Biomedical Engineer Credentials and Certifications
Step by Step Career Plan for Biomedical Engineers…
- Career Plan: How to Become a Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Engineering Resources…
The Biomedical Engineering Society reports that biomedical engineers generally do not have state licensing, although some have licensing as professional engineers. There is not currently a specialty exam for the biomedical specialty, so candidates will need to take and pass a test in a related engineering discipline.
Professional standards can be rigorous, but they are generally set by the individual employer. Your prospective employer may give you a formal test. In order to get to this point, though – and to be a strong candidate – you’ll need a good curriculum vitae. Employers may list very specific competencies. They may ask, for example, that you are proficient with particular computer programs like Zemax and Light Tool. Competencies will vary by industry; a pharmaceutical company may ask for experience with plastic injection molding.
At the PhD level, especially, employers may want to see that you have a proven track record of research. (Those internships, theses, and dissertations you undertake as a student can help you make a name for yourself.) If you want an idea about the type of research topics that students in the field are exploring, you can drop in on the site of the Mayo Clinic – they list recent theses by title.
When you enter the field, you might have a title like Junior Project Engineer. Jobs for more experienced engineers are sometimes denoted “senior” or “distinguished”.
