Lab Tech Career | A Complete Guide

U. S. News & World Report recently came out with their “The  50 Best Careers of 2010″ and we’re delighted to see that lab technician is one of them.

The lab technician career was chosen based on the aging baby boomer population and the need within the healthcare system to support their growing healthcare needs. The article describes the lab tech career as a bit ‘under-the-radar that requires less schooling’ which we know is not necessarily true if you decide to go on to become a medical lab technologist.

Lab technician was ranked #3 after x-ray technician and veterinarian for Best Healthcare Careers 2010.

Again, we are excited to see that lab technicians are getting recognized by the popular media as a well regarded career that is in high demand and holds great promise for those looking to get into healthcare.

We’ve included the link to the U. S. News & World article here: Best Careers of 2010.

Like several states, Indiana is one where it does not oversee and require official licensing to begin a career as a medical lab technician or medical technologist. Read: no annual fees and paperwork!

Lab Tech Career has looked into numerous job listings in Indiana and has determined that there are few minimum requirements for getting a job as a medical lab technician or medical technologist, specifically around education and relevant experience.

For a lab technician, most places of work require an Associate’s Degree with one (1) year of clinical laboratory experience or Bachelor’s of Science and one (1) year of clinical laboratory experience.

For a medical technologist, you’ll need a Bachelors degree from an accredited medical lab technologist school and certification or eligibility to be certified from the ASCP.

Similar to the state of Texas, the state of New Jersey does not oversee and regulate the licensing of laboratory technicians. This doesn’t mean the requirements to start a career in lab tech or getting a job in the field is any easier. Education, experience, and credentials are still key to becoming gainfully employed as a lab technician.

Most lab tech employers in New Jersey still want to see you get certification from a recognized authority like the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). If you look at most job postings for lab technicians in New Jersey, you’ll find that practically every one requires that you already have certification from the ASCP or some equivalent like the NCA.

To become certified by the ASCP as a medical laboratory technician (MLT), you will need to invest some time and money into a combination of school, exams, and/or relevant work experience.

For Education:

1) Have an associate degree or at least 60 semester hours of academic credit from an accredited school.

plus

2a) Complete a NAACLS accredited program within the last five (5) years; or

2b) Have 6 semester hours of chemistry or 6 semester hours of biology and CLA certification; or

2c) Have 6 semester hours of chemistry or 6 semester hours of biology and completion of a fifty (50) week U.S. military medical laboratory training course with official notarized documentation; or

2d) Have 6 semester hours of chemistry or 6 semester hours of biology and three (3) years of full time clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Clinical Microscopy in the U.S., Canada, or CAP/The Joint Commission accredited laboratory within the last ten (10) years.

Satisfying one of the 1) plus of one of the 2a-2d allows you to sit for the MLT (ASCP) exam which costs $185.

Exam: Pass the ASCP’s Board of Registry’s examination for Medical Laboratory Technician

To become certified by the ASCP as a medical laboratory technologist (MT), you will need to do the following:

For Education:

1) Have a bachelor’s degree including courses in biology, chemistry and math plus completion of a NAACLS accredited Medical Technologist program within the last five years.

or

2) Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with 16 semesters hours of biology, 16 semester hours of chemistry, 1 semester of math;

plus

2a) MLT (ASCP) certification and two years of full-time clinical laboratory experience  in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology and Clinical Microscopy within the last ten years; or

2b) CLA (ASCP) certification and four years of full-time clinical laboratory experience  in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology and Clinical Microscopy within the last ten years; or

2c) Five years of full-time clinical laboratory experience  in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology and Clinical Microscopy within the last ten years

Satisfying one of the 1) or 2) plus of one of the 2a-2c allows you to sit for the MT (ASCP) exam which costs $210.

Exam: Pass the ASCP’s Board of Registry’s examination for Medical Laboratory Technician

Jobs are looking good for those considering a career as a medical technologist. There’s a big shortage on the horizon from - increased demand for testing from swine flu and other diseases  and smaller class sizes of medical technology education programs. It has been and continues to be a critical role in patient care since 90% of people who go to the hospital need some type of lab work done.

