r/BMET

Going to start off by saying that I fully understand the requirements of NFPA 99's electrical safety testing. But is it wrong of me to think that doing an electrical safety test on medical equipment that is brought in for a single operation, is a lot of unnecessary liability for the hospital biomed? I'm talking about equipment that gets brought in by the company for a single case or for a single doctor and leaves the facility usually by the next day or when the case ends. The responsibility should lie on the company that brings it and takes it away. For an in-house biomed to do a quick safety check on a piece of equipment that is not brand new and is exposed to much more wear and tear (transportation) seems like a liability to me.

Is there something I am missing? Imaging FSE in Texas pay range is listed at $60k-$80k. That seems like an industry low.

Is there a relatively low work load, or per diem, or bonuses you are getting that makes up the difference? I’ve seen some posts but many of them turn into rants about how GE sucks or Siemens sucks.

If you negotiate a $75k salary, what would you expect your total compensation to be in a year? Asking those that are familiar with Siemens specifically, I know that overtime can easily bring you up in W2 wages. Thank you all.

Does anyone here have experience working for Baxter in a field service type role?

I have a phone screening coming up, and I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what the work environment is like. I know the role involves driving a work van, but I’m curious what the day-to-day actually looks like.

How is the workload, management, travel/driving, work-life balance, and overall stress level?

Also, what salary do they typically offer for this kind of role? The posted range is $42,200–$59,400, but I’m wondering what people are actually being offered.

Any honest insight would help.

Hi there, I am a newcomer to this sub and also to the BMET field. As I write this, I am currently in school at a community college to get my associates degree in biomedical equipment technology. I have about a year to go until I graduate. I am super excited about this profession so far and am loving all of the classes I am taking!

A little background about me. I actually already have been through college and received a bachelors in computer science and have been working in the tech industry for the past 5 or so years. Long story short, I became immensely disenchanted with the career path I was on, and decided to just start over. I certainly didn't take this decision lightly, and I thought long and hard about why I loved CS in the first place and why that aspect of it which attracted it to me was forever changed. I grew to hate my time in CS after AI permanently altered software roles and teamwork, and I'll never look back. I was not fired, I left voluntarily.

What initially got me interested in BMET is I love repairing and maintaining electronics and have run a side business for many years servicing AV equipment, music gear, and TVs. I am very detailed oriented, and read the service manuals and schematics to ensure I complete the service procedures correctly.

I guess why I am writing is, I have a few questions and am seeking advice from folks who are experienced and well-seasoned. I am first of all curious if anyone else has made a pivot from another profession into Biomedical Technology. What was that change like for you? I'm also curious if it would help/hurt me to include my bachelors on a resume. I am fine acting like none of the CS ever happened if it would keep me from appearing overqualified, or maybe it would help me stand out? Finally, is there anything I need to be doing at this point other than taking the courses to give me the best chance at a job? I really appreciate your help!

Thanks so much for your time.

Just finished my Cbet test, and to say it was hard would be an understatement. Preliminarily results say I passed. Good luck to anyone taking it on the last two days.

Hello all. I’ve worked with Trimedx for 6 years and the past 2 years have been a nightmare. I’ve been looking for a new job and I recently got a call about a job opportunity from a company called United Imaging. They said that one of the companies that I had an interview with recommended me for the job. I did some research into them and had a few interviews with them. Everything that I’ve seen and heard has been great, but I had never heard or seen their equipment before and I want to see if anyone has experience working with them and their equipment. Is it worth while to leave Trimedx and work for United Imaging?

I've applied to over 40 positions in the past couple months with no luck! I don't understand. I have over 20 years in the military, specifically aircraft maintenance (avionics). I've only applied to Field Service Technician I or similar openings and I know I would be a great fit but I'm just not getting any interest.

I live in the panhandle of Florida and willing to relocate to anywhere in Florida (preference is central).

GE, Siemens, Phillips, etc..... all told me that they were going to move on with other candidates (automated emails).

Anyone have any tips? Ideas? Know of any openings? I just don't understand because I feel like I have everything and definitely experience when it comes to maintence, if not more.

I've been out of the job market for a long time, and have been in my current role for over a decade. Got contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn for a FSE II role in biotech. Went through the interview process and they offered me the position. They are offering $40/hr with OT and a guaranteed profit sharing bonus of 7%. Doing my research (asking AI), it says this is above the average for an FSE II. It's a pay cut from my current role but, the overall package seems better. Is this a fair/decent offer in the current market?

DOD Bmet training pipeline student(army reserve) graduating in 44 days, looking for Bmet or Bmet adjacent opportunities in San Francisco Bay Area/ Sacramento Area. I have tried applying Va hospital biomedical equipment support specialist as gs5/7, OEM biomed 1/fse apprentice and military bases contractor position, but were ghosted on all of them. What does a realistic expectation for an entry level Bmet opportunity look like in this area?

