Dialysis Technician Training in Mississippi
The Mississippi Board of Nursing establishes and enforces dialysis technician training and certification requirements in Mississippi. Individuals who provide direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse in a dialysis facility are referred to as Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technicians (CCHT). Official state regulations are available in Part 2860 of the Administrative Code beginning on Page 42. Individuals who wish to become technicians are expected to meet the following requirements:
- Complete an application
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Complete an approved training program
- Written evidence of employment if greater than 5 years
- Complete one of three national certification exams
Applicants who have worked as a dialysis technician in another state may become certified through endorsement if they have previously completed an approved training program in another state, have passed one of three national certifying exams, and have submitted both an application and the associated fee.
A Certified Technician in Mississippi may perform the following tasks:
- Place fistula needles in the peripheral fistula or graft
- Perform arteriovenous punctures
- Inject intradermal lidocaine
- Administer heparin intravenously
- Administer saline intravenously
- Connect a dialysis access to isotonic saline
- Administer oxygen
- Collect patient data
- Provide care under the supervision of a nurse
- Work in facilities that have been certified by the state
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the division of the federal government that reimburses dialysis facilities throughout the United States for the majority of the services they provide. In recent years, the CMS adopted language which requires all dialysis technicians who work in federally funded dialysis facilities to successfully complete a state or national certification exam. This new requirement is not a major issue for technicians in Mississippi because they are already required to complete a certification exam in order to comply with state regulations.
CMS regulations 494.140 (e)(1-4) state that the patient care technician training and certification requirements must include the following standards:
- Meet all state requirements for:
- Education
- Training
- Credentialing
- Competency
- Standards of practice
- Certification
- Licensure
- Have a High School Diploma or GED
- Complete an approved program that includes the following:
- Principles of dialysis
- Care of patients with kidney failure
- Possible complications of dialysis
- Water treatment and dialysate preparation
- Infection control
- Safety
- Dialyzer reprocessing
- Certification by a State or National Program within 18 months of employment
There are three organizations that offer dialysis technician certification exams that are approved by the state and the federal government. Aspiring technicians should become familiar with the certification exam options that are available to them prior to seeking employment. In general, technicians are allowed to work for a period of time before being required to pass an exam. Individuals should contact potential employers for information on the exact requirements in their area.
National Certification Organizations Include:
- The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
- Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Exam
- The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)
- Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) Exam
- The National Nephrology Certification Organization, Inc. (NNCO)
- Certified in Clinical Nephrology Technology (CCNT) Exam
- Certified in Biomedical Nephrology Technology (CBNT) Exam
The federal government began its efforts to track the quality of dialysis treatment being delivered throughout the United States in 1978 when it created 18 non-profit renal networks that are each responsible for monitoring facilities in one to six states. Within their jurisdictions, these networks retrieve and evaluate data, promote patient rehabilitation, and act as an informational resource for dialysis patients and personnel. Mississippi is part of Network 8 along with Alabama and Tennessee.
Mississippi Dialysis Technician Training and Career Links
- Davita
- Delta Kidney Center
- DSI Renal
- Fresenius Medical Care
- Hattiesburg Clinic
- Medical Mall
- University of Mississippi Medical Center
State Contact Information
Phone: (601) 957-6300
Fax: (601) 957-6301
713 Pear Orchard Rd, Ste 300 Ridgeland, MS 39517
Web Site: Mississippi Board of Nursing
National Network: Network 8
I have my certificate. CNA, phlebotomy,
I am interested in learning how to become a dialysis technician, but don’t really know where to start. I live in West Point, MS.
Tonja,
You should be able to enter the profession by completing either an in-house training program offered at a local treatment facility or an independent certificate program administered by a community college or vocational school. The federal government does require that dialysis technicians pass a national certification exam within 18 months of hire and most employers will address this issue during the orientation period. You will also need to be certified by the state. We recommend using the books found on our training resources page as a supplement to the training you receive.