This article contains information about the Education Requirements for Biomedical Engineering, i.e if you wish to become a Biomedical Engineer, then this article will help you with the information you need in this field of study.
You need to understand the education requirements for Biomedical Engineering if obtaining a degree and becoming an Engineer in this field is your dream.
A degree in this field would be a good idea if you want to be at the backend of the technological aspect of medicine.
In this article Stay Informed Group have put together through the help of experts in this field the education requirement for Biomedical Engineers.
To make sure that you get this information in full, we have discussed the requirements from the High School level to the Doctorate level of education.
We understand that if one wants to be successful in this field of Engineering the person will need to understand the education requirements for biomedical engineering starting from high school to the doctorate level.
This does not necessarily mean that you must study till the doctoral degree level, but it is advisable to study a course to its final level as it will open you up to more knowledge and offer you an experiential understanding of the field.
Continue reading as you’re about to discover the education requirements for biomedical engineering, which would help any engineer in this field to understand what they need to become successful and recognised in this field of study.
Table of Contents
What is a Biomedical Engineer?
The entire field of engineering is a field of innovation – ideas presented have led to everything from skyscrapers and cars to aerospace and sonar. The field of biomedical engineering narrows its focus to innovative advancements that improve human health and healthcare at all levels.
All aspects of chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, chemistry, mathematics, computer science and engineering are intertwined with human biology in biomedical engineering to improve human health.
Biomedical engineers analyze and design solutions to biological and medical problems with the goal of improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care.
The increasing demand for biomedical engineers is mainly due to the general shift towards the use of machinery and technology in all aspects of life.
Traits of a Successful Biomedical Engineer
It is untrue to claim that all successful biomedical engineers share the same set of personality traits that set them apart.
Irrespective of the Education Requirements for Biomedical Engineering, In general, however, there are a number of characteristics that are sure to benefit individuals interested in becoming future biomedical engineers. For example, O*Net Online (2020) lists the following skills necessary for those wishing to fill the role:
Complex problem solving:
Biomedical engineers may face problems for which solutions are not immediately available and must be able to review the information at hand to develop and implement appropriate solutions.
Scientific knowledge:
As this career field is science and tech-based successful biomedical engineer must in general have a strong understanding of scientific methods and principles and they can be applied to the job. Biology, physics, general engineering and technology are the fields of science where biomedical engineers should be proficient in.
Judgments and Decisions:
When in a situation of multiple options, skilled biomedical engineers should be a person who can weigh the outcomes of each available option to ascertain the most reasonable option given the available resources.
Critical thinking:
In addition to having the ability to solve complex problems, biomedical engineers should be those that can use logic and reasoning to determine the route to take when determining a solution to a problem.
How much schooling for biomedical engineering?
There are two answers to this question as to how much schooling for biomedical engineering depends on how deep a student is willing to go in the field.
Generally, you only need to complete your high school studies and go on to obtain an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering.
That would be enough to officially be recognised as a biomedical engineer.
Why I said this depends on how deep a student wants to go is because some students would want to continue studying until they have obtained a doctorate in biomedical engineering while some students would just stop after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in the field.
But generally, a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering which takes about four years to complete is enough to become recognised in the field.
How long do Biomedical Engineers go to school?
How long a biomedical engineer goes to school still depend on if the engineer would want to obtain more qualifications in the field or just stop at a bachelor’s level degree-level.
As we have already stated, a student typically needs to obtain a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering to be qualified to be officially recognised in the field.
This degree takes about 4 years to complete, but in a situation where the student wants to obtain more qualifications like a masters or doctorate in the field the person would need to spend an extra 5 years in pursuance of these qualifications of which is included in the four years already spent obtaining a bachelor’s degree would amount to 8 years.
In details:
- Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering takes 4 years
- Master’s degree in biomedical engineering takes 2 years
- Doctorate in biomedical engineering takes 3 years
Therefore, after high school, you need to spend as long as 9 years to complete all the educational requirements for biomedical engineering.
What kind of education is needed for biomedical Engineering
The education requirements for Biomedical Engineering has officially been stated by the Bureau Of Labour Statistics.
It has been made clear that only a bachelor’s degree in the field would be enough for the engineer to start working and be recognised in the field.
But this is subjective as an individual you can still go on to obtain Masters and Doctorate in the field which would, in turn, open the individual up to more technical knowledge and advanced understanding in biomedical engineering.
What courses are required for biomedical engineering in high school?
