Medical Lab Technologist Schools

Schools by State
for Medical Lab Technologists:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Career Highlights for
Medical Lab Technologists

Training generally required for this career includes: Bachelor's degree.

Jobs and Salary
Median Salary (2008)	$53,500
Unemployment Vs. Other Jobs	Very Low
Jobs (2006)	167,000
Job Growth (2006-2016)	12.4%
Jobs (2016 forecast)	188,000

Flexibility
Working Part-Time	14%
Self-Employed	1%

Education of Current Workers
Bachelor Degree or Higher	51%
Some College	35%
High School or Less	14%

Relevant Job Titles

(Supplied by experts and industry contributors for this career category)

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

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

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

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.

Medical Lab Technology 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.

Medical Laboratory Technologist 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 Medical Lab Technologist 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).

Medical Lab Technologist 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 Medical Laboratory Technologist 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?

Relevant Schools That Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site

School names link to detailed profiles. Use the Info from the School link to contact the school directly for more information. You may request information from as many schools as you like.

School	Campuses	Awards	Info
Allied Medical & Technical Institute	PA	Diploma	Info From School
American Career College	CA	Certificate	Info From School
Baker College Campus	MI	Associate	Info From School
Goodwin College	CT	Associate	Info From School
Harrison College	IN	Associate	Info From School
Institute for Business and Technology	CA	Diploma	Info From School
IntelliTec Medical Institute	CO	Associate	Info From School
Keiser University	FL	Associate	Info From School
Medix	MD, GA	Certificate	Info From School
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute	TX	Diploma	Info From School
Spencerian College	KY	Associate	Info From School
The University of Liverpool	Online	Master	Info From School
Ultimate Medical Academy	FL	Certificate, Diploma	Info From School
University of Cincinnati	Online	Bachelor	Info From School

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