Education:
46%
Bachelor's Degree
31%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians
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Job Outlook:
Faster than average
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Salary
Average:
$57,380.00
Hourly
Average:
$27.59
What they do:
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
On the job, you would:
- Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
- Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
- Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians must examine the specimens they test to determine whether there are abnormalities.
Detail oriented. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians must follow instructions and laboratory procedures when performing tests.
Dexterity. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians must work carefully when handling needles, specimens, and laboratory equipment.
Interpersonal skills. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians may collect blood or tissue samples from patients who feel stressed. They must be supportive and sympathetic in their interactions with patients.
Physical stamina. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians may stand for long periods while collecting samples. They may need to lift or turn patients to collect samples for testing.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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97% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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94% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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90% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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88% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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86% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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86% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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80% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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80% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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80% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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78% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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75% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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74% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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71% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
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78% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. | |
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78% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
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72% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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75% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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72% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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72% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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72% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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69% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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66% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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66% | Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Clean medical equipment or facilities.
Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
Maintain medical laboratory equipment.
Analyze laboratory specimens to detect abnormalities or other problems.
Operate laboratory equipment to analyze medical samples.
Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
Analyze laboratory findings.
Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions.
Collect biological specimens from patients.
Cultivate micro-organisms for study, testing, or medical preparations.
Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
Analyze laboratory specimens to detect abnormalities or other problems.
Collect biological specimens from patients.
Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
Train medical providers.
Supervise technical medical personnel.
Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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98% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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98% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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97% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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94% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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91% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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86% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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83% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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80% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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79% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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77% | Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections? | |
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73% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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72% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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72% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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70% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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69% | Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? | |
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69% | Exposed to Hazardous Conditions - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions? | |
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68% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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65% | Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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88% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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86% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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85% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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85% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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84% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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81% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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81% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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78% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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76% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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74% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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71% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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68% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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66% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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65% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
What Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Do
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians operate laboratory equipment, such as microscopes and cell counters.
Clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical laboratory technologists) and clinical laboratory technicians (also known as medical laboratory technicians) perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Duties
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically do the following:
- Test and analyze body fluids, such as blood, urine, and tissue samples
- Operate laboratory equipment, such as microscopes and automated cell counters
- Use automated equipment that analyzes multiple samples at the same time
- Record data from medical tests and enter results into a patient’s medical record
- Discuss results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures with physicians
Both technicians and technologists perform tests and procedures that physicians and surgeons or other healthcare practitioners order. However, technologists perform more complex tests and laboratory procedures than technicians do. For example, technologists may prepare specimens and perform detailed manual tests, whereas technicians perform routine tests that may be more automated. Clinical laboratory technicians usually work under the general supervision of clinical laboratory technologists or laboratory managers.
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians set up, calibrate, and maintain the microscopes, cell counters, and other equipment they use. Maintenance includes troubleshooting, cleaning, and testing sterility to ensure quality control. Technologists have more responsibilities related to overall quality assurance in laboratories than do technicians.
Some technologists specialize in a certain type of test. The following are examples of types of specialized clinical laboratory technologists:
Blood bank technologists collect blood, classify it by type, and prepare blood and its components for transfusions.
Clinical chemistry technologists prepare specimens and analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids.
Cytotechnologists prepare and examine slides of body cells under a microscope. They look for abnormalities that may signal the beginning of a cancerous growth.
Hematology technologists examine blood to identify conditions or diseases, such as blood clots or cancer.
Histotechnologists perform tests on human tissue to identify diseases.
Microbiology technologists examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms.
Molecular biology technologists perform protein and nucleic acid tests, such as gene sequencing, on cell samples.
Like technologists, clinical laboratory technicians may work in several areas or specialize in one area. For example, histotechnicians are a type of clinical laboratory technician who cut and stain tissue specimens for pathologists—doctors who study the cause and development of diseases.
Work Environment
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held about 342,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians were as follows:
| General medical and surgical hospitals; state, local, and private | 44% |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 21 |
| Offices of physicians | 9 |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 5 |
| Outpatient care centers | 3 |
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work with infectious specimens and other biohazardous substances.
Technologists and technicians may need to stand for long periods.
Injuries and Illnesses
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians may incur injury or illness on the job. For example, they may be subject to repetitive motion injuries because they do the same tasks repeatedly or to illness from working with biohazardous material. To reduce the risk of infection, they follow laboratory safety protocol and wear protective masks, gloves, and goggles.
Work Schedules
Most clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work full time. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, such as hospitals, they may have shifts that include nights, weekends, or holidays.
Getting Started
How to Become a Clinical Laboratory Technologist or Technician
Clinical laboratory technologists typically need a bachelor’s degree.
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Technicians sometimes qualify for jobs with an associate’s degree. Some states require technologists and technicians to be licensed. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have certification.
Education
High school students who are interested in becoming a clinical laboratory technologist or technician should take classes in chemistry, biology, and math.
Clinical laboratory technologists typically earn a bachelor's degree in medical technology or a related life sciences field, such as biology or chemistry.
Bachelor’s degree programs in medical laboratory technology, also known as a medical laboratory scientist degree, include courses in chemistry, biology, and hematology. Accredited programs typically include instruction in laboratory skills, such as safety procedures and lab management, as well as hands-on training in a hospital or other clinical setting. Some laboratory science programs can be completed in 2 years or less and require prior college coursework or a bachelor’s degree.
Clinical laboratory technicians typically complete an associate's degree program in clinical laboratory science. The Armed Forces and vocational or technical schools also may offer postsecondary certificate programs for medical laboratory technicians. Accredited technician programs provide skills in basic laboratory testing and, like medical laboratory scientist degree programs, may offer clinical experience.
Certain types of technologists, such as cytotechnologists, must attend specialized education programs.
For a list of accredited bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs, visit organizations such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed or registered. Requirements vary by state and specialty. For specific requirements, contact your state department of health or state board of occupational licensing.
In some states, licensure requires certification. Although certification is not always required to enter the occupation, employers may prefer to hire certified technologists and technicians.
Individuals may earn certification as a medical laboratory scientist or medical laboratory technician. Completion of an accredited education program is typically required to sit for a certification exam. A number of organizations offer certification, including the American Association of Bioanalysts, American Medical Technologists, and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Specialty certification is available in areas such as histology and clinical chemistry for those who meet requirements for additional education and work experience.
Advancement
Some clinical laboratory technicians advance to technologist positions after gaining experience and additional education.
Job Outlook
Employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 24,000 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
An increase in the population of older adults is expected to lead to a greater need for diagnosing medical conditions, such as cancer or type 2 diabetes, through laboratory procedures. Prenatal testing for various types of genetic conditions also is increasingly common. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians will be in demand to use and maintain the equipment needed for diagnosis and treatment.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, visit
The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
American Society of Cytopathology
For a list of accredited and approved educational programs for medical laboratory personnel, visit
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
For information on certification, visit
American Association of Bioanalysts
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Biological Technicians |
Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments. |
Bachelor's degree | $49,650 |
|
Chemical Technicians |
Chemical technicians conduct laboratory tests to help scientists analyze the properties of materials. |
Associate's degree | $50,840 |
|
Chemists and Materials Scientists |
Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge. |
Bachelor's degree | $81,810 |
|
Phlebotomists |
Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $38,530 |
|
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians |
Veterinary technologists and technicians do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses. |
Associate's degree | $38,240 |