Q. In New York, what do hair stylists and tattoo artists have in common?

[okarol]

A. Both have strict training and licensing requirements. Dialysis technicians DO NOT!

Did you know that to become a dialysis technician the state of New York requires completion of a state-approved program from a state college, vocational school or a health care provider? The training is only six weeks long. There is no health department exam or license required.

Some examples of licensing requirements for tattooing and cosmetology:
    
Tattoo Licensing in New York City:

 • The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) licenses tattoo artists -- not tattoo parlors.
 • DOHMH tattoo regulations are aimed to control the spread of infectious diseases (i.e. "Does she do the job safely?").
 • Basic safety principles include:
          o The work area must be kept clean and hygienic.
          o Needles and other objects for penetrating the skin must be sterile.
          o Tattooists and their clothing must be clean. No exposed cuts, wounds, etc.
          o Needles and other objects, which have touched blood or body fluids, must be disposed of appropriately.
 • Tattoo license applicants must take an infection control course and pass an exam.
 • In 2002, more than 600 licenses have been given out.
 • Tattoo licenses are valid for two years.
 • Tattoo license applications are available at the Department of Consumer Affairs

What qualifications and supporting documents are needed to apply for a cosmetology license?

You must be at least 17 years old to apply for a Cosmetology license based on:

   1. New York State Education and Examinations
      You must complete a 1,000-hour, New York State approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations to get a license to operate in this state.

      As proof of successful completion of schooling, you must have the Affirmation of New York State Approved Schooling section of the application completed by your school director.

      After your application is reviewed and accepted, you will receive information that explains the exam process in detail.
   2. Education Outside of New York State
      We may waive the New York State schooling requirement if you can document an equivalent level of schooling from another state or country. You must submit all three of the following documents (foreign language documents must be accompanied by an English translation certified true and accurate by the translator):
      (1) a school certificate;
      (2) a school transcript listing subjects and hours completed; AND
      (3) a current original Certification of Licensure from your state board or, if not licensed, a current Certification from your state's board verifying the hours claimed.
      After your application is reviewed and accepted, you will also be required to pass both the New York State written and practical examinations to obtain a Cosmetology license in this state. You will receive information that explains the exam process in detail.
   3. Experience: 5 Years Outside of New York State
      Any individual having five years of legal experience in an occupation equivalent to Cosmetology may apply for a New York State license by submitting satisfactory evidence of education and experience.
      Evidence may include but is not limited to:

            (1) certifications from licensing agencies;
            (2) copies of passports which indicate occupation of individual;
            (3) tax returns;
            (4) letters from employers;
            (5) practical and written examination results; and
            (6) course curricula
      Such evidence must be presented in legible form and in English. If a translation is provided, it must be certified as true and accurate by the translator.
      After your application is reviewed and accepted, you may obtain a Cosmetology license in New York State without examination or further education.

..........................

Do you know what is required to be a dialysis technician in your state?

[Jean]

 

[YLGuy]

CAL. BPC. CODE § 1247.6 : California Code - Section 1247.6

(a)Except during training under immediate supervision, no person shall provide services as a hemodialysis technician without meeting one or more of the following requirements:

(1)Certification by the department as having been certified by the Board of Nephrology Examination for Nurses and Technicians (BONENT).

(2)Certification by the department as having completed a department-approved training and testing program in a hemodialysis clinic or unit.

(3)Certification by the department as being a graduate of a local training and testing program operated by an accredited college or accredited university approved by the department, or a graduate of a private training program approved by the department. As used in this article, accredited has the same meaning as defined by Section 94711 of the Education Code.

(4)Certification by the department as hemodialysis technicians on or before the effective date of regulations adopted pursuant to Section 1247.4.

(b)This article does not apply to home dialysis patients, or patient helpers not employed by the licensed facility, who have undergone a home dialysis training program operated by a licensed clinic or hospital as defined in Sections 1204 and 1250 of the Health and Safety Code and have been certified by the medical director of the facility as being competent to perform home dialysis treatment.

(c)A hemodialysis technician training program and competency test, that is approved by the department before January 1, 1998, shall not be required to be reapproved pursuant to this section or Section 1247.5 unless the department determines reapproval to be necessary to protect patient safety.

[Bajanne]

Here we don't have techs taking care of patients at all, only those who take care of the machines.  Our nurses all have years of nursing experience, some with bachelors and masters degrees.

[monrein]

Here we don't have techs taking care of patients at all, only those who take care of the machines.  Our nurses all have years of nursing experience, some with bachelors and masters degrees.

Only nurses here too Bajanne.

[okarol]

Here we don't have techs taking care of patients at all, only those who take care of the machines.  Our nurses all have years of nursing experience, some with bachelors and masters degrees.

When you say they take care of the machines, do you mean they don't do any needles?

[monrein]

That's what it means here Karol.  They clean the machines, make and serve tea and coffee, that kind of thing.  Only registered nurses (not even RNA's) do needles.

[okarol]

At Jenna's clinic there were 2 nurses overseeing 68 chairs, with about 12 techs doing the needles and machines.

[monrein]

At the self care clinic I used we had three nurses and one tech for 10-12 chairs and there was also the nurse manager who sometimes was on the floor if things were crazy.  We each had to set up our own machines and on clinic days one of the nurses would be at the hospital with us when we saw the neph. 

[okarol]

CAL. BPC. CODE § 1247.6 : California Code - Section 1247.6

(a)Except during training under immediate supervision, no person shall provide services as a hemodialysis technician without meeting one or more of the following requirements:

Those are the ones that always infiltrated or hurt Jenna - on the job training - they were doing needles  (there was a nurse on the floor, but not standing there supervising) - that would drive me CRAZY! 

