How to Become a Certified Medical Tech in 3 Steps

Medical techs are the people that work behind the scenes in medical facilities. They're often responsible for testing and analyzing samples so doctors can make diagnoses and determine treatment plans.

To become a medical tech, you'll need to earn a degree and obtain certification. Below, we'll dive into what a medical tech does and what steps you need to take to become one.

What Is a Medical Tech?

Medical technicians and technologists, sometimes called clinical lab techs, help doctors diagnose and treat patients by collecting, testing, and analyzing patient samples.

Depending on your specialty and where you work, you may have numerous duties as a medical tech. These include:

• analyzing test results
• assisting doctors with certain procedures
• discussing patient results with the patient's health care team
• drawing blood and taking samples
• ensuring quality control of samples
• studying blood samples for transfusion
• testing samples in the lab
• uploading test results to the patient's chart

Medical techs may choose to specialize, especially if they work within a larger healthcare setting. Some common specializations may include:

• blood bank technologists: collect, classify, and prepare blood for transfusions
• chemistry technologists: prepare samples and analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids
• cytotechnologists: prepare slides of body cells and look at them under a microscope, checking for abnormalities
• hematology technologists: analyze blood samples and look for blood conditions or diseases
• histotechnologists: examine human tissue to identify diseases
• immunology technologists: test samples involving the human immune system
• microbiology technologists: analyze and identify microorganisms like bacteria
• molecular biology technologists: perform protein and nucleic acid tests, like gene sequencing, on cell samples

Medical techs may work in a variety of healthcare settings, such as clinics, hospitals, physicians' offices, and diagnostic labs.

The term 'medical tech' may refer to medical technicians or medical technologists. While there is some crossover between the two roles, a medical technologist is a more advanced role.

The paths to becoming a medical technician and medical technologist are very similar. We've outlined the basic steps below.

Some states have specific regulations for medical techs. Make sure you check the information for the state you plan to work in to ensure you meet all requirements.

Step 1: Earn a Degree

The first step to becoming a certified medical tech is to earn a degree in medical technology or clinical laboratory science.

If you're looking to become a medical technician, you'll need at least an associate degree. These programs are usually about 60 credits and take about two years to complete.

Associate degrees are usually earned through community or technical colleges, although some larger colleges and universities may offer them.

The armed forces also offer medical tech programs for eligible military members.

For those wanting to become medical technologists, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree. These are usually four-year programs that require about 120 credits.

These programs will train you to work as a medical tech and to pass the required certification exams. Course topics may include:

• anatomy and physiology
• biochemistry
• immunology
• lab safety and management
• microbiology
• phlebotomy

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences accredits medical tech programs. You can find a full list of accredited medical tech programs at naacls.org.

Step 2: Obtain Certification

To become a certified medical tech, you'll need to obtain certification. There are a few bodies in the United States that offer certification for medical techs.

American Association of Bioanalysts

The American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) is made up of two certification boards: the AAB Board of Registry (ABOR) and the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB).

The ABB certifies directors and supervisory roles, while the ABOR certifies 'bench-level' laboratorians such as technologists and technicians.

Certifications offered by the ABOR include:

• Medical Technologist (MT)
• Molecular Diagnostics Technologist (MDxT)
• Andrology Laboratory Scientist (ALS)
• Embryology Laboratory Scientist (ELS)
• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)

Requirements for these certifications vary, but all require some amount of education and experience and for you to pass a certification exam.

American Medical Technologists

American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers certification for health care assistants, techs, and other specialists.

Medical tech certification offered by AMT includes:

• Medical Laboratory Assistant (CMLA)
• Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)
• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
• Molecular Diagnostics Technologist (MDT)
• Phlebotomy Technician (RPT)

Each certification exam has its own requirements. Generally, you'll need an associate or bachelor's degree that includes courses in specific areas as well as some amount of clinical experience.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) offers several certifications for medical laboratory specialists.

These certifications include:

• blood banking (BB)
• chemistry technologist (C)
• cytogenetics technologist (CG)
• cytotechnologist (CT)
• hematology technologist
• histotechnician (HT)
• histotechnologist (HTL)
• medical laboratory scientist (MLS)
• medical laboratory technician (MLT)
• microbiology technologist (M)
• molecular biology technologist (MB)
• phlebotomy technician (PBT)

Multiple pathways are available to qualify for each certification exam. Most involve some level of education and experience.

Step 3: Become Licensed (As Needed)

A handful of states require that lab techs are licensed in order to practice. These states are:

• California
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Montana
• Nevada
• New York
• North Dakota
• Tennessee
• West Virginia

Each state has its own requirements for licensure. Many states will accept a national certification exam, but some states have their own exam that you will need to pass before earning a license.

Become a Certified Lab Tech

To become a certified lab tech, you'll need to earn a related degree and pass a certification exam. Some states require licensure, which may mean you need to take additional steps.