Clinical engineers assess medical technology needs and oversee medical equipment in healthcare settings. A bachelor’s degree in engineering with specific clinical engineering training is required. Certification is not necessary but can make one more employable. Good analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, as well as empathy and ethics, are important. Clinical engineering is distinct from biomedical equipment technician roles.
Clinical engineers work in healthcare environments, assessing medical technology needs and providing oversight of medical equipment. The field is typically classified as a subfield or branch of biomedical engineering. To become a clinical engineer, a bachelor’s degree or higher in an engineering field with specific training in clinical engineering is usually required. It is not necessary for certification to work as a clinical engineer, but it can make you more employable by signaling employers that you have reached a level of competence in the profession. In the United States, certification to become a clinical engineer is awarded by the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE).
Clinical engineering is an evolving field and university degree programs specifically in the subject are rare. Many people who become clinical engineers earn their degrees in biomedical engineering or other engineering disciplines or study engineering technology. Some study math or science.
Once you’ve decided on an undergraduate field and worked toward it, plan to take additional courses to learn how you can take the engineering principles you’re learning and apply them to a clinical setting. These courses should include classes in human factors engineering, medical terminology, systems analysis, physiology, and more. Some engineering degrees, especially in the field of bioengineering, offer clinical engineering internship opportunities that teach students about medical operations and protocols.
If you decide to pursue certification to become a clinical engineer, there are several paths you can take. You can earn certification by having one of several combinations of education and experience. An example is earning a bachelor’s degree or higher in an engineering field and then working in engineering for four or more years, including three years in a clinical setting. Once you have the necessary education and experience, you can apply for clinical engineering certification, which involves an application review process and written and oral tests.
Qualities that are important if you want to become a clinical engineer include good analytical skills, problem-solving skills, and strong communication skills. Having empathy for people and a strong sense of ethics is important when working in the healthcare industry. Curiosity about how things work and creativity will also come in handy when you become a clinical engineer.
One job that is sometimes confused with that of a clinical engineer is the role of the biomedical equipment technician. Both jobs are important, but they are distinct from each other. The clinical engineer works at a broader level, assessing and managing technology needs and analyzing problems. The biomedical equipment technician plays the most hands-on role of medical equipment maintenance and repair.
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