Sheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation.
Sheryl Grey Education WriterSheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation.
Written By Sheryl Grey Education WriterSheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation.
Sheryl Grey Education WriterSheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation.
Education Writer Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Updated: Nov 30, 2023, 1:26pm
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Lab technicians play an essential role in the medical industry. Healthcare providers rely on these professionals to gather the information needed to diagnose medical conditions, treat patients and provide preventive care.
Lab technicians carefully test and analyze samples of bodily fluids to provide physicians with the information they need to treat their patients. They work directly with physicians and spend their days operating lab equipment and recording data. If these responsibilities sound interesting to you, you might consider a career as a lab technician.
In this article, we explore in detail how to become a lab technician, including education and certification information, so you can know what you need to do to launch a career in the field. We also cover salary and job outlook information to help you decide if this is the right career path for you.
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Lab technicians perform tests on various specimens needed for diagnosing and treating diseases and medical conditions. They collect samples from patients; analyze blood, tissue and urine samples; and provide test results to physicians, pathologists and other medical professionals. Lab techs are also responsible for cleaning, calibrating and maintaining sterile lab equipment.
Lab technicians may be generalists or specialize in a focused area, such as blood banking, molecular biology, immunology, clinical chemistry or microbiology.
Typically, lab technicians work under the supervision of laboratory managers or clinical laboratory technologists. These professionals work in a variety of medical settings, including hospitals, physicians’ offices and medical supply businesses.
The path to becoming a lab technician is relatively straightforward. Below are the steps you’ll need to take to launch your lab technician career.
Becoming a lab technician requires specialized skills and education. Before you can move forward with postsecondary education, you need to earn a high school diploma or GED® certificate. It’s helpful to study biology, chemistry and other related subjects so you can build a foundation of scientific knowledge in preparation for a degree program.
While degree requirements for lab technicians vary, employers typically ask for at least a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, medical laboratory technology or a related subject. Many lab techs hold associate degrees in clinical laboratory science as well.
You can also complete a postsecondary certificate program to gain basic laboratory testing skills and the clinical experience needed to fulfill the qualification criteria for becoming a lab tech. While a certificate program will not provide you with a degree, it can serve as a starting point to help you learn more about the profession. From there, you can make an informed decision about whether you want to further your education.
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) provides programmatic accreditation to clinical lab sciences programs. You can use NAACLS’s online directory to find accredited degree programs.
Many states require lab technicians to be registered or licensed, which may demand professional certification.
Earning a lab technician certification demonstrates that you have the knowledge, skills and experience needed to be a competent laboratory tech. The process typically requires passing a rigorous examination that covers medical and scientific concepts such as chemistry, hematology and microbiology.
A few organizations offer certifications for lab technicians, including:
You typically need professional experience before you can earn certification. Some certification programs build clinical laboratory experience into their curriculums, but if your program doesn’t include a laboratory training component, you’ll need to gain that work experience elsewhere.
Some programs may allow you to have provisional certification status while you complete your required training.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), lab technicians earn a median annual salary of $57,380.
The BLS projects employment for lab techs to increase by 5% from 2022 to 2032, which is slightly faster than the average projected growth rate for all U.S. jobs. This projected increase is due in part to an increase in the number of older people with medical conditions that require diagnostic and laboratory tests, like Type 2 diabetes and cancer.
There are many types of certifications available for medical laboratory professionals. Some focus on specialized areas, such as phlebotomy, blood banking, cytology, hematology, molecular biology and histotechnician techniques. Some, like the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), are more general.
Administered by American Medical Technologists, the MLT credential covers a variety of subjects applicable to laboratory technicians, including chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology and microbiology.
If you pursue MLT certification, you should expect the process to take about two to three years. This includes the time it takes to earn an associate degree, which comprises about 60 credits and requires around two years. The certification process also includes at least three to six months of laboratory training and time to study for and take your examination.
Your MLT certification timeline may vary depending on how long it takes to complete your lab work experience requirements and prepare for your exam.
If you are a member of the U.S. military, you may be able to complete laboratory technician training through the military in less than one year.
The cost of MLT certification typically ranges from about $200 to $335, depending on the program you choose.
