USA Career Guide- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Education needed to be Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in the USA

The usual requirement for an entry-level position as a clinical laboratory technologist is a bachelor's degree with a major in medical technology or in one of the life sciences; although it is possible to qualify through a combination of education, on-the-job, and specialized training. Universities and hospitals offer medical technology programs.

Licenses

Some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed or registered. To be licensed, a technologist often needs a bachelor's degree and must pass an exam. However, requirements vary by state and specialty. For specific requirements, contact your state’s department of health or board of occupational licensing.

Certification

Some states and individual technicians require Certification of medical laboratory technologists and technicians. Employers typically prefer to hire certified technologists and technicians. Medical laboratory technologists and technicians can obtain a general certification as a medical laboratory technologist or technician, or a certification in a specialty, such as phlebotomy or medical biology.

Prerequisites: Most credentials require that technologists complete an accredited education program to qualify to sit for an examination. Continuing education is required in most cases to maintain certification.

Many employers prefer certification from a professional association:
•    American Association of Bioanalysts
•    American Medical Technologists
•    American Society for Clinical Pathology

Pay of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

As per  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage of medical laboratory technologists was $56,130 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned more than $38,810, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $76,780.


 The median annual wages in selected industries employing medical laboratory technologists in May 2010 were as follows:

Federal government    $62,880
Hospitals; state, local, and private    56,470
Medical and diagnostic laboratories    55,930
Offices of physicians    52,250
Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics


Job Prospects of  Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Employment of medical laboratory technologists is expected to grow by 11 percent between 2010 and 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations as projected by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. Employment of medical laboratory technicians is expected to grow by 15 percent between 2010 and 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Over half of the jobs are held in hospitals, though others are found in medical and diagnostic laboratories and the offices of physicians. A few jobs are found in ambulatory healthcare services and educational services.
Rapid job growth is expected in the field along with excellent job opportunities for medical and clinical laboratory technicians.for

Industrial Overview of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held about 330,600 jobs in 2010. Fifty-two percent of medical laboratory technologists and technicians were employed in hospitals in 2010. Most others worked in doctors' offices or diagnostic laboratories:

Hospitals; state, local, and private    52%
Medical and diagnostic laboratories    16
Offices of physicians    10
Federal government    3


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