation
- infection control
- safety
- dialyzer reprocessing, if applicable
Certification Requirements to Become a Dialysis Technician
In most cases, certification is required to work as a dialysis technician.
There are two primary bodies that certify dialysis technicians in the United States: the Board of Nephrology Examiners for Nursing and Technology (BONENT) and the Nephrology Nursing Certifying Commission (NNCC).
Board of Nephrology Examiners for Nursing and Technology
BONENT offers the Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician (CHT) credential.
To qualify for this certification, you must:
- submit your official high school diploma
- have at least six months of nephrology patient care experience or have completed a BONENT-approved training program
- be currently employed at an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facility
- pass the certification exam
The exam covers five major domains of practice and tasks performed in the scope of hemodialysis technology. These are:
- education and professional development
- infection control
- machine technology
- patient care
- water treatment
BONENT also offers a Certified Hemodialysis Bio-Medical Technician (CHBT) credential and a Certified Hemodialysis Water Specialist (CHWS) credential.
Nephrology Nursing Certifying Commission
The NNCC offers a Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) credential.
To qualify for this certification, you must have:
- a high school diploma or GED
- completed a training program for clinical hemodialysis technicians that included both classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience
- submitted either the name of your current hemodialysis employer or information about your training program, including the number of hours spent in clinical, hands-on patient care
- passed the certification exam
The certification exam tests knowledge, comprehension, and application in four practice areas.
These are:
- clinical
- technical
- environment
- role
An advanced certification is also available for technicians with at least 5,000 hours and five years of experience.
Become a Dialysis Technician
To become a dialysis technician, you'll need an education, training, and likely a certification. With the information above, you can start your path toward becoming a dialysis technician today.
