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Dialysis Technician Training in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the organization that monitors and enforces state rules for dialysis technician training and certification in the state of Connecticut. While many states do not have expectations for how dialysis technicians are trained, Connecticut has enacted some very basic requirements. Dialysis technicians in the state of Connecticut are allowed to administer saline, heparin, or lidocaine as necessary to initiate or terminate a patient’s dialysis as long as the following are true:

These guidelines satisfy the certification requirements recently added to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) reimbursement policy. Since the Connecticut Department of Public Health already requires dialysis clinics to verify technician certification, there should be no additional steps required to continue to receive federal funding. Dialysis technician training in Connecticut is commonly provided by dialysis clinics themselves in order to prepare new employees for direct patient care and state approved certification examinations. Approved certification organizations can be found at the bottom of this page.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has made an effort to clarify their expectations when it comes to dialysis technician qualifications and program curriculum. While the state of Connecticut has not expressly stated that clinics must meet similar standards, most dialysis clinic administrators have designed their training protocol to meet or exceed the minimum requirements established by the CMS.

CMS regulations 494.140 (e)(1-4) require that the patient care technician training and certification requirements meet minimum standards:

1. Meet all state requirements for:
   • Education
   • Training
   • Credentialing
   • Competency
   • Standards of practice
   • Certification
   • Licensure
2. Have a High School Diploma or equivalency
3. Complete an approved training program that includes the following subjects:
   • Principles of dialysis
   • Care of patients with kidney failure
   • Possible complications of dialysis
   • Water treatment and dialysate preparation
   • Infection control
   • Safety
   • Dialyzer reprocessing
4. Certification by a State or National Program within 18 months of employment

The evolving regulatory environment in the dialysis technician profession creates an incentive for technicians to become more familiar with state and federal laws. Currently, the most stringent requirement for a technician in this industry is the requirement to be certified. Understanding the certification options available will give technicians an advantage when it comes to employment. Facility directors can give aspiring new technicians a better idea of what to expect in terms of training.

Nationally recognized certification options include the following:

1. The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
   • Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Exam
2. The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)
   • Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) Exam
3. The National Nephrology Certification Organization, Inc. (NNCO)
   • Certified in Clinical Nephrology Technology (CCNT) Exam
   • Certified in Biomedical Nephrology Technology (CBNT) Exam

In 1978, the government created eighteen non-profit networks that have been tasked with monitoring the quality of dialysis treatment across the country. These regional networks are assigned one to six states where they conduct quality management, promote successful rehabilitation, gather data, and supply information. Connecticut is a member of the New England Network. Information about your local dialysis clinics can be found by visiting the Dialysis Facility Page on the Network’s website.

Connecticut Dialysis Technician Training and Career Links

1. Fresenius Medical Care
2. Davita
3. American Renal Associates
4. Diversified Specialty Institutes
5. Hartford Hospital
6. Dialysis Clinic, Inc
7. The Hospital of Central Connecticut

State Contact Information

Phone:          (860) 509-7603
General:       (860) 509-8000
Email:           oplc.dph@ct.gov

410 Capitol Ave, P.O. Box 340308     Hartford, CT 06134

Web Site:     Connecticut Department of Public Health

National Network:   Network of New England