What Is the Best Degree Path for Becoming a Clinical Lab Technician?

How Do You Become a Clinical Lab Technician?

If you’re considering a career as a clinical lab technician in high school, you’ll want to take plenty of science and math classes. For science courses, lab components are important, as you’ll gain experience with laboratory techniques and learn how to operate standard equipment. You’ll also become familiar with safety procedures that will be useful to you in college-level science labs. Some of the courses in high school you should take in preparation for college include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Statistics (if offered)

The first step in your clinical lab technician schooling at the college level is to obtain a degree. But the degree depends on which career path you plan to take. Clinical lab technologists need bachelor’s degrees to work in laboratories. However, clinical lab technicians usually hold associate degrees or postsecondary certificates. AS degrees typically take two years to complete and consist of taking general requirements and science courses with lab components. Once you’ve completed your education for clinical lab technician jobs, you’re ready for licensing. Some states require that both technologists and technicians have licensing. However, licensing requirements vary by state. Specific state requirements can be found at:

• State boards of occupational licensing
• State departments of health
• The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

States and employers may also require certifications. In fact, certification is required for licensing in many states. Also, some employers may require certification to land a job. Some employers prefer hiring certified technicians and technologists.

What Degree Does a Clinical Lab Technician Need?

Associate’s Degree One of the best degrees for clinical lab technician jobs is the associate degree. The most common degree for clinical lab techs, as required by employers, is the associate’s degree in clinical laboratory science. In this program, students fulfill general requirements for an AS degree, but they also take courses that satisfy the clinical lab requirement. These courses cover topics such as:

• Clinical chemistry
• Clinical practicum
• Hematology
• Immunohematology
• Microbiology

Additional courses in ethics, forensic science, and general chemistry may also be required. Bachelor’s Degree While the standard clinical lab technician degree is a two-year associate degree, a bachelor’s degree can be beneficial for career advancement or if you plan to pursue a job as a clinical lab technologist. Some clinical lab techs return to school to complete a bachelor’s degree after gaining work experience. The most common bachelor’s degree program for this career path is in medical laboratory technology or medical laboratory science. In this program, you’ll take classes like:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Microbiology
• Statistics

The program is structured so that students complete general requirements and then apply to the clinical portion of the program. In the clinical lab portion, the emphasis is placed on laboratory work. Coursework emphasizes lab skills. These include:

• Equipment maintenance
• Lab management
• Safety protocol and procedures

The clinical portion of the required lab work includes hands-on training in a hospital or typical work setting. While most bachelor’s degree programs take four years to complete, some lab science programs only take two years. However, these programs require prior college coursework, such as a completed AS degree.

What Does It Take to Be a Clinical Lab Technician?

In addition to a degree for clinical lab technician jobs, certain skills and qualities are essential for long-term success. The very nature of the job as a lab tech or technologist requires skills that are not always taught in a classroom. Below are several important qualities that a clinical laboratory technician needs.

• Detail-orientation: To accurately perform tests and procedures, clinical laboratory technicians must follow exact instructions and adhere to precise safety protocol. Being detail-oriented is a must for this occupation.
• Dexterity: Clinical lab technicians and technologists work with their hands. They must be skilled when working closely with needles and laboratory instruments. To use tools effectively, manual dexterity is needed.
• Physical stamina: Laboratory technicians work long hours on their feet. Depending on the facility they work in, they may be required to lift patients to collect samples for testing.
• Technological savvy: Clinical laboratory technicians operate computerized laboratory equipment. They often input information into computers and take readings from lab tools.

What Classes to Take in High School

Starting early on your journey exploring how to become a clinical lab technician is beneficial, especially if you’re still in high school. The classes you take in high school will prepare you for college, and they can even lay a foundation for your career. High-school students interested in becoming a clinical lab technician or technologist should take classes like:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Physics

Electives might include:

• Astronomy
• Environmental science
• Forensic science
• Zoology

Any lab-science course can be beneficial for a high-school student pursuing a career in clinical lab technology.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Clinical Lab Technician?

Clinical Lab Technician Once you’ve determined the best degree for clinical lab technician jobs, you should also consider the time it will take to complete your education. Clinical lab technicians need a postsecondary certificate or an associate’s degree to work in the occupation. Most employers require an associate’s degree in clinical laboratory science. A typical associate’s degree in clinical lab science generally takes two years to complete. Clinical Lab Technologist To become a clinical lab technologist, one generally needs a bachelor’s degree in the following:

• Anatomy
• Biology
• Medical technology
• Physiology

A clinical lab technician major is any major related to the life sciences field. Earning a bachelor’s degree in any of the above disciplines is beneficial for those pursuing a career as a technologist. In these programs, students gain considerable lab experience. They learn safety protocols and how to use equipment. Bachelor’s degree programs typically take four years to complete. However, students entering bachelor’s degree programs with an AS degree may shorten the time it takes to complete requirements. In fact, students with associate degrees can shave two years off their schooling while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

How to Become a Clinical Lab Technician Without a Degree

If you’ve wondered how to become a clinical lab technician without a college degree, the answer varies. Often, clinical lab techs complete an associate’s degree program in clinical laboratory science. However, some technical and vocational organizations, and the Armed Forces, offer certificate programs for medical lab techs. In some cases, a certificate might land you a job. However, most employers prefer that candidates for clinical lab technician roles hold associate degrees.

