If you are searching for a new job but need help figuring out where to start, consider working as a dialysis technician in Oregon.
The requirements are simple, and it can become a rewarding job.
There is plenty of job security as renal failure is rising in the US.
I have provided a friendly, easy-to-understand guide for the requirements, salary, and answers to your common questions below.
Read on to learn more.
Page Navigation
Requirements
Education
The minimum requirement in the education field for a dialysis technician in the Oregon area is a GED certificate or high school diploma.
This is to make sure you have a basic understanding of common knowledge before venturing on.
You must pass a dialysis technician certification such as NNCO or BONENT.
These are required to give you skills and intensive knowledge to hook up a dialysis machine and patient care.
Application Fee and the Process
The process is straightforward in getting your dialysis technician certification.
Oregon laws require you to do the following:
- Submit an application to the Oregon Health Authority
- Show proof that you have completed an approved education course
- Pass a certificate on a national level
You can expect a $50 fingerprinting cost, a $50 admin fee, and a $200 for the cost to sit for the exam.
Further costs can be expected if you are looking at doing a few different certifications to move up the ladder from a dialysis technician.
State and National Certifications
In Oregon, you must have a state certification.
To apply for this, you will need a high school diploma or GED.
A national certification is optional in Oregon, but depending on who you work for, they can request that you have one.
Getting it is a good idea; if an employer will only hire you based on this certificate, you don’t need to waste time sitting for it.
You will get priority over jobs and better job prospects.
Some workplaces will pay more for this certificate, and it gives you more flexibility to work in other states if that’s something you want to do.
The national certifications that you can sit for are:
- the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)
- the National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO)
- the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
Dialysis Technician Schools in Oregon
Alabama State University
Alabama State University has an online program that helps prepare you to work as a dialysis technician in Oregon.
The program introduces you to renal failure, kidney diseases, fistulas, and how to hook up, maintain, and take a patient off the machine when their treatment time is finished.
The cost of the course is $4,190, but you have the option to pay as a lump sum or installments.
The course lasts 12 months, and you must complete 205 education hours.
You can learn at your own pace as long as you finish within 12 months.
You will also study CPR training and get your certificate for it at the end of the course.
Tyler Junior College (online)
Tyler Junior College offers an online course for dialysis technicians.
The cost of this course is $990.00 and is done online.
You will still need to complete some clinical work experience requirements.
You can access 24/7 mentoring and support services, student exercises, ebooks, and course videos during the course.
Other accessories include resume writing and career guidance.
Other Links That Offer Training and Certification
Top 2 Schools in Oregon
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Alabama State University | 915 S Jackson St, Montgomery, AL 36104, United States |
| Tyler Junior College | Online |
Salary
The expected salary, according to salary.com, is $37,702, and it ranges between $34,389 and $42,091.
It can differ depending on where you work and what type of skills, certifications, and experience you have.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Dialysis Technicians in Oregon
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Portland | $39,067 |
| Eugene | $36,907 |
| Salem | $37,038 |
| Gresham | $39,018 |
| Beaverton | $39,067 |
| Hillsboro | $38,943 |
| Medford | $36,570 |
| Springfield | $36,825 |
| Bend | $36,491 |
| Corvallis | $36,604 |
Regional Salary in Oregon
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 40 | $73,560 | $35.37 | $100,160 | $38,730 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 120 | $72,990 | $35.09 | $98,020 | $39,470 |
| Corvallis, OR | 100 | $64,740 | $31.13 | $94,370 | $39,580 |
| Eugene, OR | 290 | $68,980 | $33.16 | $97,980 | $38,010 |
| Medford, OR | 150 | $80,010 | $38.47 | $99,490 | $46,170 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,010 | $72,030 | $34.63 | $106,200 | $44,720 |
| Salem, OR | 160 | $69,340 | $33.34 | $101,250 | $40,230 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need to Complete Clinical Experience?
Yes, you must complete clinical training for all courses completed in Oregon.
Certain parts of being a dialysis technician, such as needling a patient, cannot be done online, and hands-on experience is vital.
You will work under the supervision of another staff nurse who will help you.
Hands-on training allows you to prepare for the working world and gets you out learning about what you will be doing.
Each education program will require you to spend a certain amount of hours doing work experience in a clinical setting.
In some cases, you can gain a job out of it if you can show during the work experience you are confident and can handle the job responsibilities.
How Do I Start My Dialysis Tech Career in Oregon?
The process is simple.
Once the education part is finished, you can start your career.
You must have a GED or high school diploma, pass an education program, consent to a criminal check, and gain your certificates.
Where Can I Work As a Dialysis Technician in Oregon?
You can work in many places, from hospitals to dialysis clinics and even the home setting.
Many patients can do it from home, and this will require a dialysis technician to be with them throughout the time they are on the machine.
Each treatment lasts for 4-5 hours and often two to three times a week.
Some nurses work in a home setting two days a week, then do some in a hospital setting the remaining days.
It is really up to you.
There are no limitations.
Can I Go Any Further than Working as a Dialysis Technician in Oregon?
Yes, you can.
If you study and start working as a dialysis technician but soon decide it’s not for you, instead of wasting the education, put it to other uses.
You can become a kidney specialist or even educate those wanting to be a dialysis technician.
There are courses for those who want to do home dialysis themselves, and these patients will need to be educated to learn how to do most things for themselves, like connecting the machine, needling themselves, and maintaining the machine.
