Lab techs are an important part of the medical community. They work alongside doctors and nurses to ensure that patients receive the best care possible.
While you may not be able to see them, they are essential in making sure your lab tests come back with accurate results so you can get treated for any illness or injury.
This blog post will tell you how much a lab tech makes on average as well as the education requirements needed for this position.
What is a medical lab tech and what do they do?
A medical lab tech is a person who performs laboratory tests on specimens given to them by doctors, nurses, and others in the medical community.
They run blood tests, urine analyses, and even genetic tests which are used to diagnose diseases or illnesses that may be affecting an individual.
Their duties also include reviewing test results that have come back from the laboratory and then bringing those test results to a doctor who can help diagnose and treat any patient.
It is important for lab techs to keep up with the latest developments in medical science as well as new equipment that is used for testing specimens, so it’s critical to be an inquisitive person with good attention to detail.
Lab technicians typically work in a clean, sterile environment and they need to be able to perform tests accurately and quickly.
It’s also ideal if the lab technician has strong communication skills as he or she will be working with doctors on a regular basis and needs to relay important information to them regarding patient test results.
How much does a medical lab tech make?
- The salary of a medical lab technician varies depending on the state they work in.
- On average, however, the national average is about $55,000 per year.
Every state pays different salaries to their employees so it’s important to check with the department of labor to see what kind of pay you can expect in your state.
To become a medical lab tech, you will need at least an associate’s degree in the field of laboratory science.
While many states do allow for medical assistants to work without any formal education, it is always best to get as much training as possible before working in the medical field.
Medical lab technician certification
As far as certification is concerned, the required training programs must be accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
When you graduate from an accredited program, you will need to get registered with your state.
To do that, you can contact your state’s department of health or labor and request the Certified Medical Technologist Exam.
To receive your certification, you will need to pass the medical technologist exam that is provided by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry.
There are also certifications available for specialties within the medical lab field including clinical chemistry, transfusion medicine, hematology, histotechnology and molecular diagnostics.
Other interesting facts about medical lab techs
Medical lab technicians must work quickly and accurately in order to get accurate results.
- This is why it’s important not only to have good knowledge of the equipment being used but also great attention to detail.
- Lab techs are trusted with highly sensitive information about their patients so they need to be able to keep their work confidential.
- As a lab tech, you will also need to be able to multitask as there can be many specimens that need to be tested at once by multiple technicians.
In addition, medical lab techs often have challenging and interesting work as they’re always learning about new diseases and medical conditions as well as new treatment methods that come out every year.
Requirements for becoming a medical laboratory technician
The requirements for becoming a medical lab technician vary depending on the state.
Most states, however, will require that you be at least 18 years of age and have at least an associate’s degree in the field of laboratory science.
In order to work as a medical lab tech, you will need to get certified by your state and you will also need to be registered with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry.
You should check with your state’s department of labor to find out what other requirements you may need to meet in order to become a medical lab technician.
Education required to become a medical laboratory technician
A high school diploma is typically the only education requirement for medical lab technicians.
However, most colleges and universities offer programs in medical technology that can help prepare you with the knowledge and training you need to work as a successful lab tech.
After studying at your chosen institution of higher learning, you will need to pass your state’s certification exam.
Fortunately, there are manual exams that can be taken so you don’t need to enroll in an accredited program before testing for your certification.
- As of 2016, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 28% growth for this profession by 2026.
- The average salary is $55,460.
- The highest paid 10% earned $76,320 and the lowest paid 10% earned $38,440 .
Medical lab technicians work in hospital laboratories and other clinical settings such as doctors’ offices and clinics.
They help to prepare blood samples for testing by examining them under a microscope and also by running diagnostic tests on the blood.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salary Information
- As of May 2015, Medical Laboratory Technicians earn a median annual salary of $56,920.
- The lowest 10% earned less than $37,800 while the highest 10% earned more than $80,080.
- Medical lab technicians work in hospital laboratories and other clinical settings such as doctor’s offices and clinics.
- They help to prepare blood samples for testing by examining them under a microscope and also by running diagnostic tests on the blood.
