Medical Appliance Technicians
Medical appliance technicians construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Appliance technicians are primarily responsible for performing maintenance and safety checks, maintaining repair logs, gauging equipment, and examining parts on machines such as electronic wheelchairs, surgical robots and nuclear imaging.
For a medical technician course, one needs an associate degree in biomedical engineering technology or a related field, although some specific jobs may require a bachelor's degree. You will benefit by taking anatomy, science, math, and shop (such as woodworking and mechanics) in high school or college. After college, you should attain an internship to become familiar with the different kinds of equipment used in a medical office.
Medical appliance technicians usually work for medical supply manufacturers and laboratories, and also for private care hospitals and clinics and earn decent medical appliance technician salaries. Other medical appliance technician job titles include orthotic and prosthetic technician, certified pedorthotist, and registered prosthetic orthotic technician.
For a successful career as a medical appliance technician, being familiar with tools and knowing how to use them is a necessity. You should also have an aptitude for technical skills, and enjoy the challenge of troubleshooting. If you feel you have the skill sets to succeed, capability for hands-on work, the knack to deliver quality service in multiple situations, work well under pressure, and communicate effectively, the role of an appliance repair technician might be the right fit for you.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering Technology
- B.Tech Biomedical Engineering Technology
- Certificate Medical Equipment Technology
Tasks
- Fit appliances onto patients and make any necessary adjustments.
- Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
- Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools that will be required.
- Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- Instruct patients in use of prosthetic or orthotic devices.
- Take patients' body or limb measurements for use in device construction.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
- Drill and tap holes for rivets and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.
- Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
Progression Routes
READY FOR MORE?
Subscribe to our Premium package and you'll unlock a wealth of extra information about your favourite careers and gain access our library of immersive 360° VR careers experience.
As a Premium user you'll find out more about the day-to-day demands of any career, what you could earn and, importantly, receive expert advice on study routes, preparation expenses, and where & what to study to fulfil your potential.