Medical lab technicians do important laboratory work. Even though they're medical professionals, they don't need to go to medical school.
We'll break down everything you need to know about this career below.
What is a Medical Lab Technician?
Medical lab technicians, also called clinical lab technicians, are medical professionals who are responsible for taking and processing laboratory samples from patients.
They primarily work in hospitals but may also work in doctors' offices and medical laboratories.
Common duties of medical lab technicians include:
- analyzing lab results
- collecting lab samples
- discussing lab results with physicians
- ensuring lab samples are quality controlled
- operating lab equipment
- preparing lab specimens for testing
- recording test data and entering the results into patient charts
- testing and analyzing body fluids such as blood, tissue samples, and urine
Medical lab technicians need to know how to take lab samples and use lab equipment to process them but also need to know how to work with patients who may be anxious and distressed.
How to Become a Medical Lab Technician: Step by Step
Medical laboratory technicians must go through specific training programs before they can practice. We'll break down the steps to becoming a medical laboratory technician below.
Step 1: Earn a Degree or Certificate
The first step to becoming a medical laboratory technician is to earn a degree or certificate in a subject like clinical laboratory science.
Most license or certification programs require at least an associate degree. A certificate program is a great option if you already have a degree in a field like biology.
Associate degrees take about two years to complete. This is usually the highest level of education needed for medical laboratory technicians.
While bachelor's degree programs are available, they're usually only needed if you want to move into a higher position, like medical lab technologist or laboratory scientist.
You can find directories of accredited programs through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Step 2: Acquire Certification
Certification isn't required in all states, but many employers prefer to hire medical lab technicians who have achieved certification.
A few different bodies offer medical lab technician certification in the U.S.
American Association of Bioanalysts
The American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) is made up of two certification boards: the AAB Board of Registry (ABOR) and the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB).
Both boards certify laboratory professionals, but the ABOR is the one that certifies 'bench-level laboratorians' such as laboratory scientists, technicians, and technologists.
The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification offers three pathways to qualify for the certification exam:
- a clinical laboratory training program approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- an associate degree or higher in laboratory science or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution
- an official U.S. military medical laboratory procedures course of at least 50 weeks duration and earn the military enlisted occupational specialty of Medical Laboratory Specialist
The exam covers basic knowledge as well as five core disciplines:
- chemistry
- hematology
- immunology
- immunohematology
- microbiology
American Medical Technologists
American Medical Technologists (AMT) is a body that has been certifying healthcare professionals since 1939.
It offers multiple certifications, including a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification.
To qualify for the MLT certification exam, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- graduated with at least an associate degree in medical laboratory technician or equivalent from an accredited institution within the last five years
- at least 60 credits of courses from an accredited institution and at least six months of clinical laboratory experience all within the last five years
- completed a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training program within the last five years
The exam tests students in nine work areas:
- general laboratory
- chemistry
- hematology
- coagulation and hemostasis
- immunology and serology
- immunohematology
- blood banking and transfusion services
- microbiology
- urinalysis and body fluids
If you pass your exam, you'll receive your official certificate via mail within seven to 14 days.
If you don't pass, you can retest after 45 days. However, you are limited to four exam attempts for any one certification.
American Society for Clinical Pathology
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is a global community of more than 100,000 members of the medical profession. It's been operating since 1922.
The ASCP offers a few different medical laboratory certifications, including the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification.
There are three available routes to qualify for the MLT exam.
You must have an associate degree or higher or a minimum of 60 credits from an accredited institution and one of the following:
- successful completion of an accredited MLT program
- successful completion of a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training course
- three years of full-time clinical experience
The MLT exam covers seven content areas:
- blood banking
- urinalysis and other body fluids
- chemistry
- hematology
- immunology
- microbiology
- laboratory operations
You'll receive notice of your score within four business days. If you pass, you can request a physical copy of your certificate.
If you fail, you can retest again after 90 days. However, if you fail more than five times, you'll have to meet the qualifications for another route to test again.
Step 3: Meet State Qualifications
Ten states have some sort of requirements for laboratory personnel, which may include a license requirement.
Some states require certification or a certain amount of experience before you qualify for licensure. Conversely, in some states, you only need to be certified to qualify for licensure.
The states that currently have regulations in place for laboratory personnel licensure are:
- California
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Nevada
- New York
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Medical Lab Technician Salary and Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for medical lab technologists and technicians is $57,800 with a range between $30,280 to $79,340.
The BLS projects that between 2021 and 2031, job growth for medical lab technologists and technicians will increase by 7%, slightly higher than average.
Become a Medical Lab Technician Today
To become a medical lab technician, you'll need training, certification, and possibly licensure. Reach out to Best Accredited Colleges today for help getting started.