My state of OK doesn't have any BMET majors or programs. What is a good substitute? I have a BS in IT and will be going back to a community college in the fall. I also have 10+ years in low-voltage tech jobs dealing with slot machines, arcade games and redemption and currently cinema projectors, pro-audio, light networking. I'm 36 years old and make $52k. I'm looking for a higher salary.

I am debating between Associates in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a less strenuous Engineering Technology. Any of these could be transferred to another Bachelor's at a bigger university. The first 2 have several more math, physics and chem courses, not specialty classes.

Also would any medical classes be appropriate? Would that be something I'd list on my resume as just classes I've taken?

Thanks!

i’m looking to get into be BMET but maybe a less traditional approach. I’m 25 I live with my parents have 25k saved the past year by pretty much not going out question is could I do my local HVAC program as well PTA program because I have an undergrad in kinesiology and use those two incomes and maybe later be able to get a BMET job

or would I be better off going traditional biomedical equipment technology Two year associate program and draining my 25K in savings . for rent .

I guess my last and smartest option would probably be in the military, but that would require to grow a pair and then maybe stay local and do either the HVAC or the PTA program but the problem is I stepped my foot in the door for the PTA program before and I hated I’m just considering that one for the money to be honest.

I’m a potential career switcher looking to get into more hands on work that helps people. This career seems like a great fit for me. The only problem is that none of the community colleges near me (Denver) have a BMET certificate or associates program. I also don’t have any equivalent experience (I’ve been working data analytics desk jobs since I finished grad school).

Any recommendations for how to pursue the training required for entry level positions? Are the fully online programs good (like cbet.edu)? Is it better to do a related in-person associates (like electrical engineering or similar)? Thanks for any advice!

Hi. I was just wondering if anyone here who has worked for Fresenius, especially with dialysis machines, knows where I can get a service maintenance card for the 5008 series.

I've been working BMET on the vet side for 14 years for a large company. Vet side is interesting because you can be installing a CT scanner one day and then trouble shooting a Pelton and Crane OCR autoclave the next. Kind of a jack of all trades deal. I didn't think I'd be doing this till I retire but at this point I don't think I can go somewhere else and start over. I'm trying to violate the no job posting so sorry if this falls into that but any technicians in N. Illinois who are curious about the vet field shoot me a message.

Stay safe out there!

I am an ex music teacher trying to leave the music education field.

Outside of teaching music I have been most interested in becoming a BMET, but have also been considering other careers that involve either fixing things or helping people or both. Other than becoming a BMET I have been considering Medical Lab Technician and EEG Tech programs.

While I go back to school I will be supporting myself with a part time field service electronics repair tech job, as well as by substitute teaching and teaching the violin.

I am weighing the pros and cons of either getting an allied health degree versus coughing up for online CBET school. My main concern is how employable I will be in an adjacent field should I be unable to get a BMET job.

In this respect I feel that an allied health degree has a substantial advantage, I feel like the non BMET pathways it opens up are enjoyable fields that are quite lucrative. But I don't think I have a full sight picture of what employment with a BMET degree but no BMET job would look like.

Here's my point of view on my options:

Allied Health:

• Cheaper, local
• More versatile
• Attached to some other careers that look both tolerable and lucrative (MLT, EEG tech, rad tech, MRI)
• Less attractive to BMET employers
  • Though assuming this field service tech job goes well I will have a year or two of experience from it that I will be taking into BMET applications

CBET:

• More expensive but quicker
• More focused
• Don't know what non BMET employment with this degree looks like
  • I do quite enjoy repairing electronics
  • Employment could be less lucrative than allied health fallback options
• I definitely am vastly more interested in working as a BMET than the other options I have listed, it's definitely my main focus
• If my field service tech experience helps get me in the door, why double dip on an expensive and redundant degree?

Potential local EET associates?:

• Also cheap and local
• Could blend the benefits of both options
• Could also blend all of the drawbacks of both options
• Also don't know what non BMET employment looks like with this degree

What do you think? What would you do in my situation?

I remember one of our BMET 3s just casually doing PMs on mostly C-arm equipment and then taking general corrective repairs as they come in. He didn't really do PMs outside of imaging as far as I recall.

In terms of maximizing earning potential, whether it be at your next hospital job or promotion / end-of-year review. What OEM training is generally considered most beneficial to get closer to the ceiling of the pay range?

I'm thinking perhaps Draeger/GE anesthesia training? Other than that though, what else is considered valuable by biomed departments?

Does inhouse biomed/imaging hybrid positions always have a higher ceiling over general biomed even with specialty training?

Looking for some clarification here. Recently got accepted for an in person interview with American Red Cross and am I thrilled to have even been considered without the formal training/degree that's typically required for an entry level role. Hoping to nail interview(any tips welcomed). Main concern though is if I'll be able to use experience to apply to BMET II with title of repair tech. if it's not going to lead me to being at higher BMET role, I'm not sure if I should take it.