Unlike other states, Illinois state does not oversee and regulate the profession of lab technicians. As such, you do not need to get licensed in the state of Illinois to become a lab technician.

However, this does not mean you don’t need to have the right level of education or experience. Most lab tech employers in Illinois will require certification from a recognized association like the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) or American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

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

Education:

1) Be a high school graduate, or have a GED equivalent and have an associate degree in a laboratory science from an accredited institution or

2) Be a high school graduate/GED and complete a clinical laboratory training program accredited by the US Department of Health and Human Services with one year of experience.

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

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

Education:

1) Earn an associate degree in applied science or medical technology from an accredited institution plus three years of full-time experience in the technical discipline or

2) Earn a masters, doctoral, or bachelors degree with a major in a physical, biological, chemical or clinical laboratory science/medical technology plus one year of full-time experience in the technical discipline or

3) Complete ninety (90) semester hours at an accredited institution or college with a major in a physical, biological, chemical or chemical laboratory science/medical technology plus one year of full-time experience in the technical discipline.

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