For many people, dialysis technicians and their craft are a lifeline when their bodies struggle with renal problems.
As a dialysis technician, you work with nephrologists and nurses to administer hemodialysis treatment to patients with kidney problems and look after the equipment in line with the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Texas is home to over 53000 dialysis patients.
This is a high-demand environment for dialysis technicians in large cities and smaller towns.
The state is the sole member of Network 14 of the End-Stage Renal Disease National Coordination Center (ESRD-NCC), a nationwide effort launched in 1973 to make hemodialysis treatment more accessible to patients via Medicare.
Page Navigation
- How to Become a Dialysis Technician in Texas, Step-by-Step
- Complete a Dialysis Technician Course
- Work as a Dialysis Technician
- Take a National Dialysis Technician Exam
- Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
- Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician (CHT)
- Certified in Clinical Nephrology Technology (CCNT) & Certified in Biomedical Nephrology Technology (CBNT)
- Take the Texas Department of Health Services Exam
- Dialysis Technician Schools in Texas
- Dialysis Technician Salary in Texas
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Become a Dialysis Technician in Texas, Step-by-Step
The state Health and Safety Code requires a certification course at an accredited education institution and a training program at your first workplace.
Unless you have four years of experience working directly with nephrology patients, all pathways to becoming a dialysis technician in Texas require having either finished high school or a General Education Diploma (GED).
Complete a Dialysis Technician Course
Many educational institutions in Texas offer high-quality training for dialysis technicians.
Most of these programs are at least one year long, though shorter ones are available.
Some associate’s degrees in nursing are also accepted but take longer to complete.
Work as a Dialysis Technician
To become a certified dialysis technician, you must work as one.
All major certification agencies for hemodialysis technicians require you to have work experience before taking the exam.
During this period, you will work under the supervision of a nurse, doctor, or an accredited dialysis technician.
Take a National Dialysis Technician Exam
As part of federal ESRD Rules & Regulations, hemodialysis technicians must earn a valid certification within 18 months of beginning work under this role.
This timer does not reset if you change workplaces and carry across state lines, so if you move to Texas to work as a dialysis technician and have performed this role in another state, that time counts towards the limit to obtain one of the certificates below.
Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
The most common exam is the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT), administered by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC).
Besides a high school diploma or GED, you need a training program for hemodialysis technicians and have training and work experience at a healthcare facility offering nephrology care within the last 18 months.
The NNCC suggests this previous work experience in the field be either six months long or 1000 hours.
The exam fee for the CCHT is $225, with a certificate valid for 3 years and renewable for $100 if the holder worked at least 3000 hours as a dialysis technician during this period.
This recertification option is also valid if you have the equivalent of 30 or more hours in any education program relevant to dialysis patients.
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician (CHT)
The Board of Nephrology Examiners, Nursing and Technology (BONENT) offers the Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician (CHT) exam.
The requirements are the same as those for CCHT, with the difference being that BONENT can waive the patient care experience should you complete a BONENT Approved Program in the 24 months before you take the exam.
The CHT costs between $225 and $250, and applications missing any required information or documents incur a $65 penalty.
To keep your CHT certificate current, you pay BONENT an Annual Certification fee of $60 (or $210 should you pay four years in bulk).
CHT holders must recertify every four years, no longer than 30 days from the expiration date of the original certificate.
There are no fees to renew the certification if you have worked 40 hours as a dialysis technician anywhere during the last four years and stick to the deadlines.
Certified in Clinical Nephrology Technology (CCNT) & Certified in Biomedical Nephrology Technology (CBNT)
The National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO) has two examinations for dialysis technicians, one focused on clinical and the other on biomedical applications.
Both qualifications are accepted by the National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists (NANT) for practicing purposes.
To take the CCNT, you must have completed a one-year training program as a dialysis technician or have a shorter course with relevant work experience.
The CBNT does not have experience waivers for training.
The CBNT test covers more areas, favoring those who want the door open to biomedical work as a dialysis technician.
Mind your deadlines: the NNCO only holds two examination dates each year!
Take the Texas Department of Health Services Exam
The Texas Department of Health Services also holds an exam.
Only after obtaining at least 80% on this exam can you begin practicing as a dialysis technician without a supervisor present.
Dialysis Technician Schools in Texas
The range of options for dialysis technician courses in Texas is wide but here are some of the most recommended programs on offer:
University of Texas at El Paso & University of Houston
Length: 1 Year
Cost: $3595
Format: Online
This dialysis technician program sets you up for entry-level positions in the field where you can receive the on-site training required for full certification, though it does not meet the requirements for all states.
The program includes a lab kit for practical exercises and offers clinical experience upon completion to help you meet the base requirements.
