Dialysis Technician Certification Programs

Dialysis technicians work with patients suffering from kidney failure. When a person's kidneys fail, or begin to fail, the patient must receive dialysis treatment. During dialysis, the patient's blood runs through a machine that works to filter the blood the way properly functioning kidneys would filter it. Dialysis technicians perform most of the basic work in a dialysis unit, under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. There are numerous training programs available to students that provide the needed education to work as a dialysis technician.

Certificate Programs

Vocation and technical schools, as well as community colleges, offer dialysis technician certificate programs. Some medical facilities and hospitals may also offer training programs. Certificate programs vary in length depending on the school, but students can complete many programs in about one year. For most programs, the only admission requirement is that a prospective student has a high school diploma or GED. Training programs consist of both classroom instruction and hands-on training.

Acquired Skills

A student in a dialysis technician certificate program learns the operation, maintenance and basic troubleshooting of dialysis machines. Technicians also learn to train patients on the use of in-home dialysis machines that some patients may use in place of facility-based dialysis. In addition to skills directly related to dialysis, technicians learn about monitoring patient vital signs, maintaining medical records, disposing of medical waste properly, responding to medical emergencies, and working with patients in an empathetic manner. Most programs also certify students in first aid and CPR.

Certification Advantages

Dialysis technician certificate programs provide a student the ability to learn a useful skill that the student can use to acquire employment in relatively short period of time. Though many dialysis technicians learn the requirements of the position through on-the-job training, most employers prefer to hire applicants that are graduates from a certificate program, as those applicants will require less training. Most dialysis technician training schools provide placement assistance to graduates, helping them to find paid employment in a dialysis center.

State Certification

Some states require technicians to obtain state certification. Employers prefer to hire applicants with a current state certification as these applicants will require less training. Dialysis technician training programs will allow students to gain the required knowledge to pass the certification test in that state. Some programs may even offer specific classes regarding the state licensing test and provide certification testing on campus.