[Zach]

Here in the U.S., in most hemodialysis centers, there are two types of dialysis technicians:

Patient Care Technicians (PCT), who are involved in the dialysis treatment, setting up the blood lines and taking them down from the machines, dialing-in the parameters such as UF, sodium modeling, cannulating the patients, taking blood pressures, etc.

Now by mandate from Medicare, all Patient Care Technicians must be tested and certified before working on the floor.  Those already working at a center have until April 2010 to be certified or else lose their jobs.

Then there are the Maintenance Technicians, who fix the dialysis machines when they break down.

[lizabee]

I think that all my tech has had is the certification, he is only 19 years old, so he just started college.  He does his job well sl I am not worried about my care with him, but I know that doesn't hold true for everyone.

[okarol]

Thanks to Mike Morales at Dialysis Education Services for sending this info to me:

                                            .................
November 24, 2009
TO:   Certified Hemodialysis Technicians (CHTs) End Stage Renal Disease Clinics (ESRDs)
Hemodialysis Training Programs SUBJECT:   New CHT Certification Requirements

Senate Bill (SB) 112 (Orpeza) Chapter 559, Statutes of 2009 amended the Business and Professions Code (B&P) Code and established new California certification requirements for hemodialysis technicians.
This All Facilities Letter (AFL) provides a summary of those new requirements.
Current CHT certificate holders must comply with these requirements by April 15, 2010, to ensure continued certification. All current CHTs and any new/initial CHT applicants must complete and submit to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) the attached application, “Certified Hemodialysis Technician Initial/Renewal Application” (HS 283F), indicating how each of the new requirements were met in order to be certified or to maintain active certification. Additionally, all CHTs whose certification will soon expire, must submit the completed HS 283F along with proof of successful completion of thirty (30) hours of continuing education/in-service in dialysis or general health care.

Effective October 11, 2009, to be certified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) as a Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT), a person shall meet all three (3) requirements:
1.) Have a high school diploma or equivalency or have greater than four (4) years experience in dialysis as of October 14, 2008; AND,
2.) Have successfully completed a CDPH approved hemodialysis training program. A person “successfully completes a training program” if he or she completes all classroom (didactic) portions of the program and demonstrates competency in the knowledge and skills provided by the program. The training program must include all of the following subjects, at a minimum:
a). Principles of dialysis. b). Care of patients with kidney failure, including interpersonal skills. c). Dialysis procedures and documentation, including initiation, proper
cannulation techniques, monitoring, and termination of dialysis. d). Possible complications of dialysis. e). Water treatment and dialysate preparation. f). Infection control. g). Safety. h). Dialyzer reprocessing, if applicable.

A person employed as a hemodialysis technician by a hemodialysis clinic or unit for more than two (2) years as of October 14, 2008, who does not have documentation of having successfully completed a training program, will be in compliance by doing both of the following:
a). Passing a written exam, offered by a hemodialysis clinic or unit, or a community or corporate-based training program; and
b). Passing a skills checklist through observation by a registered nurse; AND,
3.) Have successfully accomplished either of the following: a). Passed a standardized test approved by the CDPH.

You may visit our website at www.cdph.ca.gov for approved standardized test vendors as they
become available; or b). Passed an examination offered by a national commercially available
certification program for hemodialysis technicians which is approved for this purpose by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Compliance with Business and Professions Code Sections 1247 through 1247.9 is required for continued certification as a hemodialysis technician in California.
All applications must be post marked by April 15, 2010, and sent to:
Attention: CHT
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS) Licensing and Certification Program MS 3301
P.O. Box 997416 Sacramento, CA 95899-7416
Or faxed to (916) 552-8785, Attention: CHT

If you have any questions, please contact Michael Egstad, Chief, CNA/HHA/CHT Certification Unit, at (916) 327-2445 or via email at cna@cdph.ca.gov.

Sincerely,
Original Signed by Kathleen Billingsley, R.N
Kathleen Billingsley, R.N. Deputy Director Center for Health Care Quality

Licensing and Certification, Aide and Technician Certification, MS 3301, P.O. Box 997416, Sacramento, CA 95899 (916) 327-2445 Internet Address: www.cdph.ca.gov
AFL 09-43 November 24, 2009

               .............................

[Riki]

so. should I be wary of the techs that needle me in Manhattan?  Some of them, their English skills aren't the best, but I haven't had a problem with them as of yet.  I've been going to that particular centre the last 2 years in a row

[Des]

I really can't tell if they are nurses or techs but here the most junior person cleans the machine and serves the tea.

So hopefully the others have some qualification. 

[Tracy]

In Texas, at the center I go to, the techs do everything.  The nurses second them on the computers and listen to my lungs and check my legs.  And the nurses are there in case of an emergency. 

I have no idea if the techs are certified or not.  Kinda weird.  I am curious now.  I am going to try and find out.

Thanks for the info!  Tracy  

[okarol]

I really can't tell if they are nurses or techs but here the most junior person cleans the machine and serves the tea.

Tea? Wow! At Jenna's clinic you had to bring your own water or beverage, snack, blanket and pillow.

[ChickenLittle56]

In Texas, at the center I go to, the techs do everything.  The nurses second them on the computers and listen to my lungs and check my legs.  And the nurses are there in case of an emergency. 

I have no idea if the techs are certified or not.  Kinda weird.  I am curious now.  I am going to try and find out.

This past spring the pcts here at our clinic(Fresenius southwest Texas) were all scrambling to to take their state PCT certification tests.

[Des]

Don't get too excited about the tea..... it comes with sugar and milk in a chipped cup ( no saucer)  If you ask them "no sugar" please - you won't get any the next time.