Medical Lab Technician Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What kind of math is required for Medical Lab Technician? Just wondering if anyone knows what type of math classes is required when you are working on an Associates degree to become a Medical Lab Technician?

Answer: Try Googling Medical Lab Technician for lists of schools and required courses. Your local college should be able to tell you what is necessary. If not, call your local hospital and ask to speak to personnel. Tell them that you want to know what type of math classes you would need and see if they could arrange for a lab tech to speak with you.

Question: Where can I find a grant for my wife to go to school as a Medical Lab Technician? My wife has decided to go back to school after having our first child a little over a year ago. She is a hispanic woman who is going to become a Medical Lab Technician. She has already been accepted into the program, but we are trying to find all the funding we can. We have already applied for Pell Grant and Subsidized Student loans, but the Pell Grant only covered 3 of the 4 classes?!?!?! We can use the student loan to pay the other class and books, but we still have the travel expenses to pick up. So I am looking into grants for her to go to school. We live in a small town in Texas and our options seem to be limited. Any advice will help. Thanks!

Answer: Stay away from loans as much as you can. You have no idea how burdensome it is to pay them back once you leave school. There are tons of scholarships that go unclaimed each year. Many $400, $500 or $1000 scholarships never even get applied for because people think it's chump change and not worth applying for. Well, get a few of those $500 scholarships and it'll really make a dent in your tuition bill. People make the mistake of looking for one big scholarship to pay for everything when they should be targeting smaller scholarships that are more regionalized or specialized to their intended field or reflect something unique about them (son of Italian policeman, daughter of registered nurse, etc). Everybody goes for the big scholarships, the competition for those is much higher and your chances are smaller of getting it. Research and apply for anything and everything you are close to being eligible for no matter how small the scholarship. Do a search on scholarships, search your major, your ethnic heritage, your town, your parents employers, your employer, hobbies, high school, local Chamber of Commerce/Rotary/ Lion's Club etc. Left-handed? There is a scholarship out there for you! Older woman returning to school? There are scholarships out there for you. Do combined searches on more than one criteria "hispanic women aviation scholarships" etc. Go to the library and ask the reference librarian for a reference book on scholarships. They usually have more than one. There are all kinds of scholarships out there, you just have to start applying yourself and make it your summer career to send out letters everyday for scholarships. Good luck!

Question: What does a medical lab technician do? And what's the difference between a lab technician and a medical lab technician.

Answer: My son is looking into this field as well. Check out the info below. Good luck. Significant Points Faster than average employment growth and excellent job opportunities are expected. Clinical laboratory technologists usually have a bachelor’s degree with a major in medical technology or in one of the life sciences; clinical laboratory technicians generally need either an associate degree or a certificate. Most jobs will continue to be in hospitals, but employment will grow faster in other settings. Nature of the Work [About this section] Back to Top Clinical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Clinical laboratory technologists—also referred to as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists—and clinical laboratory technicians, also known as medical technicians or medical laboratory technicians, perform most of these tests. Clinical laboratory personnel examine and analyze body fluids, and cells. They look for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions; and test for drug levels in the blood that show how a patient is responding to treatment. Technologists also prepare specimens for examination, count cells, and look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids. They use microscopes, cell counters, and other sophisticated laboratory equipment. They also use automated equipment and computerized instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously. After testing and examining a specimen, they analyze the results and relay them to physicians. With increasing automation and the use of computer technology, the work of technologists and technicians has become less hands-on and more analytical. The complexity of tests performed, the level of judgment needed, and the amount of responsibility workers assume depend largely on the amount of education and experience they have. Clinical laboratory technologists usually do more complex tasks than clinical laboratory technicians do. Clinical laboratory technologists perform complex chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological tests. Technologists microscopically examine blood and other body fluids. They make cultures of body fluid and tissue samples, to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms. Technologists analyze samples for chemical content or a chemical reaction and determine concentrations of compounds such as blood glucose and cholesterol levels. They also type and cross match blood samples for transfusions. Clinical laboratory technologists evaluate test results, develop and modify procedures, and establish and monitor programs, to ensure the accuracy of tests. Some technologists supervise clinical laboratory technicians. Technologists in small laboratories perform many types of tests, whereas those in large laboratories generally specialize. Clinical chemistry technologists, for example, prepare specimens and analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids. Microbiology technologists examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms. Blood bank technologists, or immunohematology technologists, collect, type, and prepare blood and its components for transfusions. Immunology technologists examine elements of the human immune system and its response to foreign bodies. Cytotechnologists prepare slides of body cells and examine these cells microscopically for abnormalities that may signal the beginning of a cancerous growth. Molecular biology technologists perform complex protein and nucleic acid testing on cell samples. Clinical laboratory technicians perform less complex tests and laboratory procedures than technologists do. Technicians may prepare specimens and operate automated analyzers, for example, or they may perform manual tests in accordance with detailed instructions. They usually work under the supervision of medical and clinical laboratory technologists or laboratory managers. Like technologists, clinical laboratory technicians may work in several areas of the clinical laboratory or specialize in just one. Phlebotomists collect blood samples, for example, and histotechnicians cut and stain tissue specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists. Work environment. Clinical laboratory personnel are trained to work with infectious specimens. When proper methods of infection control and sterilization are followed, few hazards exist. Protective masks, gloves, and goggles often are necessary to ensure the safety of laboratory personnel. Working conditions vary with the size and type of employment setting. Laboratories usually are well lighted and clean; however, specimens, solutions, and reagents used in the laboratory sometimes produce fumes. Laboratory workers may spend a great deal of time on their feet. Hours of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians va

