Medical laboratory technicians are nationally certified.
Medical laboratory technicians are generally employed in hospitals or private testing facilities to examine patient samples for abnormalities as well as to check cell counts or blood types. Those looking to pursue this career path should find accredited certificate or associate degree programs; once completed, student can take a national exam to become certified.
Job Duties
A medical laboratory technician collects, prepares and analyzes blood, urine and other bodily fluids. A tech uses laboratory equipment to evaluate these samples for bacteria, micro-organisms or other signs of abnormality. A tech matches blood donor types with patients who need blood transfusions. A tech also determines blood cell counts, blood cell morphology and blood drug levels and communicates the results to a physician so he can determine the course of treatment. A medical laboratory technician also cleans equipment, analyzes and assures data produced from laboratory assistants and directs the laboratory assistant to manage the workload.
Education Requirements
To become a medical laboratory technician, you must complete a certificate program or earn an associate degree from an accredited medical laboratory technician program. You must seek certification ins the state in which you will work. National certification programs are offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the American Medical Technologist (AMT), which award the title of Certified Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) if you pass the exams.
Average Salalry
According to mysalary.com, the average annual salary for a medical laboratory technician is $41,587 as of 2010. With the national accreditation certification and four years experience in the field, a medical lab tech is then considered a senior medical laboratory technician. The average annual salary for a senior medical lab tech is $49,999. If you choose to continue schooling to earn a bachelor's degree, you would then be eligible to become a medical technologist and earn an average annual salary of $58,903 as of 2010.
Career Outlook
The career outlook for medical laboratory technicians is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a 14 percent growth in employment by 2018. The growing need for medical lab techs results from more patients pursuing preventative health treatment and patient health issues in general.
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