17 Medical Equipment Technician Interview Questions and Answers

From X-ray machines and MRI scanners to ventilators and defibrillators, medical equipment technicians are responsible for keeping a wide range of life-saving devices in good working order. As a medical equipment technician, you’ll use your technical skills to install, maintain, and repair this equipment. You’ll also need to be able to troubleshoot problems and offer solutions to users.

Your skills are in high demand, but before you can start your new job, you’ll need to pass an interview. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common medical equipment technician interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the basic anatomy of the human body?

Medical equipment technicians need to be familiar with the human body and its various systems. This question helps employers determine if you have a basic understanding of anatomy, which is important for this role. In your answer, explain that you are familiar with the basics of anatomy and provide an example of how it has helped you in your previous roles.

Example: “I am very familiar with the basic anatomy of the human body. I took several courses on human biology in college, including one where we dissected cadavers. While I don’t think I’ll ever forget what certain organs look like, I still refer to diagrams when working on medical equipment. It’s always good to double-check my work.”

What are some of the most common medical equipment you might need to repair?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your experience with medical equipment. You can use this opportunity to list some of the most common types of medical equipment you’ve worked on in the past and how you repaired them.

Example: “In my previous role, I was responsible for repairing all kinds of medical equipment including infusion pumps, ventilators, dialysis machines and ultrasound machines. Some of these repairs were more complex than others, but I always made sure to follow proper protocols when working on any piece of equipment. In one instance, I had to replace an entire motherboard on an ultrasound machine because it wasn’t functioning properly. It took me several hours to complete the task, but I was able to successfully repair the machine.”

How would you handle a situation where you have to instruct a patient on how to use a medical device?

This question can help the interviewer assess your communication skills and ability to work with patients. Use examples from previous experiences where you helped a patient learn how to use a medical device or explain its purpose.

Example: “I once worked with a patient who had just received an infusion pump, which is used for administering medication through an IV line. The patient was nervous about using it because she didn’t know what to expect. I explained that the pump would administer her medication at specific times throughout the day. She seemed relieved after hearing this information and said she felt more confident in using the pump.”

What is your process for maintaining and documenting the maintenance of medical equipment?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and organize it. Your answer should include a specific process for maintaining records of your work, including any software or tools you use to keep track of your documentation.

Example: “I have found that using an electronic database is the most efficient way to maintain my maintenance records. I use a program called Meditech that allows me to create different folders for each piece of equipment I’m working on and then add notes about what I did during each service call. This helps me stay organized and ensures I don’t miss anything when documenting my work.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to troubleshoot a problem with a piece of medical equipment and explain your process.

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have experience working with medical equipment and can apply your problem-solving skills. When answering this question, try to describe a specific situation in which you had to troubleshoot a piece of medical equipment and how you approached it.

Example: “In my previous role as a medical equipment technician, I was responsible for maintaining all of the hospital’s diagnostic imaging machines. One day, one of the MRI machines broke down during a patient’s exam. I immediately went into troubleshooting mode by checking the machine’s diagnostics to see if there were any errors. After reviewing the diagnostics, I noticed that the issue was related to the power supply. I then contacted the company who manufactured the MRI machine to order a new power supply.”

If a piece of equipment needed to be calibrated, how would you go about doing so?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to calibrate equipment. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you calibrated equipment in the past.

Example: “In my previous role as a medical equipment technician, I was responsible for calibrating all of the equipment at my hospital. Calibration is important because it ensures that the equipment is working properly and accurately measuring patient vitals. To calibrate equipment, I would first make sure that the equipment was turned off and disconnected from any power source. Then, I would use a calibration device to measure the accuracy of the equipment’s sensors.”

What would you do if you noticed a piece of medical equipment was improperly installed?

This question can help interviewers assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others. In your answer, try to highlight how you would communicate with the team member who installed the equipment to ensure it’s fixed as quickly as possible.

Example: “If I noticed a piece of medical equipment was improperly installed, I would first make sure that the patient wasn’t using the equipment at the time. Then, I would speak with the technician who installed the equipment to find out what went wrong. If they were unable to fix the issue themselves, I would ask them if they wanted me to call in another technician for assistance or if they could do it on their own. After making sure everything is safe, I would let my supervisor know about the situation so we could address any issues.”

How well can you communicate with other medical professionals to relay information about a patient’s condition?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your communication skills and how well you work with others. To answer, think about a time when you had to communicate information about a patient’s condition to other medical professionals or family members. Explain what steps you took to ensure the message was clear and that everyone understood it.

Example: “I have experience working in an emergency room where I often communicated with doctors and nurses about patients’ conditions. For example, if I noticed something unusual about a patient while performing routine maintenance on their equipment, I would immediately inform the doctor so they could examine the patient more thoroughly. This ensures that all of the necessary information is relayed to the right people at the right time.”

