Biomedical Engineering Technology Internship

Course Description

ETS2940 is a supervised field internship in Biomedical Engineering Technology (BMET), classified under Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) taxonomy of Engineering Technologies > Specialty Engineering Technology. The course places students in an approved medical facility or healthcare technology management (HTM) environment where they apply classroom-acquired knowledge to real-world biomedical equipment operations. Students participate in facility orientation, biomedical engineering instrumentation theory, safety standards, hands-on preventive maintenance procedures, and medical equipment repair activities under the direct supervision of a qualified Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) or Clinical Engineer. The internship totals a minimum of 234 contact hours at the clinical site.

This course is a capstone experiential requirement in Florida's BMET Associate in Science (A.S.) degree pathway and aligns with the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) national standards for Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) professionals.

Learning Outcomes

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, all students are expected to demonstrate the ability to:

• Perform preventive maintenance (PM) procedures on clinical medical equipment in accordance with manufacturer specifications and facility protocols.
• Perform corrective maintenance and basic repair of electromechanical medical devices under supervision, including troubleshooting and parts replacement.
• Apply electrical safety standards (NFPA 99, OSHA, Joint Commission) to protect patients, staff, and equipment in a clinical environment.
• Accurately document work orders, maintenance logs, and equipment service records in the facility's computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Demonstrate professional conduct and effective communication with clinical staff, nurses, physicians, and biomedical supervisors in a healthcare setting.
• Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and clinical workflows to understand the purpose and proper operation of assigned equipment.
• Participate in facility orientation, infection control, and environment-of-care (EOC) training as required by the host institution.
• Demonstrate compliance with HIPAA, patient privacy regulations, and hospital policies throughout the internship experience.

Optional Learning Outcomes

Depending on the host facility and faculty arrangement, students may also:

• Assist with incoming inspection and acceptance testing of newly acquired medical equipment.
• Participate in medical device recalls or alerts management processes initiated by the FDA or equipment manufacturers.
• Gain exposure to medical device networking and cybersecurity practices for networked clinical systems (e.g., PACS, RTLS, alarm management systems).
• Assist with equipment inventory management and capital planning activities within the biomedical department.
• Observe or participate in clinical education sessions where biomedical staff train clinical users on the proper use and care of medical devices.
• Develop an understanding of regulatory compliance frameworks including CMS, FDA GMP, and The Joint Commission standards.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Facility Orientation and Environment of Care (EOC) — Hospital safety protocols, infection control, department structure, chain of command, and compliance training required by the host institution.
• Biomedical Equipment Identification and Inventory — Categories of clinical equipment (diagnostic, therapeutic, life-support, monitoring), equipment numbering, tagging, and CMMS data entry.
• Preventive Maintenance Procedures — Scheduled PM inspections, calibration, electrical safety testing (leakage current, ground resistance), and performance verification for assigned equipment modalities.
• Corrective Maintenance and Troubleshooting — Systematic fault isolation on malfunctioning medical devices, use of service manuals and schematics, repair verification, and return-to-service documentation.
• Electrical Safety Standards in Healthcare — Application of NFPA 99, OSHA, and The Joint Commission standards; use of electrical safety analyzers and patient safety testing equipment.
• Work Order and Documentation Management — Creating, updating, and closing work orders; writing equipment service reports; maintaining accurate maintenance histories in CMMS.
• Clinical Communication and Professionalism — Interfacing with nursing, clinical, and administrative staff; professional ethics; customer service in a healthcare environment.

Optional Topics

• Medical Device Networking and Cybersecurity — Introduction to networked medical devices, integration with hospital information systems (HIS/EMR), and basic cybersecurity hygiene for HTM professionals.
• Incoming Inspection and Acceptance Testing — Protocols for testing and commissioning newly received medical equipment prior to clinical deployment.
• Regulatory Compliance and Standards — Overview of FDA 510(k) process, CMS Conditions of Participation, and medical device recall management.
• Specialized Equipment Modalities — Exposure to imaging (X-ray, ultrasound), laboratory analyzers, infusion therapy, respiratory therapy, or surgical equipment as available at the host site.
• Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Administration — Equipment lifecycle management, capital planning, independent service organization (ISO) contractor relationships, and budgeting basics.

Resources & Tools

• AAMI Standards and Publications — Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation; industry standards for HTM practice (aami.org)
• CMMS Software — Computerized Maintenance Management Systems used at the host facility (e.g., TMS, Medigate, ServiceMax, or similar)
• Electrical Safety Analyzer — Fluke Biomedical 601 Pro or equivalent device used for patient safety testing per NFPA 99
• Manufacturer Service Manuals and Technical Documentation — Device-specific repair, calibration, and PM guides provided by OEMs
• OSHA 10 / Healthcare Safety Training — Workplace safety orientation materials required by the host facility
• CBET Candidate Handbook — AAMI's guide to the Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician examination (aami.org/certifications/cbet)
• Florida Biomedical Society (FBS) — State professional association providing networking and continuing education for BMET professionals in Florida
• Bay Area Association for Advanced Medical Instrumentation (BAAMI) — Regional HTM professional association supporting BMET programs in Florida

Career Pathways

Successful completion of ETS2940, as part of the BMET A.S. degree, prepares graduates for entry-level and advancing roles in the healthcare technology management field. Employment settings include:

• Hospital and health system biomedical / clinical engineering departments
• Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) providing field service for medical devices
• Independent Service Organizations (ISO) managing contract biomedical services
• Medical device manufacturing and quality assurance
• Public health agencies and government healthcare facilities (VA, military)
• Medical device sales and technical support

Graduates are encouraged to pursue the Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) credential administered by AAMI, which requires an associate degree or higher in a technology or science field plus two years of full-time BMET work experience. Additional certifications include the Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES) and the Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM) for career advancement into leadership roles.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

This internship course provides the qualifying clinical work experience that counts toward eligibility for the AAMI Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) examination — the national standard credential for BMET professionals. The CBET exam is a three-hour, 165-question closed-book examination covering anatomy and physiology, medical equipment theory, troubleshooting, safety, and regulatory knowledge.

Students who complete this internship as part of the SPC BMET-AS degree program are aligned with a curriculum developed in coordination with the AAMI national certification framework and reviewed by the Bay Area Association for Advanced Medical Instrumentation (BAAMI), the Florida Biomedical Society, and industry partners including BayCare Health Systems.

SCNS Internship Series Note

As a course in the _900–999 SCNS series, ETS2940 is not automatically transferable between Florida institutions and must be evaluated individually by the receiving institution. Students should consult their academic advisor regarding transfer applicability prior to enrollment.