Becoming a Medical Lab Technician: Lab Tech Career Information

If you're someone who is scientifically inclined, and would enjoy a medical job that feels more "behind the scenes", then you should consider Medical Lab Technician training. Learn about what’s involved in becoming a medical lab technician and start your journey today!

Medical Lab Tech Job Overview

Medical Lab Technicians work in hospitals and labs performing tests on patient tissue, blood, fluids, and other bodily samples. Even though they are behind the scenes, medical lab techs play a significant role in diagnosing and preventing contagious and deadly diseases like cancer and HIV. There are many different sophisticated machines such as microscopes and cell counters that medical lab technicians use.

A Day in the Life of a Medical Lab Tech

We know that medical lab technicians collect patient samples. What exactly do they do with these samples? And what other responsibilities do medical lab technicians have?

Medical lab technicians also:

• Analyze and record findings based on test results
• Study all aspects of a blood sample for transfusion purposes by recording number of cells, blood type, and compatibility with other blood types
• Operate required equipment such as microscopes, cell counters, autoclaves, hotplates, hematology analyzers, etc.
• Sanitize the lab area
• Detect abnormalities or diseases by testing samples
• Identify parasites, microorganisms, and bacteria in samples
• Perform tests that help diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses

Specialties include microbiology, blood banking, hematology, clinical chemistry, molecular biology, cytotechnology.

Medical Lab Tech Soft Skills

Medical lab technicians should have a strong work ethic and passion for helping patients. There are other qualities that employers are looking for when hiring medical lab technicians. These include but are not limited to:

• Being a good troubleshooter. A part of the job is being able to quickly identify different health issues through lab work, and deciding the proper next-steps needing to be taken.
• You can remain self-motivated. Working in a lab can be a solitary job — although you will still interact with medical personnel — you will mainly conduct lab work on your own.
• You care. You care about patients, their health, and improving everyone's quality of life. Your care motivates you to get your job done well.
• You’re a techie. Working in this field, you'll need to be familiar with the latest software and the equipment you use to complete your lab work.
• Strong communication skills. Communication is essential; you'll need to communicate your findings with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. You also must be an excellent listener.

How to Become a Medical Lab Tech

Becoming a medical lab technician can take one to two years, depending on if you decide to get a certificate or an associate degree. Here are the steps to take if you’re considering becoming a medical lab technician:

• Receive your high school diploma or GED equivalent. High school classes such as algebra, chemistry, and physics will prepare you for this career.
• Complete an associate degree or certificate program in clinical/medical lab technology.

*There are some hospitals that offer medical lab tech certificate programs but they are limited, and admission qualifications vary.

• Once you’ve graduated from an accredited lab tech program, you should consider certification. Becoming certified is not required in all states, but it can help you stand out to future employers.
• Some states require that their medical lab technicians get licensed. Each state has different requirements that must be met, so it’s important to call your local state boards to find out what your requirements are. American Medical Technologists, American Association of Bioanalysts, and American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Certification and Licensing Requirements

Becoming certified demonstrates to employers that an individual has the knowledge and skills needed to deliver results that are reliable, accurate, and high quality. Certification can also result in better employment opportunities for a technician, along with a higher paycheck.

There are two leading boards that offer medical lab technician certification. They are the ASCP Board of Certification and the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

The ASCP Board of Certification is one of the leading certification boards for medical lab technicians. Before submitting an application to sit for the certification exam, you'll be required to submit the following. Application fees are $215.

You will be required to submit the following:

• Documentation of required experience
• Training documentation
• Notarized official transcript
• Letter of authenticity

Next, to be considered eligible for the ASCP exam, you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

1. An associate degree or at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university. The successful completion of an accredited medical lab technician program within the last five years.
2. An associate degree or at least 60 semester hours of relevant course credits from an accredited program. This must include 6 semester hours of chemistry and 6 semester hours of biology, PLUS the ASCP certification.
3. An associate degree or at least 60 semester hours of course credits from an accredited college program. This must have included 6 semester hours of chemistry and 6 semester hours of biology, AND to have successfully finished a 50 week U.S. military medical laboratory training course within the last ten years.
4. An associate degree or at least 60 semester hours of course credits from an accredited college. This should include 6 credit hours of chemistry and 6 credit hours of biology, PLUS three years full-time acceptable clinical lab experience in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and urinalysis/body fluids in the U.S., Canada, or an accredited laboratory within the last six years.

Your application must be completed online. Applicants will need a valid driver's license, the name of the accredited and approved college or university, his/her official start/end date of program, and name and contact information of the program director. You must also renew your certification every three years.

American Medical Technologists is another popular board that provides certification for medical lab technicians. To be considered eligible for the AMT exam, you must have received at least an associate degree from an accredited institution. Application fees are $160, and applications must be submitted online.

You will be required to submit the following:

• Application summary
• Acknowledgement letter
• Authorization to test letter
• Completed review/practice exam

Next, to be considered eligible for the AMT exam, you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

1. Completion of two years or 60 credit hours of courses from an accredited institution. Includes: 25 credit hours in clinical lab science, and 6 months of approved lab internship or experience.
2. Completion of two years of courses from an accredited institution. Includes clinical rotation involving blood banking, microbiology, chemistry, and hematology testing, OR a documented 6 months of approved laboratory experience involving blood banking, microbiology, chemistry, and hematology testing.
3. Completion of a 50-week lab technician training program offered through the U.S. Military.
4. Completion of another program recognized and approved by the AMT. Documentation of education (within the last 5 years) and employment (6 months within those previous 5 years) with an AMT approved program. Applicant should take or pass a generalist MLT exam administered by an institution that is recognized and approved by AMT.

To maintain the AMT certification, an annual fee must be paid, and comply with the Certification Continuation Program (CCP) by renewing every three years.

Lab Tech Career Options

A medical lab technician is one of those careers that can unlock many opportunities later in life. Many medical lab techs continue their education post bachelor’s degree to become a lab technologist, and then a lab manager or supervisor. Lab managers and supervisors hold advanced degrees in management, biological sciences, or medical technology. Earning a doctorate can promote a supervisor to lab director.

Medical lab technicians can also choose to specialize in areas such as immunology, histotechnology, clinical chemistry, blood banking, and microbiology.

Science technicians, dental technicians, and veterinary technicians are some other career opportunities available to medical lab technicians.

Medical Lab Tech Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical lab technicians earned an average salary of $62,870 in 2023, with the top 10 percent making $93,900 or more!

Top Paying States for Medical Lab Technicians in 2023

Medical Lab Tech Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that by 2032, demand for medical lab technicians is expected to increase 5 percent, which is slightly faster than the national average for all occupations. The aging population means more diagnosing of illnesses. Medical lab technicians who are licensed and certified are expected to remain competitive in the job market.