Certifications or Licenses for Becoming a Clinical Lab Technician

Now that you know the degree to become a clinical lab technician, it’s important to understand the requirements for licensing or certification. Some states require laboratory workers to be licensed, but requirements vary by state and lab specialty. The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science provides specific requirements for technicians and technologists. After earning a required clinical lab technician college degree, you may consider certification. Again, some states require certification of clinical lab technicians and technologists for licensure. While certification isn’t required to enter the occupation by most employers, it is preferred. There are several different types of certifications offered for clinical lab technicians and technologists. Some of the most common of these are:

• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
• Medical Technologist (MT)

Clinical lab techs can earn a general certification, as indicated above, as an MLT, or a certification in a specialty area, such as:

• Cytotechnology
• Medical Biology

To become certified in cytotechnology or medical biology, requirements include the completion of an accredited program and a passing score on an examination.

How Much Money Does a Clinical Lab Technician Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for clinical laboratory technicians and technologists is $54,180. The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the BLS also reports that the lowest 10% of all earners in this occupation make less than $31,450, while the highest paid 10% make more than $83,700. Various factors impact earnings for clinical lab techs. First, the industry in which you work has an impact on your earnings potential. The BLS reports five top-paying industries for clinical lab technicians and technologists. These are:

• Outpatient care centers: $57,640
• General medical and surgical hospitals: $56,630
• Junior colleges, colleges, professional schools, and universities: $52,260
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $52,250
• Physician offices: $48,260

Both outpatient care centers and general medical and surgical hospitals offer higher-than-average wages for clinical lab techs. In addition to industry type, geographic location impacts earnings for clinical laboratory technicians and technologists. Certain states, cities, and regions affect one’s earning potential as a lab tech. According to the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics published by the BLS, the following states offer higher-than-average earnings for this occupation. Top-paying states and annual mean wages are reported below:

• Alaska: $69,390
• Connecticut: $69,340
• New York: $68,630
• Rhode Island: $68,570
• Oregon: $67,930

Certain metropolitan areas also offer significantly higher-than-average earnings for clinical lab technicians and technologists. In some locations, clinical lab techs earn more than $20,000 more than the average earnings for this occupation. The following are the top-paying metro areas for this occupation:

• Carson City, Nevada: $78,340
• San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, California: $77,390
• Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California: $75,970
• Barnstable Town, Massachusetts: $75,670
• Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, California: $74,840
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California: $74,520
• Anchorage, Alaska: $73,900
• Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California: $73,140
• Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California: $72,760
• Fairbanks, Alaska: $72,720

Some metro areas experience high costs of living. This means that your money won’t stretch as far as it could if you lived in other areas of the country. However, there are non-metropolitan areas that also offer higher-than-average earnings for clinical lab technicians. Five top-paying non-metro areas for this occupation include:

• Massachusetts non-metro: $73,590
• North Valley-Northern Mountains region of California non-metro: $73,570
• Coastal Oregon non-metro: $71,520
• Eastern Oregon non-metro: $67,740
• West Central-Southwest New Hampshire non-metro: $66,710

What Is the Job Outlook for Clinical Lab Technicians?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a favorable job outlook is expected for clinical lab technicians for the next decade. In fact, the BLS reports an 11% employment growth for clinical lab technicians and technologists through 2030. Approximately 25,900 job openings for clinical lab techs are expected each year over the next 10 years. These openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who retire or transfer to another occupation. But other reasons also impact job growth.

• Aging population
• Diagnosis of medical conditions
• Equipment maintenance
• Prenatal testing

An increase in the aging population is expected to result in a growing need to diagnose medical conditions through lab procedures. Lab technicians will be needed to diagnose conditions such as diabetes and cancer. Also, the need for more prenatal testing will drive demand for this occupation. In fact, as more technological advances occur, the need and ability to test for more genetic conditions will also occur. Clinical lab techs will also be needed to use and maintain the sophisticated equipment needed for testing, treatment, and diagnosis.

What Is the Work Environment Like for Clinical Lab Technicians?

According to the BLS, approximately 335,500 jobs were held by clinical lab technicians and technologists last year. The largest employers for this occupation are as follows:

• General medical and surgical hospitals: 47%
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories: 20%
• Physician offices: 9%
• Colleges, junior colleges, professional schools, and universities: 5%
• Outpatient care centers: 4%

Clinical lab technicians typically work in laboratories housed within hospitals, physician offices, and outpatient care centers. They are trained to operate sophisticated lab equipment, such as cell counters and microscopes. They work full time and are often on their feet multiple hours a day. Due to their work with infectious specimens, lab techs must be properly trained in safety protocols. To minimize risks of exposure, laboratory technicians wear protective gloves, goggles, and masks. Also, to help control infection, they must be trained on how to properly sterilize the equipment they use. BDP Staff

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This concludes our article on what is the best degree path for becoming a clinical lab technician.