Question: How do you get a job as a medical lab technician? I know they have specific degrees and certifications for it. What if you have a four year degree in general biology, with no certification or work experience in a lab? Will some places train on the job? Is there a quick way to be a certified lab technician?

Answer: According to the US Dept of Labor: First if you're talking about a Clinical Lab Tech: **Clinical laboratory technologists usually have a bachelor’s degree with a major in medical technology or in one of the life sciences (like biology); clinical laboratory technicians generally need either an associate degree or a certificate. *Job opportunities are expected to be excellent. *Faster than average employment growth is expected as the volume of laboratory tests continues to increase with both population growth and the development of new types of tests. *Employers like certs but they vary by state. Information on certification is available from: American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2100 West Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612. Internet: http://www.ascp.org Otherwise, if you're talking about a Medical Lab Tech: *Around 3 out of 5 salaried jobs were in medical equipment and supply manufacturing laboratories, which usually are small, privately owned businesses with fewer than 5 employees. *Most medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians learn their craft on the job; however, many employers prefer to hire those with formal training in a related field. *Slower-than-average employment growth is expected for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians, while *average* employment growth is expected for medical appliance technicians. *Job opportunities should be favorable as employers have difficulty filling trainee positions. Good Luck!

Question: How do you become a Medical Lab Technician? Do you have to go to a university or vocational school or some other type of school? I also want to know what the difference is between a phlebotomist, clinical lab scientist, or other lab assistant tittles. which one works in a microbiological type of environment?

Answer: Go to http://www.nca-info.org/ They are the accrediting agency that oversees all these jobs. There are different career tracks, but this is the best place to start. Print out the handbook from http://www.nca-info.org/pdfs/NCAHandbook… It tells you the requirements for certification for all the programs you are interested in. A Clinical Laboratory Phlebotomist performs venipuctures, processes specimens in preparation for testing and performs quality assurance. A Clinical Laboratory Technician performs blood testing and other specimen testing. A Clinical Laboratory Scientist is a more in-depth technician who specializes more in a certain field. A Clinical Laboratory Specialist in <whatever> is someone who is a Scientist but has specialized studies in a specific area.

Question: How do I become a medical lab technician? I have a bachelor's degree, minor in chemistry and concentration in microbiology. is the mlt certification something that i can just test for, or do i need to go back to school to get a specific degree?

Answer: Go to a hospital and apply. If hired, they should pay for all the rest of whatever schooling you may still need.

Question: I want my four year degree for a medical lab technician now would a hospital hire a medical technologist? Do hospitals keep MT? Or will they only hire MLT cause it pays less?

Answer: Hospitals keep MT. Shortage of MT here in US. Thus, county hospitals hired MT from other countries.

Question: Is Medical Lab Technician a good field to go into? I'm going back to school and was directed toward this career. I can start in a Voc.School and then get my AA degree, after I am employed, to further my options. Is the pay good? and where is the best place for work?

Answer: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos096.htm Yes. It is a good field. You will also have the option to continue your education and become a Technologist (Bachelor's degree). http://www.amt1.com http://www.nca-info.org

Question: where can I get my MLT license(medical lab technician) in the los angeles area? I am interested in getting my MLT license, but don't know where to start! Is this the best way to get a job working in a lab? I can't go back to 4 year college, so I need to know what is the quickest way to get started w/o a B.A. I already have vocational training as a medical assistant, but that's it. I have only worked in a vet's office and in a school nurse's office

Answer: American Medical Technologists (AMT) is the certification body that grants Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification in all states including California. AMT certified health care professionals are well respected and readily hired... You can ask for a 100% free career information kit. AMT will send you their brochurs by mail. No obligation -- and extrmely helpful to know your options. To ask for the AMT information go to the following site and fill out the simple information request form:

Question: psychology or medical lab technician? I'll be going to community college this fall, and im undecided between taking up psychology or medical lab technician. I want a job with low stress, decent pay ,and some level of accomplishment for the day. any ideas on what i may like better or personal experience plz i need some help. thank you!

Answer: It depends on how far you're willing to go in school. To be successful in psychology you'd need to have at least a Master's degree in the field, but you'd make more money than as a medical laboratory technician (MLT) which only requires an associates degree. But, the average psychologist handles more stress than the average MLT. If you are more interested in the clinical laboratory field, you should consider pursuing a career as a medical technologist (MT) as opposed to a medical laboratory technician, especially if you are interested in advancement or specialization.