OVERVIEW
What Is a Medical Laboratory Technician?
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Laboratory technicians can be found in industries ranging from microbiology to chemistry and geology. If there are specimens that need testing in a laboratory, lab technicians are likely to be present. Medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) specifically work in hospitals, labs, or testing facilities performing hands-on testing and analysis. This guide will highlight the duties of a medical lab technician and uncover how you can prepare to become one.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Medical听Laboratory Technician Do?
A medical lab tech can have various key responsibilities. Some may include:
- Preparing samples.听Medical lab technicians get samples ready to be analyzed. They then use specialized equipment to study microorganisms. MLTs may also perform other functions like examining blood for transfusions and determining drug levels in the blood.
- Running tests.听Medical lab techs often perform tests on various bodily fluids鈥攎ost commonly blood or urine. They test for diseases by monitoring levels of certain substances that indicate the presence of disease or other ailments.
- Recording data.听Doctors must receive results in order to notify patients of suggested action. Lab techs record the data so this can happen.听
- Ensuring accuracy.听Making sure tests and analyses are carried out accurately is critical. Inaccurate recording could lead to errant reporting and devastating consequences. For instance, if data is wrongly recorded, a healthy patient might incorrectly be informed that they have a certain condition. If a patient is prescribed medication for a disease they don鈥檛 have, the side effects could be severe, not to mention any potential mental, emotional, and legal repercussions of such an error.
- Maintaining equipment.听It鈥檚 vital that lab equipment remains sanitary and in good working condition, according to听. Lab techs must keep a close eye on the instruments they use and dispose of any that are contaminated or not fit for use. In many cases, certain smaller pieces of equipment are only used once to avoid the risk of cross-contamination.
- Creating and maintaining organizational systems.听Experienced lab technicians may be charged with designing a way to keep samples organized. They follow听听and frequently communicate with their supervisor or laboratory manager.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Medical听Laboratory Technician?
Schooling and certification are required to become an entry-level lab technician. Here are the requirements:
- Earn a degree:听It鈥檚 recommended that medical lab technicians earn at least an associate degree in a program that includes clinical rotations or at least six months of lab experience. A bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 degree is preferable, particularly for those who wish to move up within the lab. Relevant bachelor鈥檚 degrees may include a听bachelor鈥檚 in healthcare administration听or听health and human services. Those seeking a master鈥檚 degree might opt for a听master鈥檚 of healthcare administration听or an听MBA in healthcare management.
- Complete certification:听Most employers require lab techs to be certified. Certifications can be earned through the American Society for Clinical Pathology () Board of Certification or the American Medical Technologists () Organization. The ASCP certification is more widely recognized and highly regarded in the field.
- Gain additional experience:听The more experience you gain in the lab, the greater chance you鈥檒l have to progress in your career. Spending time in the laboratory after earning a degree can help you reach your career goals.
Best Degrees for a Medical听Laboratory Technician
Health & Nursing
Health and Human Services 鈥� B.S.
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a...
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a difference for patients in a variety of ways.
- Time:听63% of students finish this program in 24 months
- Tuition:听$4,210 per 6-month term
- Courses:听35 total courses in this program
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Epidemiology
- Community and Public Health
- Cultural Awareness
- Pathophysiology
- Healthcare Values and Ethics
- Substance Abuse Support
This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also directly working with patients who need help.
Health & Nursing
Master of Healthcare Administration
A master's focused on managing comprehensive, value-based care, directly...
A master's focused on managing comprehensive, value-based care, directly in line with innovations in health and healthcare.
- Time:听60% of grads finish within听21 months.听
- Tuition:听$4,995 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 12 total courses in this program.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Collaborative Leadership
- Healthcare Models and Systems
- Healthcare Financial Management
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Healthcare Information Technology
Your rich experience in a health-related field can mean more when you bring a master's level of understanding to the problems that organizations need to solve.
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree 黑料传送门 offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Business
Healthcare Administration 鈥� B.S.
You can become a healthcare industry leader:...
You can become a healthcare industry leader:
Compare with B.S. Health Information Management
- Time: 63%听of graduates finish within 17 months
- Tuition:听$3,755 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 you will learn in this program include:听
- Management
- Communication
- Team Leadership
- Operations
- Scheduling
- Strategic听Planning
The online courses in this career-focused business degree program will prepare you with management-level skills and an up-to-date understanding of our healthcare delivery system.
Business
MBA Healthcare Management
Prepare for a career leading private or public healthcare organizations....
Prepare for a career leading private or public healthcare organizations.
- Time:听黑料传送门听lets you set a schedule so you can finish your MBA in just one year.
- Tuition:听$4,755 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 you will learn in this program include:听
- Regulatory compliance
- Patient care improvement
- Service line development
- Healthcare trends
- Health policy and legislation
Healthcare is big business in today's complex economy.听 Steer your career with this specialty MBA.
Compare online business degrees
This program is not the only online business degree 黑料传送门 offers that is designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
How Much Does a听Medical Laboratory Technician Make?
$57,380
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the听听and technologists in 2022 was $57,380. Many听听can be around $44,000. As with most professions, pay varies depending on location and experience level.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?听
听
5%
The BLS projects the听听and technologists to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032, creating 21,800 new clinical and lab technician jobs.
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SKILLS
What Skills Does a听Medical听Laboratory Technician Need?
A medical lab tech can have various key responsibilities. Some may include:
- Preparing samples.听Medical lab technicians get samples ready to be analyzed. They then use specialized equipment to study microorganisms. MLTs may also perform other functions like examining blood for transfusions and determining drug levels in the blood.
- Running tests.听Medical lab techs often perform tests on various bodily fluids鈥攎ost commonly blood or urine. They test for diseases by monitoring levels of certain substances that indicate the presence of disease or other ailments.
- Recording data.听Doctors must receive results in order to notify patients of suggested action. Lab techs record the data so this can happen.听
- Ensuring accuracy.听Making sure tests and analyses are carried out accurately is critical. Inaccurate recording could lead to errant reporting and devastating consequences. For instance, if data is wrongly recorded, a healthy patient might incorrectly be informed that they have a certain condition. If a patient is prescribed medication for a disease they don鈥檛 have, the side effects could be severe, not to mention any potential mental, emotional, and legal repercussions of such an error.
- Maintaining equipment.听It鈥檚 vital that lab equipment remains sanitary and in good working condition, according to听. Lab techs must keep a close eye on the instruments they use and dispose of any that are contaminated or not fit for use. In many cases, certain smaller pieces of equipment are only used once to avoid the risk of cross-contamination.
- Creating and maintaining organizational systems.听Experienced lab technicians may be charged with designing a way to keep samples organized. They follow听听and frequently communicate with their supervisor or laboratory manager.
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No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at 黑料传送门 year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree鈥攕ooner than you might think!
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