How to Become a Dialysis Technician in San Francisco
A dialysis technician, sometimes called a hemodialysis technician, is an allied health care professional who is responsible for helping to operate kidney dialysis machines and to work with patients who are coming to a treatment center for kidney dialysis. Training for this work is among the shortest amount of required training in the health care profession, but working as a dialysis technician in California does require certification from the board of health.
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Instructions
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Becoming a Dialysis Technician in San Francisco
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Have a high school diploma. In order to be trained as a dialysis technician, you will need to have a high school diploma. If you do not have one, study up and take the test to get a GED (general equivalency diploma).
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Find the closest dialysis technician training program that is approved by the California Department of Public Heath. Check the Resource below. There are several available in the San Francisco Bay area. Some of the programs will be offered directly be dialysis facilities whereas others originate from colleges or universities.If you hope to advance your career in the future with further education, it may make the most sense to choose a program offered by a college so that you can get credits for your dialysis technician training.
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Complete the training program. Expect to spend a minimum of six weeks in training, during which time you will need to study theory information as well as spend time in a clinical setting.
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Fill out the application for certification as a hemodialysis technician and send it in to the Department of Public Health. You will receive confirmation that you can officially call yourself a Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT).
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Locate a job as a hemodialysis technician and begin acquiring experience. You will need to complete 30 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) every four years to maintain your certification.In order to fulfill the continuing education requirement, you can take courses related to hemodialysis from your local college or university, from the California Board of Registered Nurses (or similar organizations), or in the form of in-service training at your place of employment. Keep documentation of all your continuing education courses (sign up sheets or report cards) as the licensing board conducts random audits and may ask for proof of your CEU hours.
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Tips & Warnings
Career advancement may be possible if you acquire additional training in allied health care, such as if you go to nursing school while working as a CHT, in which case your CHT experience could benefit you becoming a dialysis nurse and taking on more responsibility.
You can seek additional certification, such as by taking the CCHT (Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician) exam through the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission in order to boost your resume, but this is not required.
Always make sure that any training program you are considering is approved by the health department, as you will not be able to work as a certified hemodialysis technician if you complete training through a non-approved program.
