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James O. Wear: Certification in the United States, Canada and Asia

Path 5: Work experience with or without a degree not was established in 1975 and within a year about 200
related to biomedical technology, related health care individuals were certified in clinical engineering (CCE).
discipline, information technology, or business manage- After this first group of CCEs, the Board of Examiner de-
ment. Seven years of work experience in the HTM field veloped a written exam and an oral exam to test future
with three years of management experience in the last individuals for certification.
five years
At this same time, another group of prominent individu-
als in the field decided that certification on credentials was
In any of the paths, if the individual does not have
the wrong approach to certifying people. They decided
the title of supervisor or manager, he/she would have to
that people should take an exam to become certified in
confirm that he/she performs management duties either
clinical engineering. As a result, five people self-certified
through self or third-party attestation.
themselves and developed an exam for certification in
Recertification requirements for this certification are a
clinical engineering. This group became the American
combination of work experience and continuing education
Board of Clinical Engineering (ABCE) and also started
to demonstrate sustained competency and knowledge in
their certification program in 1975. Most of the initial indi-
the healthcare technology management field.
viduals in this program were academic clinical engineers.
CeRtified in CliniCAl engineeRing (CCe) AAMI and the ABCE continued to certify individuals in
clinical engineering until 1984. In 1983 the two groups
Dr. Caesar Caceres, MD coined the term “Clinical Engi-
began discussions on a possible merger of their programs.
neer” in 1967 for engineers working with physicians in the
The merger was finalized in 1984 with all the ABCE CCEs
clinical setting. At that time, various types of engineers,
being accepted into the AAMI certification program. As
physical scientists, and physiologists were performing
part of the merger the International Certification Commis-
engineering type work in the clinical setting in hospitals.
sion for Clinical Engineering and Biomedical Technology
As more medical instrumentation came into the hospi-
(ICC) was established. Fifty individuals had been certified
tal, more of this type of personnel came into the field as
by the ABCE.
well. Also, as BMETs were hired to maintain the medical
In 1979, AAMI started requiring CCEs to renew their
instrumentation, engineers and physical scientists were
certification every three years by demonstrating continuing
hired to manage clinical/biomedical engineering depart-
education. In 1992, the renewal policy was that anyone
ments in hospitals.
certified after 1992 and not renewed would have their
AAMI thought that engineers should be certified in
certification revoked. Anyone certified before 1992 that
clinical engineering since there were no academic pro-
did not renew would become delisted. As of 2002, there
grams that trained clinical engineers. Some of the major
were about 100 listed CCEs on the AAMI website. In 1999
people working in the field of clinical engineering were
AAMI discontinued accepting applications for certification
not engineers but held degrees in some other scientific
because there were not enough applicants to support the
field. It was decided that a program should be developed
program financially. However, they did continue to ac-
to certify people in the clinical engineering field and not
cept renewals. At the time AAMI discontinued accepting
as clinical engineers. An initial Board of Examiners was
applications for certification, 474 had become a CCE by
established with prominent people in the clinical engi-
credentials or exam including 50 certified by the Canadian
neering field. It was decided that for one year, individuals
Board of Examiners for Clinical Engineering. This also
working in clinical engineering could be certified based
included several individuals in other countries certified
on credentials. They had to have at least a BS degree in
by the US Board of Examiners. However only about 200
engineering or a physical science and at least three years
had kept their renewal up-to-date.
experience working in the field of clinical engineering. These
In 2002, the Healthcare Technology Certification
credentials were evaluated by the Board of Examiners.
Commission (HTCC) was created under the Healthcare
The AAMI certification program for clinical engineering
17 J Global Clinical Engineering Special Issue 1: 15-22; 2018