Texarkana College
Length: 6 Months
Cost: $1299
Format: Online
Texarkana College and Health Ed Today offer this short program that covers most aspects of dialysis machines required to become a professional.
Lab work is part of the curriculum, but clinical experience is not always available, making this course more suited for those with some previous experience with nephrology patients.
University of Houston Downtown
Length: 1 Year
Cost: $1199
Format: Online
The UHD dialysis technician course offers good value for a year-long course.
Despite having less lab work, the course meets the certification requirements to get your first job experience as a dialysis technician before taking a national exam.
Tyler Junior College
Length: 1 Year
Cost: $999
Format: Online
Although less prestigious than previous options, the Tyler Junior College online dialysis technician certification program is balanced.
The course includes lab work and prepares you for national certification exams, though it is lacking in clinical experience.
Global Health Education Network
Length: 10 Weeks
Cost: $3925
Format: Online
The Global Health Education Network dialysis technician training program is the most expensive on the list, but it is the shortest option.
Like the Texarkana College offering, this is ideal if you already have some job experience in the field that can waive course length requirements since it allows you to jump into the job market much faster than other alternatives.
Top 5 Schools in Texas
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of Texas at El Paso & University of Houston | 4302 University Drive Room 203. Houston, United States |
| Texarkana College | 2500 N Robison Rd, Texarkana, TX 75599, United States |
| University of Houston Downtown | 1 Main St, Houston, TX 77002, United States |
| Tyler Junior College | 1400 E 5th St, Tyler, TX 75701, United States |
| Global Health Education Network | 1311 Marketplace Dr ste 180, Garland, TX 75041, United States |
Dialysis Technician Salary in Texas
Based on data from Intuit, the average base salary of a dialysis technician in Texas is $38,500 per year, in line with the national average.
Other websites show higher results between $44,200 and $47,472.
In many areas of Texas, a slightly lower salary is offset by much more affordable living costs than in the largest cities.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Dialysis Technicians in Texas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Houston | $38,156 |
| Dallas | $37,256 |
| San Antonio | $36,165 |
| Austin | $36,881 |
| El Paso | $32,800 |
| Fort Worth | $36,540 |
| Arlington | $36,480 |
| Corpus Christi | $35,197 |
| Plano | $37,256 |
| Garland | $37,256 |
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 150 | $49,050 | $23.58 | $65,040 | $31,860 |
| Amarillo, TX | 190 | $58,310 | $28.03 | $93,600 | $34,130 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 2,020 | $56,900 | $27.36 | $81,610 | $35,890 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 180 | $52,770 | $25.37 | $78,520 | $28,920 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 210 | $45,450 | $21.85 | $63,840 | $23,850 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 530 | $45,030 | $21.65 | $69,090 | $27,670 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 330 | $52,030 | $25.02 | $74,510 | $30,520 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,430 | $57,240 | $27.52 | $83,470 | $35,410 |
| El Paso, TX | 670 | $46,700 | $22.45 | $67,500 | $28,490 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 6,250 | $56,440 | $27.13 | $82,560 | $35,380 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 420 | $55,930 | $26.89 | $75,300 | $35,950 |
| Laredo, TX | 80 | $47,090 | $22.64 | $71,020 | $23,340 |
| Longview, TX | 130 | $51,870 | $24.94 | $78,240 | $29,740 |
| Lubbock, TX | 370 | $54,080 | $26 | $83,250 | $29,110 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 480 | $45,380 | $21.82 | $68,420 | $28,100 |
| Midland, TX | 90 | $52,840 | $25.41 | $76,650 | $31,840 |
| Odessa, TX | 80 | $63,140 | $30.36 | $81,660 | $34,110 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 2,340 | $54,270 | $26.09 | $78,230 | $33,920 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 80 | $54,540 | $26.22 | $79,140 | $33,690 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 100 | $45,340 | $21.8 | $69,970 | $25,980 |
| Tyler, TX | 290 | $51,070 | $24.55 | $76,080 | $29,000 |
| Victoria, TX | 100 | $53,040 | $25.5 | $75,410 | $29,280 |
| Waco, TX | 200 | $55,110 | $26.5 | $78,330 | $34,150 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 100 | $48,310 | $23.23 | $72,950 | $30,630 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you become a dialysis technician in Texas without a high school diploma or GED?
Yes, but only if you have four years of experience working with dialysis patients.
How many tests are required to become a dialysis technician in Texas?
There are three rounds of certification.
In addition to completing a course and taking a national certification exam, Texas also requires a state examination.
Are dialysis technicians in demand in Texas?
Yes.
Texas hosts over 53,000 dialysis patients, and the demand for qualified technicians has averaged an annual growth of around 15% in recent years.
