| | Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | Phlebotomist | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Scientist |
|---|
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree | Postsecondary Certificate | Doctorate |
| Education Field of Study | Clinical laboratory science, medical technology or life sciences | Phlebotomy | Clinical laboratory science |
| Licensure/Certification | State license requirements vary; voluntary certification available | Licensure required by four states; voluntary certification preferred by employers in all other states | License required if administering medicine; voluntary certification available |
| Key Responsibilities | Assist laboratory scientists; test medical specimens; maintain laboratory equipment | Collect blood; label vials for processing; calm nervous patients | Conduct medical research; apply for funding; analyze medical samples |
| Job Growth (2020-2030) | 11%* | 22% * | 17% (for all medical scientists, except epidemiologists)* |
| Median Salary (2020) | $54,180* | $36,320* | $91,510 (for all medical scientists, except epidemiologists)* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What is a Clinical Laboratory Science Major?
The clinical laboratory science major is a field of study that prepares students for a career testing medical specimens and assisting in medical research at public and private facilities, including hospitals. Colleges across the country offer a bachelor's degree program in clinical laboratory science. This bachelor's degree program typically takes four years to complete and includes coursework in chemistry, biology, and statistics. Programs may be offered online or in traditional classroom settings.
What Jobs Can I Do?
According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, a clinical laboratory science graduate can work as a medical technologist or clinical laboratory scientist, performing lab tests on specimens (www.ascp.org). Specialties include immunology, infection control or hematology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in each of these specialties, you would be responsible for testing medical specimens and looking for chemical reactions, medical abnormalities, or the existence of microorganisms (www.bls.gov). At a more advanced level, you could become an academic research scientist, where you would conduct studies in a particular area of interest within the field of medicine. Alternatively, you could consider becoming a phlebotomist, where you would draw blood from patients and blood donors and prepare it for processing.
How Much Can I Earn?
Your earning potential depends on several factors, including the state and the industry you work in. In 2018, according to the BLS, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in general medical and surgical hospitals earned an average of $26.79 per hour, while phlebotomists in medical and diagnostic laboratories earned a mean hourly wage of $17.69. In Rhode Island, the top-paying state for 2018, there were 780 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in 2018 and the mean hourly wage was $33.84. For Alaska, the second top-paying state where 690 individuals worked as lab technicians, the BLS reported a mean hourly pay of $32.35.
What Is Required in Addition to Classroom Learning?
While you're in school, your program may require hands-on learning through an internship at a selected hospital. This internship may last as long as 12 months. Upon graduation from an accredited clinical laboratory science degree program, you can voluntarily seek certification. Certification is offered through professional organizations such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP). Initial certification is valid for three years. After that, you'll have to recertify, through the ASCP certification maintenance program. According to the BLS, employers prefer graduates with a certification from a professional organization.
Similar to medical and clinical lab technicians, biological and chemical technicians assist biologists and chemists in their lab duties, analyzing materials, synthesizing chemicals, performing tests. You will only need a bachelor's or associate's degree (respectively) to find employment in these careers. Medical and clinical laboratory scientists have much in common with other kinds of medical scientists, such as clinical and medical informaticians, who develop new and more effective techniques to use statistics in the medical field. You may need to specialize your doctorate in a different field for this career, however.
