what degree do you need to be a lab technician
Duties, Responsibilities, Schooling, Requirements, Certifications, Task Outlook, and Salary
If you're excited by the thought of working with cutting-edge lab equipment to help doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals diagnose and care for patients, a career every bit a medical laboratory technician could exist your calling. It's an essential part in merely nearly any healthcare setting with diagnostic equipment.
This career guide will teach yous everything you need to know about becoming a medical laboratory technician, including the educational requirements, certifications, twenty-four hours-to-solar day duties, and how long it generally takes to launch your new career every bit a medical lab tech.
Non sure if becoming a medical laboratory technician is right for you? Click hither to see our full listing of the all-time entry-level medical jobs .
Medical Laboratory Technician Definition
What is a Medical Laboratory Technician?
Medical laboratory technicians are an essential role of keeping patients healthy, both in clinical settings and behind-the-scenes locations like blood banks or diagnostic labs. Medical lab techs collect samples and run tests to determine the presence (or cause) of diseases or to ensure treatments like claret transfusions are properly categorized and rubber for patients.
Medical Laboratory Technician: Job Description
What Does a Medical Laboratory Technician Practice?
Before any patient can receive medical treatment, it'south critical for their team of healthcare professionals to diagnose their condition accurately—especially since and then many different causes of illness tin have like overlapping symptoms. As a medical laboratory technician, you'll play an essential function in determining the all-time class of treatment for every patient. You'll perform crucial sample collection and testing that helps doctors and other healthcare professionals understand the full movie of any patient'due south illness or injury.
Medical Laboratory Technician Duties
Some of the day-to-day responsibilities of medical laboratory technicians include:
- Collecting samples similar bodily fluids or tissue samples
- Analyzing samples and recording normal or abnormal findings
- Operating sophisticated lab equipment similar microscopes or cell counters
- Accurately logging data into medical records or other databases
- Discussing test results with physicians or other health professionals
Medical Laboratory Technician Skills
Above all, great medical lab techs have to be detail-oriented. When you're working with medical samples that can be easily contaminated, staying focused throughout every step is essential to getting accurate results that assistance care for and protect patients. You'll as well need the transmission dexterity to confidently handle needles, pipettes, and other precision laboratory equipment, as well as the physical stamina to work on your feet for hours at a time. Since medical laboratory technicians work with high-tech lab equipment, it's too a major plus if you're the type who tin can learn to use new technologies relatively chop-chop.
Medical Laboratory Technician Hours & Work Environment
Most medical laboratory technicians work full-time, 40-hour workweeks. Their hours can vary somewhat, as facilities like hospitals open around the clock may require overnight or weekend shifts. There can be some risks associated with the working environment, particularly when handing infectious samples or using lab chemicals that may produce fumes. Nonetheless, all medical lab techs receive extensive training to help minimize any run a risk of injury or illness and are provided with the proper protective equipment to stay safe on the job.
Medical Laboratory Technician Schooling & Certification
How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician?
What Caste Practise You Need to be a Medical Laboratory Technician?
To launch your new career as a medical lab tech, you'll demand to consummate a Medical Laboratory Technician programme from an accredited college or academy. Finishing an MLT program means earning an Associate of Science degree, which usually requires around two full years in school. However, accelerated degree programs make it possible for you to earn your caste in as little as 64 weeks.
Like whatsoever long-term goal, working toward a new career as a medical laboratory technician seems much more attainable when you break it down into private steps.
Here'due south a pace-by-pace guide to the education, feel, and certifications y'all'll demand to become a medical laboratory technician:
ane. Enroll in a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Degree Plan
The first footstep toward starting your new career as a medical laboratory technician is enrolling in an MLT acquaintance's degree program at an accredited institution. Whether you lot've always wanted to work in a lab or you're ready to switch careers, just nigh anyone tin authorize for an MLT program. For example, admission to the Medical Laboratory Technician program at Brookline Higher requires merely a high school diploma or GED, plus a passing score on the Scholastic Level Exam.
two. Earn Your Medical Laboratory Technician Associate's Degree
The majority of your degree program will be focused on the knowledge and skills you lot'll need to become an adept lab tech. However, y'all'll all the same demand to complete some general-educational activity coursework in subjects similar Math, English, and Science. These full general-ed courses will make y'all a improve disquisitional thinker and communicator and build a solid foundation for the skills you'll demand to succeed as a medical laboratory technician.
Throughout your program-specific studies, you'll get familiar with the types of tests and samples you'll be working with and how they fit into the bigger moving-picture show of treating patients. Since medical laboratory technicians conduct many different tests and lab tasks, you lot'll need to build a baseline knowledge of hematology, chemical science, and microbiology. Not only does this provide a solid starting point for your future career, simply it's also a great way to find out the blazon of lab work that interests you the most and determine which area y'all may desire to seek out as your specialty.