Here’s a recent and informative article from the Tampa Bay Online news site that gives more detail about Swine Flu and Hot Careers for Medical Technologists.

The state of Texas does not oversee and regulate the profession of lab technicians so you don’t need be licensed by the state. While you won’t need to go through the process of getting licensed in the state of Texas,  you’ll still need to have the right level of education and credentials to find a job as a lab technician.

Almost all lab tech employers in Texas require certification from a recognized association like the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). In looking at most job postings for lab technicians in Texas, you’ll find that practically every one requires that you’re eligible to be certified by the ASCP or already have certification from the ASCP.

To become certified by the ASCP as a medical laboratory technician (MLT), you will need to do the following:

Education:

1) Have an associate degree or at least 60 semester hours of academic credit from an accredited school.

plus

2a) Complete a NAACLS accredited program within the last five (5) years; or

2b) Have 6 semester hours of chemistry or 6 semester hours of biology and CLA certification; or

2c) Have 6 semester hours of chemistry or 6 semester hours of biology and completion of a fifty (50) week U.S. military medical laboratory training course with official notarized documentation; or

2d) Have 6 semester hours of chemistry or 6 semester hours of biology and three (3) years of full time clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Clinical Microscopy in the U.S., Canada, or CAP/The Joint Commission accredited laboratory within the last ten (10) years.

Satisfying one of the 1) plus of one of the 2a-2d allows you to sit for the MLT (ASCP) exam which costs $185.

Exam: Pass the ASCP’s Board of Registry’s examination for Medical Laboratory Technician

To become certified by the ASCP as a medical laboratory technologist (MT), you will need to do the following:

Education:

1) Have a bachelor’s degree including courses in biology, chemistry and math plus completion of a NAACLS accredited Medical Technologist program within the last five years.

or

2) Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with 16 semesters hours of biology, 16 semester hours of chemistry, 1 semester of math;

plus

2a) MLT (ASCP) certification and two years of full-time clinical laboratory experience  in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology and Clinical Microscopy within the last ten years; or

2b) CLA (ASCP) certification and four years of full-time clinical laboratory experience  in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology and Clinical Microscopy within the last ten years; or

2c) Five years of full-time clinical laboratory experience  in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology and Clinical Microscopy within the last ten years

Satisfying one of the 1) or 2) plus of one of the 2a-2c allows you to sit for the MT (ASCP) exam which costs $210.

Exam: Pass the ASCP’s Board of Registry’s examination for Medical Laboratory Technician

To work in the state of Florida, you will need to complete a laboratory technician training program or have a minimum level of education plus training, get certified by passing a national exam, and obtain a Florida Clinical Laboratory Personnel license. See below for more detailed requirements on your specific situation.

To become certified as a medical laboratory technician (MLT) in Florida state, you will need to do the following:

Education/Training:

1) Complete an approved clinical/medical laboratory training program or

2) Obtain five (5) years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience prior to applying for licensure or

3) Earn an associate degree plus four (4) years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience prior to applying for licensure or

4) Earn an bachelors degree plus three (3) years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience prior to applying for licensure or

Exam: Pass the ASCP, AMT, or AAB’s Board of Registry’s examination for Medical Laboratory Technician

Fees: Pay $100 for licensing application; pay $100 for licensure

To become certified as a medical technologist (MT) in Florida state, you will need to do the following:

Education/Training:

1) Complete ninety (90) semester hours of college credit plus completed a clinical laboratory training program or

2) Earn an associate degree in clinical/medical technology from an accredited institution  or

3) Earn an associate degree plus completed a military clinical laboratory training program of at least 1,500 hours or

4) Earn a bachelors degree in clinical laboratory, chemical, or biological science plus either a) completed a clinical laboratory training program or b) have three (3) years of experience in the discipline or

Exam: Pass the AAB, ASCP, or AAB’s Board of Registry’s examination for Medical Technologist

Fees: Pay $100 for licensing application; pay $100 for licensure

Additional information may be found on Florida’s Department of State website at the Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel.