Medical Lab Technician: What They Do, Pay And How To Become One

The duties of medical lab technician roles in the BLS description include the tasks below. A posting may add duties specific to one department, such as the blood bank.

• Analyze blood, urine and tissue samples and record findings
• Operate lab equipment such as microscopes and cell counters
• Log results in patient records and share them with physicians
• Follow safety procedures for infectious specimens and chemicals

The BLS names hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories and physicians' offices as the main workplaces. If you are wondering do lab techs work in hospitals, the answer is yes, and many start their careers there.

Labs that run around the clock need staff at all hours. The BLS notes that technicians in these facilities may work evening, weekend or overnight shifts, which answers do lab techs work on weekends for many hospital roles.

A cath lab tech, which the BLS calls a cardiovascular invasive specialist, helps physicians during cardiac catheterization and monitors the patient's heart rate. Entry usually takes at least an associate degree or certificate in cardiovascular technology, and advertised pay is in the table above.

Dental lab technicians use impressions of a patient's teeth to make crowns, bridges and dentures. The BLS says they usually start as helpers and train on the job, making this one of the lab jobs that don't require a degree.

Clinical lab technician is another name for the medical lab technician role this guide covers. Postings use both titles, so search for each when you look for openings.

Forensic science technicians analyze evidence for criminal investigations, in labs or at crime scenes, and may testify in court. The BLS says entry usually requires a bachelor's degree in a natural science or forensic science.

The usual degree for medical lab technician work is an associate degree in clinical laboratory science or medical laboratory technology. The BLS notes some people enter after a one-year certificate program, including programs offered through the Armed Forces.

Choosing an accredited school for medical lab technician training matters, because certification bodies usually require it. NAACLS accredits MLT programs and lists them in its program search.

The main certification for medical lab technician work is the MLT credential from the ASCP Board of Certification or from American Medical Technologists. The BLS says employers typically prefer certified technicians, and some states require certification for a license.

For the ASCP route most graduates use, you need an associate degree (or 60 semester hours) and a NAACLS- or ABHES-accredited MLT program finished within the last five years. AMT also accepts graduates of NAACLS-accredited programs and lists other routes based on coursework and lab experience.

Expect about as long as an associate degree takes, plus time to sit a certification exam. If you ask how long do lab techs go to school, the BLS answer is an associate degree for most, or a one-year certificate for some.

You do not need lab work experience to start, because accredited programs include clinical training. That training gives you the hands-on hours employers look for on your first application.

Without schooling it is harder: can you be a lab tech without a degree depends on the role and the state. Dental labs and some research or industrial labs train on the job, while clinical labs usually want an accredited program.

Many lab postings quote an hourly rate, especially for shift work. Use the salary to hourly calculator to compare an annual offer with an hourly one.

The associate degree is the standard credential for this role, so most advertised MLT pay already reflects it. A bachelor's degree usually leads to the technologist title, which the BLS describes as doing more complex testing.

Hospital labs often run evening, overnight and weekend shifts, and some postings add shift differentials. See advertised pay by state on the medical lab technician salary page.

Medical lab scientist is the current certification name for a technologist, as in the MLS(ASCP) credential. The comparison above applies: the scientist role needs a bachelor's degree and handles more complex testing.

A phlebotomist draws blood and labels samples, while a lab technician analyzes those samples. The BLS says most phlebotomists finish a certificate program of under a year, which is shorter than MLT training.

The BLS publishes a job outlook for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in its Occupational Outlook Handbook. For current demand where you live, check live lab technician jobs.

It can be, because results affect patient care and urgent tests come with time pressure. Clear procedures, quality checks and limited patient contact help many techs manage that stress.

Entry level lab roles include MLT positions for new graduates, lab assistant and specimen processing jobs. Search for new grad MLT or lab assistant to see which employers train newcomers.

Lab assistant and specimen processor roles often list no experience required. They are lab tech jobs with training on site and a way to see a clinical lab before committing to an MLT program.