Medical Laboratory Technician Profile

Career Ladder

Medical laboratory personnel perform tests on a variety of patient specimens including blood, urine and other body fluids and tissues. Most medical decisions are based in laboratory testing and the medical laboratory technician performs a substantial array of those tests under the direction of a clinical laboratory scientist, physician or laboratory director.

Nature of the Work

Medical laboratory technicians perform laboratory tests and procedures that provide information to help detect, diagnose and treat disease. The profession takes scientific laboratory techniques and methodologies and applies them to patient specimens and clinical needs. Medical laboratory technicians typically work under the direct supervision of a clinical laboratory scientist. They may work in several areas of a clinical laboratory or specialize in one or more of the areas such as hematology or chemistry.

Work Environment

Medical laboratory personnel work in a variety of settings including hospital, reference and medical research laboratories. They are also employed in blood banks and physicians' offices. The employment setting may require working day, evening or night shifts as well as weekends and holidays. The work requires appropriate infection control measures and apparel and may require long periods of standing.

Education, Training and Certification

Medical laboratory technician have, at minimum, an associate degree or the equivalent. California requires that all medical laboratory technicians be licensed by the State of California, Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services Division. Contact Laboratory Field Services for further details.

Advancement and Job Outlook

Medical laboratory technicians may become clinical laboratory scientists with additional education, training and successful performance on a clinical laboratory science licensing examination. Medical laboratory technicians are a recent addition to the California laboratory workforce. It is expected that this professional category will grow in numbers as the need for laboratory personnel at all levels is great.

Salary

TBD

Educational Programs

Hartnell College tpuro@hartnell.edu
De Anza College wagnerdebbie@fhda.edu