Before finishing your MLT caste, you'll also spend fourth dimension in a real clinical surround performing supervised lab tasks. Plenty of hands-on experience in a controlled setting will ensure you've got the skills and conviction to hit the ground running once you state your get-go chore as a medical laboratory technician.
Earlier enrolling in a medical laboratory technician program, it'southward worth because a schoolhouse that offers job-placement assistance to its students. Having somebody on your side with plenty of feel navigating the hiring and interview process tin can give you a leg upward on the competition.
three. Get Certified By Ane of the Major Credentialing Organizations
After earning your MLT associate'south degree from an accredited program, you'll be eligible to have a certification exam from i of the MLT credentialing organizations. While certification isn't e'er required to get a medical laboratory technician, many employers will only hire certified lab techs, so it'southward well worth your time to seek certification. The credentialing organizations you'll want to look into are the American Society for Clinical Pathology and American Medical Technologists. While each organization'south exams differ slightly, you can expect both to have between 100-200 multiple-choice questions and terminal between two to three hours. Do exams are available from both organizations, which could be a big help in reducing test anxiety and building the confidence you'll need to ace the exam.
4. Get Licensed On a State-By-State Ground
Many states require laboratory personnel to earn a license, though licensing requirements will differ between different states and lab specialties. To learn specifics about becoming licensed to work as a medical laboratory technician in your country—or another state where you'd similar to alive and work—you'll want to check in with that state's health department or the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
(Click hither to read out Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Certification Test & Test-Prep Study Guide )
How Much Does information technology Toll to Earn a Medical Laboratory Technician Degree?
Plenty of colleges and universities charge over $xx,000 per semester, not including the cost of lab fees, books, or other required course materials. Yet, as online education continues to become more popular, millions of people accept been able to go a secondary instruction who otherwise would accept never had the opportunity. Online colleges are frequently both more than affordable and more transparent about the actual price of earning your degree. Wherever y'all decide to pursue your MLT degree, make sure it'south with a college or university that'southward open and honest about what you're spending.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salary
How Much Do Medical Laboratory Technicians Make?
According to information from the Usa Agency of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical laboratory technicians earn an average of about $55,000 per yr. The top 25% of earners amidst MLTs earn over $68,000 per year. Make it into the top 10% of earners in the career field, and yous're looking at an annual salary* of over $80,000.
Highest Paying Industries for Medical Laboratory Technicians
According to the BLS, these are the industries where you're about likely to observe the tiptop-paying MLT jobs:
| Industry | Average Hourly Pay | Boilerplate Salary |
| Medical Equipment Manufacturing | $31.95 | $66,450 |
| Specialty Hospitals | $xxx.53 | $63,510 |
| General Medical & Surgical Hospitals | $27.26 | $56,690 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $27.14 | $56,460 |
| Medical & Diagnostic Laboratories | $25.88 | $53,840 |
Highest Paying States for Medical Laboratory Technicians
According to the BLS, these are the states where MLTs earn the highest boilerplate annual wages:
| Location | Average Hourly Pay | Average Bacon |
| Alaska | $34.35 | $72,690 |
| Rhode Isle | $32.69 | $68,000 |
| Connecticut | $32.64 | $67,900 |
| New York | $31.52 | $65,560 |
| Oregon | $31.19 | $64,880 |
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Laboratory Technicians
According to the BLS, the post-obit cities pay the highest average salaries for medical laboratory technicians in the US:
| Location | Average Hourly Pay | Average Bacon |
| Vineland, NJ | $38.73 | $80,560 |
| Carson City, NV | $37.69 | $78,400 |
| Anchorage, AK | $36.72 | $76,370 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $36.14 | $75,180 |
| Sacramento, CA | $35.35 | $73,530 |
| Ventura, CA | $35.29 | $73,410 |
| Redding, CA | $35.02 | $72,850 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $34.51 | $71,790 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $34.46 | $71,670 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $34.32 | $71,390 |
Medical Laboratory Technician Job Outlook
What is the Chore Outlook for Medical Laboratory Technicians?
Advances in lab applied science mean many tasks traditionally reserved for scientists with doctorate degrees can now safely and effectively exist carried out past lab techs. When combined with the ongoing increment in demand for overall medical services, that adds upward to first-class long-term career prospects for medical laboratory technicians. The BLS projects the overall employment of medical laboratory technicians to grow seven% by 2029, which is virtually double the boilerplate growth charge per unit for all jobs beyond all industries (4%).
Ready to Outset Your Career every bit a Medical Laboratory Technician?
Suppose you dearest the idea of working with up-to-engagement lab equipment and crave the flexibility to specialize in many different areas. In that case, a career every bit a medical laboratory technician could be right upwards your aisle. It's a natural fit for observant, item-oriented people who want to earn a slap-up living while making a positive divergence. Learn more about the Medical Laboratory Technician plan at Brookline College, and start taking steps toward your new career today.
Source: https://www.brooklinecollege.edu/blog/how-to-become-a-medical-laboratory-technician/
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