How to Become a Dialysis Technician in Arizona

Did you know more than 800,000 people in the United States are living with kidney failure?

As kidney disease grows more and more prevalent by the year, the need for talented and experienced dialysis technicians has never been higher.

If it weren’t for them, dialysis treatment wouldn’t be possible.

If you want to make a difference in the Arizona community, becoming a dialysis technician might be right for you!

How to Become a Dialysis Technician in Arizona: Step-by-Step

Are you an aspiring dialysis technician?

Do you live in Arizona?

If you answered ‘yes’ to either of those two questions, you came to the right place.

While most people expect it to take years – even a decade – to become a dialysis technician, it’s a much more straightforward process than most people think.

That’s not to say it won’t take effort, hard work, determination, and a strong passion for helping others, but anyone can become a dialysis technician if they want it badly enough.

All you need to do is work your way through high school (or pass the GED exam), post-secondary training, and a national certification exam.

Don’t worry – we’ll explain it all in greater detail below!

Finish High School or Pass the GED Exam

Like all specialties in the patient care technician field, aspiring dialysis technicians are required to earn a high school diploma before enrolling in a post-secondary training program.

The good news is it doesn’t matter when you graduated – it could be 2004 or 2022 – you’ll have what it takes to advance as a DT.

Aspiring dialysis technicians usually show a strong interest in the following subjects: biology, chemistry, anatomy, science, math, calculus, physiology, and psychology.

A general interest in helping others and a more specific interest in helping patients with kidney disease or kidney failure is also common in the field.

For those who never went to or graduated from high school, don’t panic – this isn’t the end of the road for you.

All you need to do is pass the GED exam, which tests you on basic Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies.

The exam costs $41 per subject, and all subjects are required for a total of $164.

Obtain a Certificate of Completion

Once you have your high school diploma or high school-equivalent diploma, you’ll need to work your way through a postsecondary training program.

Don’t worry – most of these take just 6-12 months to complete and are available online or through colleges, institutes, universities, and other approved organizations.

Here are some of your best options:

• Central Arizona College
• Phoenix College
• Tyler Junior College

While Arizona residents have a lack of in-person learning options, most aspiring dialysis technicians elect to complete their postsecondary training online.

This generally requires a quality computer with a good video camera, a strong internet connection, and a quiet space so you can take part in class activities.

Gain Employment as a Dialysis Technician

Once you earn your certificate of completion, you can start to look for work as a dialysis technician.

Most states, including Arizona, don’t require dialysis technicians to be certified in the field as long as they work under the direct supervision of a licensed provider.

That means you can start looking for work right away!

The most common places a dialysis technician finds work in Arizona are:

• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Health Clinics
• Dialysis Centers
• Medical Institutes

With that being said, the best course of action is to enroll in an internship or externship towards the end of your postsecondary training.

This will ensure you have the hands-on experience needed to take that next big step in your career.

Obtain a National Certification

Although not required, aspiring dialysis technicians are encouraged to obtain their national certification.

You can achieve this through one of three nationally recognized organizations:

• Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) – you must pass the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Exam, which consists of 150 questions in 3 hours.
• Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT) – you must pass the Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) Exam, which consists of 150 questions in 3 hours.
• National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) – you must pass a 60-question exam in 90 minutes or less with a passing score of at least 70%.

Simply passing the exam won’t be enough to earn your certification.

You must then apply for the accreditation by registering with the organization, paying the required fee, and providing proof of your training and work experience.

Once they approve it, you’ll officially be a certified dialysis technician!

Dialysis Technician Schools in Arizona

To ensure aspiring dialysis technicians have both the in-class learning and hands-on experience needed to excel in the medical field, they must earn a postsecondary education at a nationally approved college, university, institute, or organization.

Don’t worry, Arizona residents have several quality options:

Central Arizona College

Location: Remote (Online)

Program: Hemodialysis Technician

Course Length: 12 months

Tuition: $3,595

Central Arizona College offers a 205-hour Hemodialysis Technician program that can take up to 12 months to complete – though some people finish sooner.

The course is designed to prepare you for BONENT’s CHT exam and also includes a free CPR certification course from the Red Cross.

Phoenix College

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Program: Dialysis Technician Program

Course Length: 62 hours

Tuition: $999

Phoenix College (Downtown) offers a 62-hour Dialysis Technician Program with an elaborate curriculum and clinical observation experiences to ensure students are prepared for the national certification exam.

It costs $999 to enroll, and most students finish the course in just a few months.

Tyler Junior College

Location: Remote (Online)

Program: Dialysis Technician Online Certification Program

Course Length: n/a

Tuition: $999

Tyler Junior College is located in Tyler, Texas, but it offers an online certification program for aspiring dialysis technicians – meaning you don’t have to be in Tyler, TX to enroll.

Their interactive learning modules, engaging labs, and student-instructor collaboration make it feel like you’re in a classroom.

Dialysis Technician Salary in Arizona

Certified hemodialysis technicians earn an average salary of $37,500 (between $34,204 and $41,865) in the United States.

That salary dips slightly for Arizona residents, who make an average of $36,727 (between $33,500 and $41,003).

If you want to maximize your earning potential, make sure you obtain your national certification and gain as much experience as possible in the field.

Regional Salary in Arizona