How Much Does Dialysis Technician Training Cost?

$ 850

$ $ 14,200

$ $ $ 20,850

Get to work in the medical industry as a dialysis technician.

Specialize in the skills necessary to maintain and operate the machines required for dialysis.

Learn more about what a dialysis tech job looks like and how much money it costs for training and certification.

Then decide if you are a good candidate for dialysis technician training.

What is a Dialysis Technician and What Do They Do?

A dialysis technician is a medical professional involved with dialysis machines.

A dialysis machine filters human blood to remove waste.

This type of machine is required for dialysis treatment necessary for patients with kidney failure.

Generally, a dialysis technician works for a clinic that provides dialysis treatment in-house.

However, you could also work for a hospital or physician as a dialysis technician.

Training and certification is required in order to be eligible for employment.

What Does Dialysis Technician Training Entail?

As a dialysis technician, training includes hands-on experience and coursework done in person or online.

Students in a dialysis tech training program will learn how to safely operate kidney dialysis equipment.

In addition, they are taught how to assist patients using this equipment.

Students in dialysis technician training also discover how to clean and repair dialysis equipment.

Hands-on experience is required through clinical training in a hospital or laboratory setting.

A dialysis technician in the US must be certified by one of three agencies.

This can be a state agency, national certification program, or the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT).

How Long is Dialysis Technician Training?

School for dialysis technician training takes between one and two years to complete.

This typically includes approximately 200 credit hours.

Students may also pursue a two-year associate’s degree as a dialysis technician.

However, this is not a requirement.

Trade schools and vocational programs also train dialysis technicians and provide a diploma upon graduation.

Salary for Dialysis Technicians in the US

In the US, a dialysis technician earns approximately $40,000 a year.

This is based on the entry-level salary of $29,000, which is where most DTs start out.

At the upper end, the salary for a dialysis technician is $54,000 on average.

An hourly wage for the typical dialysis tech is $19.00.

However, with training and experience, you can expect your potential salary as a dialysis technician to increase.

How Much is Dialysis Technician School?

Here is a breakdown of the overall cost of dialysis technician school.

Note that as dialysis technicians, students are required to attend college-level courses in high-math and high-science subjects.

This includes human anatomy, medical terminology, and physiology classes.

You will be required to pass entry exams into some math and science courses to ensure you are prepared academically.

Remedial courses may be provided to first-year students who are not academically ready for high-level coursework.

What is the Cost of Tuition for Dialysis Tech Training?

The average cost of tuition for a dialysis technician training program is between $3,000 and $10,000 a year.

This amount is doubled for a two-year degree to $6,000 to $20,000 total in tuition and related expenses.

A trade school or vocational school will cost less than a traditional two- or four-year college or university.

This is based on school costs including matriculation fees and housing.

What is the Price of Dialysis Technician Materials?

While in dialysis technician training, students will also need to pay for laboratory fees.

These will be included in the school tuition and fees if they are attending a traditional college.

For students in 100 percent online coursework, they may have to pay separately to gain access to a medical lab for practice work.

How Much Are Certification Exams for Dialysis Technicians?

The average cost of certification for dialysis technicians is $200.

For example, the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) certification exam is $225.

The BONENT exam is $250 for students in the US and abroad.

Otherwise, the three main national agencies providing dialysis technician certification are:

• The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
• The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)
• The National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO)

Choose one of these certification exams to ensure you have the right credentials when applying for a job as a dialysis technician.

How Much Does Dialysis Technician Training Cost?

Becoming a dialysis technician takes approximately two years of school.

This includes the option of earning a college degree for training in this field.

Therefore, the cost of training is more expensive for dialysis technicians than other medical trades like patient access representatives.

The total cost for training and required certification is between $850 to $20,850.

This cost varies greatly and depends on whether you require a general education degree with your associate’s in the area of dialysis technician.

Key Takeaways

The total cost for dialysis technician training is widely varied ranging from $850 to $20,850.

This cost includes tuition to an online program or degree-seeking pathway.

In addition, you will need to pay for a certification exam.