The ME Technology Examination System of the Japanese Society of Medical Electronics and Biological Engineering

Today medicine is greatly supported by various peripheral fields of science and technology. In particular, medical engineering (ME) has contributed to the progress of medical science and medical care. Nowadays, it is no exaggeration to say that ME is indispensable for medical science and care. Therefore, not only medical personnel such as physicians who use medical instruments and equipment directly in the field of medical care but also persons concerned with the design, manufacture, sales, repair, development or research of ME instruments in enterprises must sufficiently master knowledge and information of ME and must be able to use ME instruments and technologies safely and accurately.

For these reasons, the Japanese Society of Medical Electronics and Biological Engineering (JSMEBE) created the Committee for Education in ME Technology and the ME Technology Examination System in 1979 to examine candidates on whether they had the required level of knowledge of ME. The ME Technology Examination (Second-Class) was conducted in the same year. The examination is of importance as it gives official approval as to whether or not examinees have the basic and general knowledge and skills required to handle ME equipment. Examinees need not have a qualification in order to take the examination. By 1999, the examination had been sat 21 times. The total number of examinees and successful candidates is 26,290 and 8,753 respectively (pass rate: 33.3%).

The ME Technology Examination (First-Class) began in 1995. This examination concerns the specialised knowledge and techniques required in order to manage and maintain ME instruments and systems and to educate and instruct other medical personnel about ME. Before sitting this examination, the candidate must have passed the ME Technology Examination (Second-Class) or Japan’s National Examination for Clinical Engineering Technicians. The total number of examinees and successful candidates so far is 1,576 and 368 respectively (pass rate: 23.4%).

As 20 years have passed since the ME Technology Examination (Second-Class) commenced, the JSMEBE held its 20th anniversary memorial celebration and symposium in July 1999. In the symposium, a plan and measures to amend the examination were discussed.

Both I, as Chairman of the Committee, and the persons involved in the examination system expect a bright future not only for the examination but also for the candidates who successfully passed it.

Prof. Hiroshi Inada
Laboratory of Medical Engineering,
Dept of Precision Machinery Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering,
The University of Tokyo Hongo 7-3-1,
Bunkyo-ku,
Tokyo 113-8656,
Japan

E-mail: inadah@miki.pe.u-tokyo.ac.jp