How to Become a Dialysis Tech
Kidney dialysis technicians, more commonly known as renal dialysis or hemodialysis technicians, work in dialysis centers and hospitals under the supervision of registered nurses. Duties include equipment setup, patient preparation, and administration of treatment to patients with kidney failure or chronic kidney disease using venipuncture.
These technicians are responsible for monitoring patients, checking blood pressure, and obtaining pertinent health information. Techs may spend many hours standing, and some may experience negative reactions from dealing with individuals who have chronic or end state kidney issues on a daily basis. Alternately, some techs may feel extremely rewarded by the small positives they can bring to these patients' lives with a smile and friendly conversation.
Career Requirements
What kinds of degrees do dialysis techs need? How much does a dialysis tech make? Familiarize yourself with some of the basic information you will need for this career:
| Education Required | Certificate or associate's degree |
| Certification | Required; each state has its own certification methods and preferences |
| Experience | Experience working in a healthcare setting is helpful |
| Key Skills | Patience, attention to detail, good interpersonal communication skills; use and maintenance of dialysis equipment |
| Salary (2020) | $40,001 per year (Median dialysis technician salary) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Payscale.com
Now let's check out the career steps for dialysis techs.
Career Steps
Step 1: Decide Whether the Job Is Right for You
Kidney dialysis technicians often work with extremely ill patients. Technicians can work day or night, and some hospitals schedule technicians for 12-hour shifts. Extensive patient interaction requires technicians to establish excellent communication.
Step 2: Complete a Dialysis Technician Training or Degree Program
Dialysis technician training is usually offered at the certificate level, although associate degree programs are also available. Certificate programs are generally two semesters long and award a technical diploma or certificate upon graduation. Academic coursework and clinical experiences teach students about medical terminology, patient care, and operation of dialysis equipment. Some programs require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification and a year of high school or college biology as prerequisites.
An associate's degree program includes coursework in basic hemodialysis principles and procedures, medical terminology, anatomy, and diagnostic procedures, as well as a required number of hours in clinical experience. These programs typically take two years to complete.
Step 3: Take the Dialysis Tech Certification Exam
Dialysis technician certification requirements vary from state to state. Some require that technicians become certified by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT), the certifying body that administers the exam for the Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) designation. Another option is to become certified by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC), which awards Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) certification upon successful completion of a written exam.
Prerequisites for taking the BONENT exam include a high school diploma, as well as one year of nephrology patient care experience or completion of a BONENT-accredited education program. Exam questions cover patient care, water treatment, dialyzer reprocessing, machine technology, and personal development.
For the NNCC exam, prerequisites include a high school diploma or GED, successful completion of a nephrology technician training program and documented proof of how many hours the applicant has spent in a clinical setting, either as part of a training program or employment experience.
Step 4: Join a Professional Organization
The National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists (NANT) is a professional organization that offers its members opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge of the field. In addition to its yearly symposium, NANT offers complimentary subscriptions to industry-related publications, reduced fees for monthly webinars and contacts within the industry. NANT also posts volunteer opportunities for its members to be involved in its emergency preparedness network.
To recap, with a postsecondary education, experience, and certification, a dialysis technician can make a median annual salary of $40,001 by monitoring renal dialysis patients, checking blood pressure, and obtaining pertinent health information.
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FAQs
Is There a Demand for Dialysis Technicians?
Now that you understand how to become a dialysis technician, is doing so worthwhile? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report specifically on dialysis technicians, but they do report that between 2019 and 2029, healthcare practitioners and technical workers (including dialysis technicians) should expect to see 8% job growth in their field. This faster than average growth may be attributed in part to the aging population of the United States and the need for more people to receive treatments like the ones renal dialysis and hemodialysis technicians provide.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Dialysis Technician?
Because the educational requirements to become a dialysis tech include a certificate or associate's degree rather than a bachelor's or advanced degree, becoming a dialysis tech is a relatively fast process. Including formal education, clinical training, and certification, becoming a dialysis technician generally takes one to two years, or in some cases three if obtaining an associate's degree.
What Skills and Duties Do Dialysis Technicians Have?
The following skills are important for dialysis technicians:
- Attention to detail
- Excellent bedside manner
- Ability to follow complex instructions
- Excellent understanding of patient health and safety standards
- Strong communication skills
- Manual dexterity
Job duties of dialysis technicians include:
- Setting up dialysis equipment
- Monitoring patients throughout dialysis
- Providing local anesthesia to patients
- Communicating with patients about their care
- Ensuring health and safety standards, including sterilization, are followed at all times
Where Do Dialysis Techs Work?
Dialysis technicians work in doctors' offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and specialized renal care clinics. Many different medical establishments employ dialysis techs. They work under the supervision of healthcare professionals and do not own their own practices as they are not qualified to make diagnostic claims or plan patient care without a physician. Most dialysis technician work is done in a clinical environment, but some may be done in an office setting or from home when it comes to administrative work.
What Related Careers Are There?
Dialysis technicians have similar careers to many different healthcare support workers. Ultrasound technicians, blood test technicians, and other medical lab technologists also operate technology in order to provide healthcare but are not typically qualified as nurses or doctors. Renal doctors have similar expertise to dialysis technicians in that they study the kidneys, but their educational requirements are much more substantial than the requirements for dialysis technicians.