If you are in high school and you have discovered that you have an interest in becoming a biomedical engineer then need to understand the education requirements from high school.
In high school, some of the courses that are required to pursue Biomedical Engineering in the university is to complete advanced placement science courses in biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics.
These courses are important as they would help aspiring biomedical engineers develop the mindset and skills to strive in the field.
You will complete classes in mathematics like calculus that would help prepare your mind for the calculations that would be needed going forward.
You also learn computer programming and mechanical drawing as a form of preparatory classes to equip you with the right skills.
Becoming a Biomedical Engineer – Role Requirements and Responsibilities
Anyone wishing to become a biomedical engineer needs specific education and licensing requirements.
First and foremost, anyone intending to work in this career field should begin their education requirements for Biomedical Engineering with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in biomedical engineering.
Of course, while an individual is not necessarily required to earn a degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), doing so is a qualifying requirement for professional engineer licensure, which can be a prerequisite for many jobs in the field.
Here, it should be mentioned that a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering is not a requirement to work in this capacity. Instead, students can complete a degree in another engineering field and then go on to further graduate degrees in biomedical engineering.
Overall, this may take more time, however, it can provide the individual with a broader perspective on general engineering concepts and a deeper understanding of biomedical engineering that he or she can use throughout their career.
According to Payscale data (2020), the annual salary range for biomedical engineers with a master’s degree is $3,000 to $10,000 higher than that of biomedical engineers with a bachelor’s degree.
Additionally, students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering may still benefit from pursuing a graduate degree in the discipline, as this will strengthen and deepen the understanding of the student.
Bachelor’s Degree education requirements for Biomedical Engineering
A four-year degree in undergraduate level in biomedical engineering is required before you can be recognized as a biomedical Engineer. This degree requires eight to nine semesters of coursework, which means it can take anywhere from three to five years.
Some classes that may be needed include an introduction to bioengineering, instrumentation systems, medical imaging, and microprocessor interface. It can cost anywhere from $16,100 to $19,700 for tuition, room and board, and books cost $900 to $3,600 more per year.
To be admitted into this undergraduate program, students must have a high school diploma or GED in addition to SAT or ACT scores. This is one of the education requirements for biomedical engineering and the program combine general engineering courses with biology and chemistry courses.
Here are some of the typical courses in this type of study program:
- Engineering
- Statistics and calculus
- Biology
- Physiology
- Organic chemistry
Masters degree education requirements for Biomedical Engineer
Acquiring a master’s or postgraduate degree in biomedical engineering can take 18 to 24 months after obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
Some of the courses students must take include imaging and biometrics, biomaterials, neuroengineering, and biomechanics.
Tuition can range from $16,299 to $ 40,400 per year. Books can cost anywhere from $600 to $2,400 more, and lab fees can range from $200 to $300.
In addition to these fees, students usually have to pay for accommodation and health insurance.
Typical courses in a graduate university for biomedical engineering are:
- Molecular biology
- Cellular biology
- Tissue engineering
- Pathology informatics
- Biomaterials
Doctorate education requirements for Biomedical Engineering
The highest level of education in biomedical engineering that can be achieved is a doctorate in this discipline. It can take two to three years to complete one of these courses.
PhD students in biomedical research under various aspects of medicine. Students typically must have completed a Masters degree (although only a Bachelor degree is required for some programs) to enrol and have satisfactory GRE scores.
Some courses that students are required to take include integrated biological systems, medical information systems, and artificial organs and prostheses.
Students looking to earn this degree can expect to spend approximately $42,400 annually on tuition, $2,000 on books and fees, and $12,000 on room and board. There may also be a graduation fee of around $5,000 that many schools charge.
This type of doctorate includes some of the following courses:
- Organ systems
- Physiology
- Biophysical chemistry
- Engineering biomechanics
Internships Education requirements for a Biomedical Engineer
Many students choose to train in biomedical engineering by doing an internship. This usually happens while you are working on a degree or shortly after you graduate.
These programs must be accredited by the American American Board of Engineering and Technology and can be conducted in a hospital or medical research laboratory. Students are typically not paid to complete an internship program and must provide their transportation, uniforms, and meals. Most internship programs last three to six months.
There are no licensing requirements that biomedical engineers must meet before starting work. These skilled workers do not have to meet any further training requirements to remain employed in this industry.
However, these employees never stop learning as new technology and medical discoveries are constantly being developed.
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