What Education Do You Need to Be a Medical Laboratory Technologist?

<h3 id="section---OverviewOfThisFieldOfStudy">Overview of This Field of Study</h3> <p>Medical laboratory technologists run tests on blood and other bodily fluids and need a strong background in biological sciences. Most educational programs offer a combination of general education and science based courses with a professional internship to give students the technical background needed to become medical laboratory technologists. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisFieldOfStudy">Important Facts About This Field of Study</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Online Availability</td><td> Not widely available online due to hands-on experience requirements</td></tr> <tr><td>Continuing Education</td><td> May be required to maintain certification</td></tr> <tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Able to use required technology, pays attention to detail, skilled at working with hands, is physically able to stand for long periods</td></tr> <tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Biological technicians, chemists, veterinary technicians and technologists, blood bank technologists, immunology technologists</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---EducationRequirements">Education Requirements</h3> <p>You generally need a bachelor's degree to become a medical laboratory technologist. Most technologists pursue degrees in medical technology, clinical laboratory science, or another life science. These programs combine classroom lectures and hands-on, laboratory instruction. You can expect to complete coursework like anatomy, immunology, molecular biology, genetics, and organic chemistry. </p> <h3 id="section---LicensureAndCertification">Licensure and Certification</h3> <p>Some states require you to hold licensure to be a medical laboratory technologist. To become licensed, you may be required to pass a state licensing exam. Many employers also require medical laboratory technologists to be certified by a recognized, professional association. Certification programs are offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology, the American Medical Technologists, the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and the American Association of Bioanalysts. </p> <h3 id="section---JobOutlookAndSalaryInformation">Job Outlook and Salary Information</h3> <p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>) reports that employment of medical and clinical laboratory technologists is expected to grow 7% from 2021-2031. Technological advances and research growth are contributing factors to this increase in employment. As a result, you can expect to experience excellent job opportunities as a medical laboratory technologist in the coming years. </p> <p>In May 2021, the BLS reported that the median annual wage for medical and clinical laboratory technologists was $57,800. If you were in the top ten percent of wage estimates for this career in 2021, you would have earned $79,340 or more per year, per the BLS. Medical laboratory technologists in the lowest ten percent of wage estimates earned $30,280 or less per year in 2021.</p>