Clinical Laboratory Technician |
Who are Clinical Laboratory Technicians?Is This Program in My Area?What do Clinical Laboratory Technicians do? The duties of a medical lab technician often include examining and analyzing body fluids and cells, looking for various microorganisms, analyzing the chemical content of fluids, testing drug levels in the blood, and matching blood for transfusions. They use sophisticated laboratory equipment to perform tests, most of which are automated. After performing various tests, they relay the results of the tests to physicians. Much of the technician’s work is analytical. Clinical laboratory technicians work under the supervision of clinical and medical technologists and laboratory managers as they perform tests and laboratory procedures. Often these technicians work in several areas of a clinical laboratory, or they specialize in areas. Clinical laboratory technicians serve an important role in the medical community, as they assist physicians to detect, diagnose, and treat diseases. Clinical Laboratory Technician Training Clinical laboratory technicians often only need an associate degree from a community or junior college or a certificate from a hospital, vocational or technical school, or the Armed Forces before entering the field. Some technicians even learn the skills while on the job. Clinical laboratory technician programs often involve course work in chemistry, biology, microbiology, mathematics, and statistics. Students who want to become a clinical laboratory technician should be detail-oriented and able to work under pressure. It is also important to have strong computer skills. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) has a list of approximately 270 accredited programs for medical and clinical laboratory technicians. There are also other nationally recognized agencies that provide accreditation for specific areas for clinical lab workers, such as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and the Allied Health Education Programs. Some states require laboratory technicians to be licensed or registered, but requirements vary depending on the state. Information about specific state requirements is usually available from State departments of health or occupational licensing. Clinical Laboratory Technician Certification In addition to training, some employers prefer to hire technicians who are certified by a professional organization. There are various associations that offer certification, including the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the American Medical Technologists, the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, and the Board of Registry of the American Association of Bioanalysts. Each agency has different requirements for certification. Employers also look for technicians who are good at problem solving, have good analytical judgment, and have various computer skills. Clinical laboratory technicians can advance to the position of clinical laboratory technologist through additional education and lab experience. Attaining a professional certification and a graduate or doctoral degree in medical technology is one of the fastest ways to advance in the field. Clinical Laboratory Technician Job Prospects The job outlook is excellent for individuals interested in careers as clinical laboratory technicians. Employment for clinical laboratory technicians is expected to grow 14 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is faster than the average growth for all occupations. This growth is attributed to the increase in volume of laboratory tests, the growing population, and the development of new tests. The majority of technician jobs are in hospitals, but there are an increasing number in physicians’ offices and medical and diagnostic laboratories. There are some opportunities in educational services and ambulatory health care services. Employment is expected to grow faster outside of the hospital setting, as medical and diagnostic laboratories expand and physicians and other health care services increase their laboratory services. The number of job opportunities for clinical laboratory technicians is soon expected to exceed the number of job seekers. Clinical Laboratory Technician Job Security and Salary Job opportunities for clinical laboratory technicians continue to increase daily and the demand for skilled workers is evident. The Bureau of Labor indicates that clinical laboratory technicians can earn between $21,830 and $50,250. Those technicians who advance to become clinical laboratory technologists will earn between $34,660 and $69,260. The specific salary ranges are dependent on technicians’ location, type of medical setting, experience, education, and specialty. Those technicians in general and surgical hospitals tend to earn higher salaries than those in other areas. |