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Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician

Overview and Key Facts

laboratory technician receiving samples for analysis
Education
Education
Associate's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$61,890
Job Growth
Job Growth
1.70%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
357,200

What Do They Do?

A medical or clinical laboratory technician could...

 
muscle tissue
Prepare tissue sample slides and examine them under a microscope to check for signs of disease.
man testing yellow liquid
Ensure a fair competition by testing athletes' urine for performance-enhancing drugs.
heart
Measure cholesterol levels to determine if a person is at increased risk for heart disease.
doctor and patient
Identify the bacteria causing a patient's infection so that his or her doctor can prescribe the right antibiotic.
 
muscle tissue man testing yellow liquid heart doctor and patient

Overview Listen to this section

Doctors need information to decide if a person is healthy or sick, if a baby's earache is bacterial or viral, or if the man next door needs medication to lower his cholesterol and prevent a heart attack. The information often comes in the form of results from lab tests. Medical and clinical laboratory technicians are the people who perform these routine medical laboratory tests, giving the doctors the information needed to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease.
In this interview, a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) discusses her typical day at work, the qualifications needed for the job, and advice for students considering this line of work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6O189p1Tjg

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician?


  1. Active Listening: ?
  2. Reading Comprehension: ?
  3. Speaking: ?
  4. Critical Thinking: ?
  5. Science: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician might do:
  • Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
  • Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
  • Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
  • Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
  • Collect blood or tissue samples from patients, observing principles of asepsis to obtain blood sample.
  • Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician jobs (1.70%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Medical and clinical laboratory technicians generally have either an associate's degree from a community or junior college or a certificate from a hospital, vocational or technical school, or from one of the U.S. Armed Forces. A few technicians learn their skills on the job.

Certification is a voluntary process by which a nongovernmental organization, such as a professional society or certifying agency, grants recognition to an individual whose professional competence meets prescribed standards. For medical and laboratory technicians in the health industry, certification is a prerequisite for most jobs and often is necessary for advancement. Agencies certifying medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians include the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the American Medical Technologists, the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, and the Board of Registry of the American Association of Bioanalysts.

Some states also require laboratory personnel to be licensed or registered. Information on licensure is available from state departments of health or boards of occupational licensing.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Associate's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A career as a medical or clinical laboratory technician requires either an associate's degree from a community or junior college, or a certificate from a hospital, vocational, or technical school. Training can also be found in various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Companies That Hire Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Meet Michael Yu, a Clinical/Medical Laboratory Scientist at Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Hospital.
The fact that people trust us as professionals and that we are involved in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of patients makes me proud to be part of the laboratory team. 
Michael Yu, Chemistry Supervisor (Clinical/Medical Laboratory Scientist)
Meet Becky Davis, who has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings in rural South Dakota while always putting patient care first.
I want my patients to know that they are not just an identification or room number but an important person who deserves the very best service from me, my laboratory and my healthcare facility. 
Becky Davis, MLT

Nature of the Work

Clinical and medical laboratory personnel examine and analyze body fluids, and cells. They look for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions; and test for drug levels in blood, which show how a patient is responding to treatment. Technicians also prepare specimens for examination, count cells, and look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids. They use microscopes, cell counters, and other sophisticated laboratory equipment. They also use automated equipment and computerized instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously. After testing and examining a specimen, they analyze the results and relay them to physicians.

Work Environment

Working hours and other working conditions of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vary, according to the size and type of employment setting. In large hospitals or in independent laboratories that operate continuously, personnel usually work the day, evening, or night shift and may work weekends and holidays.

Laboratory personnel in small facilities may work on rotating shifts, rather than on a regular shift. In some facilities, laboratory personnel are on-call several nights a week or on weekends, in case of an emergency. Clinical laboratory personnel must be thorough and accurate. They are trained to work with infectious specimens. When proper methods of infection control and sterilization are followed, few hazards exist. Protective masks, gloves, and goggles are often necessary to ensure the safety of laboratory personnel.

Laboratories usually are well-lit and clean; however, specimens, solutions, and reagents used in the laboratory sometimes produce fumes. Laboratory workers may spend a great deal of time on their feet.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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