Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They DoSubspecialtiesTraining and CertificationSalary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What They Do
Subspecialties
Training and Certification
Salary
A medical technologist is a highly trained health professional who tests blood and tissue samples in a lab along with urine, stool,amniotic fluid,cerebrospinal fluid, and other body fluids or specimens.
Medical technologists are responsible for operating and maintaining the equipment used to examine samples or specimens. They ensure that all tests are performed in a precise and timely manner so that the results and interpretations are accurate.
This article describes what a medical technologist does. It also explains the different paths a person can take to become a medical technologist, including the educational requirements and process of certification.
Also Known AsClinical laboratory scientistMedical laboratory scientist
Also Known As
Clinical laboratory scientistMedical laboratory scientist
Clinical vs. Non-Clinical Medical Jobs
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What Do Medical Technologists Do
Medical technologists are healthcare professionals who hold at minimum a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory technology or a similar field. The main purpose of their work is to help healthcare providers make diagnoses.
Medical technologists work in a pathology lab. They prepare samples, slides, andculturesfor themedical pathologistto review. They typically work under a pathologist.
Although lab directors are ultimately in charge of the lab and its staff, the medical technologist will generally be the one who ensures that the lab runs smoothly and safely on a day-to-day basis. This includes setting up, calibrating, and sterilizing lab equipment, as well as analyzing and checking the accuracy of lab reports.
Most medical technologists work behind the scenes and do not interact with patients.
Medical Technologist vs. Lab TechnicianA medical technologist’s training is more extensive than a lab technician’s. While both perform lab tests, a technologist’s training allows them to do more complex tasks, such as molecular,genetic, orgenomic testing. Lab technicians typically need an associate’s degree to practice.
Medical Technologist vs. Lab Technician
A medical technologist’s training is more extensive than a lab technician’s. While both perform lab tests, a technologist’s training allows them to do more complex tasks, such as molecular,genetic, orgenomic testing. Lab technicians typically need an associate’s degree to practice.
Medical technologists can participate in many different fields of pathology, includingimmunology,microbiology,genetics,histology,hematology, andblood banking.
Clinical Pathology
In clinical pathology, a medical technologist conducts and oversees lab tests done on body fluids and tissues. The tests are done to look for markers of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
The kinds of specimens a medical technologist will look at include:
Anatomic Pathology
The technologist can help with exams including:
Medical Technologist vs. Medical Pathologist
Medical Technology Subspecialties
Some technologists work solely in clinical or anatomic pathology. Others participate in both, referred to as general pathology. Others still work in a narrow field of practice.
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the major subspecialties are:
How Do You Become a Medical Technologist?
There are three general steps that you need to take if you decide to become a medical technologist. The path to certification generally takes around five years. Those who decide to pursue a subspecialty may take an additional six months to one year.
Get a Degree
To become a medical technologist, you need at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in medical technology. Most bachelor’s degrees are completed in four years.
Students who majored in another science—such as biology, microbiology, or biochemistry—can often take hospital-based courses during their senior year to meet the requirements of post-graduate training programs.
Complete a Program
Certificate programs for medical technologists can last for several weeks or months, while diploma programs can last up to a year. Different states have different laws governing the types of certificates or diplomas needed to get certified within that state.
Get Certified
Medical technologists need to get certified once they have completed all of their educational and training requirements.
TheAmerican Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)offers a national certification exam for medical technologists, which would need to be renewed every three years. This certifies that a medical technologist is very skilled in their field.
Online Training
What Salary Do Medical Technologists Make?
According to the ASCP 2021 Wage Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States, the average annual salary ranged from $60,162 for a histology technologist to $80,139 for acytologist. For lead or coordinator roles, salaries for these jobs increased to $66,129 and $90,488, respectively.
The majority (more than 70%) of medical technologists in the United States are employed in academic and non-academic hospitals.
Summary
A medical technologist is a health professional who has been trained to do tests on samples of fluids and tissue to help diagnose diseases. While they do not usually interact with patients, the work they do in the lab is very important for patient care.
Medical technologists need a lot of education, training, and certification to do their job well. They can also choose to focus on a certain area of medical technology that they are especially interested in, like forensic pathology or transfusion medicine.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.BB and SBB practice analysis report.U.S. Office of Personnel Management.Medical technologist series, 0644.Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.U.S. procedures for examination & certification.Garcia E, Kundu I, Fong K.The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2021 wage survey of medical laboratories in the United States.Am J Clin Pathol.2022;158(6):702-22. doi:10.1093/ajcp/aqac116Additional ReadingBureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational employment and wages, May 2022: 29-2010 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.BB and SBB practice analysis report.U.S. Office of Personnel Management.Medical technologist series, 0644.Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.U.S. procedures for examination & certification.Garcia E, Kundu I, Fong K.The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2021 wage survey of medical laboratories in the United States.Am J Clin Pathol.2022;158(6):702-22. doi:10.1093/ajcp/aqac116Additional ReadingBureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational employment and wages, May 2022: 29-2010 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.BB and SBB practice analysis report.U.S. Office of Personnel Management.Medical technologist series, 0644.Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.U.S. procedures for examination & certification.Garcia E, Kundu I, Fong K.The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2021 wage survey of medical laboratories in the United States.Am J Clin Pathol.2022;158(6):702-22. doi:10.1093/ajcp/aqac116
American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.BB and SBB practice analysis report.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.Medical technologist series, 0644.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.
American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.U.S. procedures for examination & certification.
Garcia E, Kundu I, Fong K.The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2021 wage survey of medical laboratories in the United States.Am J Clin Pathol.2022;158(6):702-22. doi:10.1093/ajcp/aqac116
Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational employment and wages, May 2022: 29-2010 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.
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