Do you have experience working with hazardous materials?

Hazardous materials are often used in medical equipment repair, and employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with them. If you do not have any experience working with hazardous materials, consider volunteering at a hospital or other facility that uses them. This can help you learn how to work with these materials and show your interest in the job.

Example: “I’ve worked with some hazardous materials before, but I would like to gain more experience if possible. At my last job, we had to dispose of expired medications, which required us to wear protective gear. I also helped clean up spills on occasion, so I am familiar with handling hazardous waste.”

When performing maintenance on a piece of equipment, do you follow a specific process?

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your work ethic and how you approach a task. Your answer should include the steps you take when performing maintenance on equipment, as well as any specific tools or techniques you use.

Example: “When I perform maintenance on a piece of medical equipment, I first assess the problem by reading through the diagnostic codes. Then, I run diagnostics on the equipment to determine what’s causing the issue. After that, I remove all non-essential parts from the equipment to get to the part that needs repair. Finally, I replace the faulty part with a new one and test the equipment again.”

We want to be able to quickly move patients from one area of the hospital to another. How would you set up a mobile medical unit to facilitate this?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you would take to ensure that patients are moved safely from one area of the hospital to another.

Example: “I would first make sure that all equipment was in working order before transporting the patient. I would also want to have at least two technicians on board for each transport so we could help each other if needed. I would set up the mobile medical unit by making sure there were enough beds and stretchers available for each patient being transported.”

Describe your process for testing the functionality of a piece of medical equipment.

This question allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of the testing process and how it relates to the functionality of medical equipment. You can answer this question by describing a specific test you performed on a piece of equipment, including what you tested for and why you chose those particular tests.

Example: “When I’m testing the functionality of a piece of medical equipment, I first make sure that all safety precautions are in place before beginning my diagnostic testing. Then, I perform a visual inspection of the equipment to look for any damage or defects. Next, I run diagnostics on the equipment to check its basic functions, such as power supply and data storage. Finally, I run more complex tests to ensure the equipment is functioning properly.”

What makes you a good fit for this position at our medical facility?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. Before your interview, make a list of reasons why you are the best candidate for the job. Consider highlighting any experience or skills that align with what they’re looking for in an applicant.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others, which is why I became a medical equipment technician. In my previous role as a medical equipment technician, I helped patients recover from injuries by repairing their equipment. I also have extensive knowledge of various types of medical equipment, so I know how to fix most issues. My communication skills help me explain complicated procedures to other technicians and nurses.”

Which medical equipment do you have the most experience with?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with medical equipment. It can also show them what you’re most passionate about and which areas you’d be able to contribute to their team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific piece of equipment that you have extensive knowledge of or are particularly interested in learning more about.

Example: “I’ve worked primarily with infusion pumps, but I’m always looking for new ways to improve my skills. In my last role, I took an online course on how to troubleshoot infusion pump malfunctions. This helped me learn some new techniques for diagnosing problems with these machines.”

What do you think is the most important part of your job as a medical equipment technician?

This question can help an interviewer get a better idea of what you value in your work. Your answer can also tell them about the skills and abilities that you feel are most important to have as a medical equipment technician. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about which parts of your job you enjoy the most.

Example: “I believe the most important part of my job is ensuring that patients receive the best care possible. I take pride in knowing that when I fix or maintain a piece of equipment, it’s helping someone who needs it. It makes me happy to know that I’m making a difference in their lives.”

How often do you perform maintenance on medical equipment?

This question can help the interviewer determine how much experience you have working with medical equipment. It can also show them what your typical work schedule is like and whether it would fit well with their company’s expectations. When answering this question, try to be as specific as possible about the frequency of maintenance you perform on various types of equipment.

Example: “I typically perform routine maintenance checks every six months for all types of equipment I service. However, if a piece of equipment has any issues or malfunctions, I will check it more frequently until I find the cause of the problem. For example, when I first started my career, I was responsible for maintaining an MRI machine that had frequent power outages. After performing several tests, I found that one of the wires in the system was loose. Once I fixed that issue, there were no further problems.”

There is a piece of medical equipment that needs to be replaced, but the budget hasn’t been approved yet. What do you do?

This question is a great way to see how you will handle situations where there are limitations. It’s important that you show the interviewer that you can work within these constraints and still get the job done.

Example: “I would first check with my supervisor to see if they have any ideas on how we could make do without the piece of equipment until it’s budgeted for. If not, I would then look at other pieces of equipment in our department that may be able to help us out. For example, maybe one piece of equipment has similar features as another but isn’t being used as much. I would then use this piece of equipment until the budget was approved.”