Top 10 Medical Engineer Certifications

Certifications are important for medical engineers in the job market because they demonstrate an engineer's knowledge, proficiency, and commitment to the profession. They provide assurance to employers that the engineer is qualified to work in a medical engineering role. Certifications also help medical engineers stand out from other applicants by demonstrating their expertise and dedication to their field. Additionally, certifications can open up opportunities for advancement and higher pay as employers may view certified individuals as more reliable and capable professionals. Finally, certifications can provide access to exclusive professional networks, which can be invaluable for networking purposes and gaining insights into new technologies or industry trends.

The purpose of this article is to review and explain the value of top certifications for medical engineers, and how they can help further their careers.

What are Medical Engineer Certifications?

Medical engineering certification is a process that helps to ensure that engineers who work in the medical field are qualified and competent to perform their duties. This certification process is typically administered by a third-party organization, such as the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The certification process involves a comprehensive review of an engineer's qualifications, experience, and training. This review is designed to assess an engineer's knowledge and ability to practice safely and effectively in the medical field.

By obtaining medical engineering certification, an engineer can demonstrate their commitment to safety, quality, and excellence in their work. It also serves as a signal of trustworthiness for employers who are looking for qualified individuals to work on healthcare projects. Certification can provide engineers with increased job opportunities in the industry and may even be required by certain employers or organizations. Furthermore, it can help engineers stay up-to-date on changes in technology or regulations related to their profession. Ultimately, having this certification can help ensure that engineers are providing safe and effective solutions when it comes to healthcare systems and devices.

Pro Tip: When looking to become certified as a medical engineer, make sure you are familiar with the necessary qualifications and regulations related to your specific field. Additionally, it is important to research any continuing education requirements in order to maintain certification.

Related: What does a Medical Engineer do?

Top 10 Medical Engineer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Medical Engineers today.

1. Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE)

A Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) is a professional certification offered by the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of expertise in the field of clinical engineering and demonstrate a commitment to excellence. The CCE program provides an opportunity for engineers to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of medical device safety, risk management, technology management, and patient care.

To become certified as a CCE, applicants must meet certain educational requirements and pass an examination. Applicants must have either a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science from an accredited college or university or five years of experience in clinical engineering. In addition, applicants must also complete at least 30 hours of continuing education credits within the last three years prior to applying for certification.

The CCE exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as medical device safety, risk management, technology management, patient care, and other related topics. The exam is administered twice a year at various locations throughout the United States.

The cost to apply for certification is $450 USD plus any applicable taxes. This fee covers the application fee and exam fees. Once certified as a CCE, there are annual maintenance fees that must be paid in order to maintain active status with the ACCE.

2. Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET)

Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) is a professional certification for biomedical equipment technicians. CBET certification is offered by the International Certification Commission (ICC), and is recognized as the industry standard for demonstrating proficiency in the field of biomedical equipment technology.

The CBET certification program requires applicants to have a minimum of two years of experience in the field, or completion of an accredited program in biomedical equipment technology. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as safety, troubleshooting, installation and maintenance.

It typically takes about six months to prepare for the CBET exam and complete all requirements for certification. During this time, applicants must demonstrate their knowledge through successful completion of an online practice exam and submit a portfolio documenting their work experience.

The cost for taking the CBET exam varies depending on where you take it, but usually ranges from $400-$600 USD. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with submitting your application and portfolio materials to ICC.

3. Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician (CDRT)

A Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician (CDRT) is a professional who has been trained and certified to properly reprocess, or clean, medical devices for reuse in healthcare facilities. The certification is issued by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM).

The certification process involves completing an online application, passing an exam with a score of 70% or higher, and paying the associated fees. The cost of the exam is $125 for IAHCSMM members and $175 for non-members. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within two hours.

To become certified, applicants must have at least one year of experience working as a medical device reprocessing technician in a healthcare facility or have completed an accredited training program in medical device reprocessing. After obtaining certification, CDRTs must renew their credentials every three years by completing continuing education requirements set forth by IAHCSMM.

4. Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is a professional certification offered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). It is designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of healthcare quality. The CPHQ certification is recognized as the gold standard for healthcare quality professionals and is held by more than 25,000 individuals worldwide.

To become certified, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass an exam administered by NAHQ. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as healthcare quality management, performance improvement, patient safety, risk management, data analysis and more.

The cost of the CPHQ exam varies depending on whether or not you are an NAHQ member. For non-members, the fee is $395 USD; for members, it is $295 USD. The exam can be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center or online through ProctorU.

It typically takes two to three months to prepare for the CPHQ exam; however, this timeline can vary depending on your level of experience and knowledge in healthcare quality management. To prepare for the exam, applicants should review study materials provided by NAHQ and take practice tests to familiarize themselves with the format of the questions. Additionally, many employers offer training programs that can help prepare employees for the CPHQ exam.

5. Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM)

Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in the field of healthcare risk management. This certification is offered by the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM).

The CPHRM certification program consists of four steps:

1. Eligibility Requirements: Individuals must meet certain eligibility requirements, including at least three years of experience in healthcare risk management and/or related fields, as well as completion of an approved course in healthcare risk management.

2. Exam Preparation: Individuals must complete an approved exam preparation course prior to taking the CPHRM examination.

3. Examination: The CPHRM examination consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and covers topics such as legal and regulatory issues, organizational structure and processes, patient safety, quality improvement, and financial management. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete.

4. Certification Maintenance: To maintain their CPHRM certification, individuals must participate in continuing education activities every two years and pay an annual renewal fee.

It typically takes between six months and one year to complete all four steps required for CPHRM certification. The cost for the entire process varies depending on the individual’s circumstances but typically ranges from $2,000-$4,000 USD.

6. Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS)

Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) is a certification program offered by HIMSS, the Health Information and Management Systems Society. It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of knowledge and expertise in healthcare information and management systems.

To become certified, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements. These include having at least three years of experience working in the field of healthcare information or management systems, or having completed an approved educational program related to the field. Applicants must also pass an exam that covers topics such as health information technology, data standards, privacy and security, project management, system design and implementation, analytics and reporting, and organizational change management.

The CPHIMS certification process typically takes six months to complete. During this time, applicants must complete the application process, take the exam, submit their documentation for review by HIMSS staff members, and receive notification of their successful completion of the program.

The cost for the CPHIMS certification program varies depending on whether you are a member of HIMSS or not. For non-members it costs $495 for the exam fee plus $150 for processing fees; for members it costs $395 for the exam fee plus $150 for processing fees.

7. Certified Professional in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CPHPS)

Certified Professional in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CPHPS) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated proficiency in the field of healthcare privacy and security. This certification is offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

The CPHPS credential requires a minimum of two years of experience in healthcare privacy and security, either as an employee or consultant. To qualify for the exam, candidates must also complete an approved educational program, such as AHIMA’s Certified Professional in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CPHPS) program. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as laws and regulations, risk management, data governance, technology, incident response, and more.

The exam takes approximately three hours to complete. Candidates must pass the exam with a score of at least 70% to earn their CPHPS credential. The cost of the exam is $395 for AHIMA members or $495 for non-members.

8. Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS)

Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) is a certification program offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Health Nurses (NBCOHN). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities related to patient safety. The CPPS credential is intended to demonstrate an individual’s commitment to excellence in patient safety.

The CPPS certification requires successful completion of an online examination that tests knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of patient safety. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three hours to complete. To be eligible for the CPPS certification, applicants must have completed a minimum of two years of experience working in a healthcare setting or have completed at least one year of formal education related to patient safety.

The cost for taking the exam is $395 USD, which includes the application fee and exam fee. Once you pass the exam, there is an annual maintenance fee of $50 USD due each year to maintain your certification status.

9. Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)

A Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) is a professional certification for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree in health information management and passed the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) exam. This certification is designed to demonstrate expertise in managing patient health information, including medical records, data analysis, and privacy regulations.

To become an RHIA, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree in health information management from an accredited college or university. Once you have completed your degree, you must then pass the AHIMA exam to receive your certification. The exam consists of four sections: Health Data Content and Structure; Regulatory Requirements; Information Technology; and Organizational Management.

The cost of the RHIA exam varies depending on the state where you are taking it. Generally speaking, it costs between $350 - $400 to take the exam. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with registering for the exam or taking a review course prior to taking it.

Once you have passed the RHIA exam, your certification will be valid for three years before needing to be renewed. To maintain your RHIA certification, you must complete continuing education credits every two years and pay an annual renewal fee of around $200 - $250.

10. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

A Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a professional credential that recognizes an individual’s expertise in managing, maintaining, and analyzing patient health information. This credential is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

The RHIT program consists of two parts: a formal education program from an accredited college or university and passing the RHIT certification exam. The formal education program typically takes two years to complete, but can be completed in as little as one year depending on the school. The courses cover topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, coding systems, healthcare reimbursement systems, legal aspects of health information management, data analysis and quality improvement methods.

To become certified as an RHIT, individuals must pass the RHIT certification exam administered by AHIMA. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as medical terminology, coding systems, healthcare reimbursement systems and legal aspects of health information management. To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have completed a formal education program from an accredited college or university with at least 60 semester hours in health information technology or related courses.

The cost for taking the RHIT certification exam varies depending on whether you are a member of AHIMA or not. For non-members it costs $299 while members pay $249. In addition to this fee there may also be additional fees associated with registering for the exam such as background checks and fingerprinting.

Do You Really Need a Medical Engineer Certificate?

The answer to whether or not you need a medical engineer certificate depends on your specific career goals and the requirements of the job. If you are looking for a job in the medical engineering field, then having a certificate may be beneficial as it will demonstrate your knowledge and experience in the area. Depending on the type of job you are applying for, some employers may even require that you have a certificate in order to be considered for the position.

Having a certification also shows that you have taken the time to learn about the profession and can demonstrate your commitment to it. This can help set you apart from other candidates who may not have taken steps to learn more about engineering. Additionally, certifications provide evidence of your skill level and can help prove to potential employers that you are qualified for certain positions.

However, if you do not plan on pursuing a career in medical engineering, then having a certificate is likely unnecessary. While it may still be beneficial to acquire knowledge about this field, spending time and money on acquiring a certification may not be worth it if there is no immediate use for it. Ultimately, whether or not you decide to pursue a medical engineer certificate should depend on what your career goals are and whether or not having one will help further them.

Related: Medical Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Medical Engineer Certifications

1. What is a medical engineering certification?

A medical engineering certification is an internationally-recognized credential that verifies the knowledge and skills of medical engineers. It demonstrates that professionals have the expertise necessary to work in this field effectively and safely.

2. How do I become certified as a medical engineer?

In order to become certified as a medical engineer, you must first complete an accredited program in medical engineering or a related discipline. After completing your program, you will need to pass an exam administered by a professional organization such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) or the International Society for Medical Engineering (ISMET). Once you have passed this exam, you will be awarded your certification.

3. What are the benefits of becoming certified as a medical engineer?

By obtaining a certification in medical engineering, you can demonstrate your knowledge and skills in this field to potential employers and customers. This can help you stand out from other job applicants and increase your earning potential over time. Additionally, having a certification can provide opportunities for career advancement within the industry.

4. Are there different types of certifications available?

Yes, there are several different types of certifications available for medical engineers depending on their level of experience and specialization within the field. For example, some certifications focus on specific areas such as biomedical device design or clinical engineering while others cover broader topics like healthcare technology management or safety standards compliance.

5. How often do I need to renew my certification?

The specific requirements for renewing your certification will vary based on which organization issued it originally but typically involve either taking additional courses or passing another exam every few years in order to maintain valid status.