Biomedical Equipment Technology major
Biomedical Equipment Technology: courses, careers, and where to study
Biomedical Equipment Technology trains you to install, calibrate, troubleshoot, and repair the medical devices and clinical systems hospitals depend on to deliver safe patient care.
Biomedical Equipment Technology applies basic engineering principles and hands-on technical skill to the devices used in healthcare, from patient monitors, infusion pumps, and defibrillators to imaging equipment, ventilators, and sterilizers. Coursework blends electronics, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology with the practical procedures the field runs on, including instrument calibration, performance and electrical safety testing, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting with multimeters and biomedical analyzers, reading schematics and service manuals, and documenting work for regulatory and quality records. Students also learn procurement, installation, and acceptance testing of new equipment, networking and connectivity basics for devices tied into hospital systems, and the standards and infection-control rules that govern work in a clinical setting. Where Biomedical Engineering centers on designing and developing new medical devices, this field focuses on keeping the devices already in service accurate, safe, and running.
Most students enter through a certificate or associate degree at a community or technical college, and many gain supervised clinical or co-op hours before working in hospitals, clinics, imaging centers, third-party service companies, or for device manufacturers. There is no single nationwide license to repair medical equipment, but voluntary certifications exist for biomedical equipment technicians, and some imaging or radiation-related work carries additional requirements, so it is worth confirming what employers and your state expect. A program is preparation, not a guaranteed job. Pay and demand vary by employer, region, the kinds of equipment you are trained to service, and your experience, and advancement often comes from specializing in imaging or laboratory systems or moving into supervision over time.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of medical equipment repairers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $62,630 and projects employment to grow about 12.9% from 2024 to 2034; an associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Biomedical Equipment Technology maps to CIP 15.0401, Biomedical Technology/Technician, within the ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS family. The official definition:
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers engaged in developing biological or medical systems and products. Includes instruction in instrument calibration, design and installation testing, system safety and maintenance procedures, procurement and installation procedures, and report preparation.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Biomedical Equipment Technology is awarded as
Of the 1,413 Biomedical Equipment Technology credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate55%778
- Associate41%580
- Bachelor's4%51
- Graduate<1%4
CampusPin does not have enough states reporting this field to say whether the mix changes from state to state. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Electronics fundamentals, including AC and DC circuits, analog and digital signals, and reading schematics
- Calibrating and performance-testing clinical devices such as patient monitors, infusion pumps, and defibrillators
- Electrical safety testing and leakage measurement to clinical and regulatory standards
- Preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair using multimeters and biomedical test analyzers
- Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology as they relate to how devices interact with the body
- Procurement, installation, and acceptance testing of new medical equipment
- Medical device networking and connectivity basics within hospital information systems
- Infection control, equipment sterilization practices, and clinical safety procedures
- Documentation, work-order tracking, and recordkeeping for quality and regulatory compliance
Typical careers
- Biomedical Equipment Technician
- Medical Equipment Repairer
- Calibration Technician
- Imaging Service Engineer
- Field Service Technician (Medical Devices)
- Clinical Engineering Technician
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 medical equipment repairers median $62,630).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Biomedical Equipment Technology, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Equipment Repairers | $62,630 | 7,300 | +12.9% | Associate's degree |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $77,390 | 5,700 | +1.5% | Associate's degree |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $65,040 | 1,400 | +4.7% | Associate's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 3 of these 3 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Biomedical Equipment Technology does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Biomedical Equipment Technology major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Biomedical Equipment Technology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Biomedical Equipment Technology department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Biomedical Equipment Technology program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Biomedical Equipment Technology credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- College of Biomedical Equipment TechnologyTX · 198
- San Diego Miramar CollegeCA · 89
- MiraCosta CollegeCA · 88
- Santiago Canyon CollegeCA · 86
- Solano Community CollegeCA · 81
- Texas State Technical CollegeTX · 79
- San Jacinto Community CollegeTX · 76
- Santa Ana CollegeCA · 55
- Southern California Institute of TechnologyCA · 48
- Los Angeles Mission CollegeCA · 47
- Madisonville Community CollegeKY · 41
- Fullerton CollegeCA · 39
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Biomedical Equipment Technology credentials were awarded
3 states have a distinct enough set of Biomedical Equipment Technology colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Biomedical Equipment Technology schools by state
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in California
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in Florida
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in Georgia
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in Illinois
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in Maryland
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in Massachusetts
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in New York
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in North Carolina
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in Pennsylvania
- Biomedical Equipment Technology in Texas
Related majors
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering applies engineering to medicine and biology, designing medical devices, imaging systems, and biomaterials, for students who want to improve healthcare through technology.
Electrical Engineering Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology is a hands-on, applied major in building, testing, and maintaining electrical and electronic systems for students who prefer real hardware over heavy theory.
Mechatronics
Mechatronics integrates mechanical parts, electronics, sensors, and control software so students learn to build, test, and maintain automated systems like robots and production lines.
Industrial Maintenance Technology
Industrial Maintenance Technology trains you to install, troubleshoot, and repair the machinery that keeps factories and plants running, from motors and pumps to conveyors and hydraulics.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Biomedical Equipment Technology degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Engineering & Architecture careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Installation & Repair careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Biomedical Equipment Technology degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Biomedical Equipment Technology path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.