Career And School Info For Medical Lab Technologists

Schools by State for This Career

What Kind of Person Has This Career?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Natural Abilities	% Choosing
Oral Comprehension	66%
Near Vision	66%
Written Comprehension	63%

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Work Values	% Choosing
Organizational Support	78%
Independence	61%
Achievement	56%

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Areas of Personal Interest	% Choosing
Mental Problem-Solving	100%
Hands-On Physical Work	78%
Following Instructions	61%

Work Style Characteristics	% Choosing
Attention To Detail	93%
Integrity	89%
Dependability	87%

Full List

Which Skills and Knowledge are Needed for this Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Personal Skills	% Choosing
Active Listening	66%
Reading Comprehension	63%
Critical Thinking	63%

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Important Professional Knowledge	% Choosing
Biology	80%
Chemistry	71%
Customer And Personal Service	68%

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Which Activities and Situations Are Involved in Doing The Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Common Work Conditions	% Choosing
Exposed To Disease Or Infections	100%
Telephone	97%
Wear Common Protective Or Safety Equipment Such As Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, Or Life Jackets	97%

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Common Job Activities	% Choosing
Documenting/Recording Information	84%
Interacting With Computers	84%
Evaluating Information To Determine Compliance With Standards	82%

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Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Medical Lab Technologist / Clinical Lab Technologist Job Description

Doctors and other health care professionals order lab tests to assess patients' health. Once the blood, urine, saliva, hair or other specimens have been collected, medical laboratory technologists perform examinations with a microscope, perform complex tests, analyze the results, and report them to the medical professional for diagnostic use. Medical laboratory technologists are also known as clinical laboratory technologists.

Responsibilities of medical lab technologists usually include:

• Conducting advanced chemical, bacteriological, immunologic, biological and hematological tests
• Examining specimens with microscopes
• Making cultures of tissues and body fluids to reveal parasites, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms
• Analyzing chemical content, chemical reactions and blood concentrations of certain compounds
• Typing and cross-matching samples of blood for transfusions
• Evaluating results of tests
• Establishing and modifying programs and procedures to ensure quality control and test accuracy
• Supervision of medical lab technicians (also known as clinical lab technicians)

Medical lab technologists may perform many kinds of tests in smaller labs, while in large laboratories they occupy a more specific role on a team. They might specialize in clinical chemistry, immunology, microbiology, immunohematology (blood banking), cytotechnology and molecular biology. Most labs operate 24 hours a day, so a variety of shift schedules are available.

Degrees and Schools

Most entry-level medical lab technologist jobs require a bachelor's degree in one of the life sciences or in medical technology, although a combination of education and specialized training may be sufficient. Degree programs in medical technology as well as the life sciences are available through four-year colleges and universities. Some hospitals offer medical technology degree programs as well.

Employers often prefer to hire medical lab technicians who are certified. To obtain certification, students must attend an accredited educational program. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) accredits educational programs for all areas of study relevant to clinical laboratory technology. The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredit programs that focus on specific areas within the field.

Classes

Degree programs divide students' time between class and lab. Courses typically include:

• chemistry and clinical chemistry
• biological sciences, microbiology and bacteriology
• mathematics and statistics
• immunology and hematology
• immunohematology
• cytotechnology and molecular biology
• management and business
• computer applications

Online Classes and Programs

Because education in medical technology requires access to laboratories, online degree programs are not common. However, many universities include online learning as part of their degree programs.

Any degree program should be accredited through the NAACLS, ABHES or CAAHEP. It is also preferred if distance-learning programs are also accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Employment Requirements

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act requires all medical laboratory technologists to have at least an associate's degree if they're performing highly complex tests. Some states require registration or licensure, and usually stipulate that applicants be graduates of an accredited program and pass an exam. Requirements vary by state.

Most employers prefer medical lab technologists who have a bachelor's from an accredited program and are certified through professional associations such as:

• National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel
• Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology
• Board of Registry of the American Association of Bioanalysts
• American Medical Technologists

How to Evaluate Schools

Asking these questions can be helpful when evaluating medical technology degree programs:

• Tuition and financial aid - What does the school offer for financial aid - such as scholarships, work / study, grants and student loans?
• Focus - How much emphasis is placed on preparing students for certification and state requirements for licensure / registration?
• Practical experience - Do course requirements include substantial lab experience? Are labs owned by the university, or outsourced? For outsourced laboratories, are jobs available after graduation?
• Accreditation - Has the program been accredited through NAACLS, ABHES or CAAHEP?
• Class structure- How many students are usually in popular classes? Are those courses difficult to get into? Are lab resources adequate to meet the demand?
• Graduate success - How many graduates, over the previous several years, obtained certification within a year of completing school? Does the school have a comprehensive job placement program?

Example Job Titles

(Titles per survey respondents and career experts.)

• Biochemistry Technologist
• Blood Bank Technologist
• Certified Cytotechnologist
• Certified Histologic Technician
• Chemistry Technologist
• Chief Medical Technologist
• Clinical Immunology Specialist
• Clinical Laboratory Manager
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)
• Clinical Laboratory Technologist
• Clinical Medical Technologist
• Clinical Research Assistant
• Clinical Research Associate
• Clinical Researcher
• Cytogenetic Technician
• Cytologist
• Cytologist
• Cytology Laboratory Manager
• Cytopathology Technologist
• Cytotechnologist
• Differential Specialist
• Flow Cytometry Technologist
• Genetic Technologist
• Hematology Technologist
• Histologic Aide
• Histologic Technician
• Histologist Technologist
• Histology Specialist
• Histology Technician
• Histology Technician
• Histotechnician
• Histotechnologist
• Immunohematologist
• Immunology Technologist
• Laboratory Supervisor
• Medical Chief Technician
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Medical Laboratory Technologist (Medical Lab Tech)
• Medical Numerical Control Operator
• Medical Technician
• Medical Technologist (MT)
• Medical Technologist Teaching Supervisor
• Microbiologist
• Microbiology Technologist
• Molecular Pathology Technologist
• Pathology Laboratory Technologist
• Research Assistant
• Tissue Technologist

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