Laboratory Technician schools

Which types of jobs are available for those interested in working as a laboratory technician?

Medical and clinical laboratory technicians play a crucial role in patient care. They might interact with patients directly, to take a blood sample, for example, or they might work behind the scenes, testing samples and specimens in order to help a doctor diagnose a condition or evaluate a treatment. According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), doctors rely on laboratory results to make 70 percent of medical decisions.

In terms of what the job is like day-to-day, some laboratory technicians perform specialized tasks. Phlebotomy technicians draw blood, while other technicians have broader responsibilities. On a typical day they might perform some of the following tasks:

• Examine cell samples
• Chemically analyze tissue and bodily fluid samples
• Take records of findings
• Discuss test results with physicians or laboratory managers
• Care for sophisticated equipment including microscopes, spectrometers and ultracentrifuges

Laboratory technicians are under pressure to work quickly and accurately. Other potential challenges include heavy workloads and the need to be on your feet for a long shift. Laboratory technicians might be called on to work during emergencies and on weekends and holidays. This is the case especially for those beginning their career at a hospital or other 24-hour care center. But because the work is important and varied, it can also be rewarding.

Formal training required to work in a profession related to laboratory technology

You generally need an associate degree to become a laboratory technician. If you want to join the profession, it's wise to attend one of the 479 laboratory technician degree programs accredited by The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Accreditation ensures that the laboratory technician degree offered at the accredited school reflects high-quality training. Programs that lead to laboratory technician careers can teach you up-to-date methods for collecting and analyzing samples, skills for communicating effectively with doctors and patients, and laboratory safety procedures. A curriculum might include courses like clinical chemistry, hematology and medical terminology, as well as general education classes in the humanities, social sciences and mathematics.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the 9,171 people who earned degrees in clinical/medical laboratory science in 2007, 6,865 got a certificate in less than two years, while the remaining 2,306 were awarded an associate degree.

The typical career path of someone interested in laboratory technician jobs

Laboratory technician jobs have been classified by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network as realistic/conventional/investigative, meaning that this career fits someone who is good at using tools and technology to handle practical, real-world situations, who flourishes in a disciplined environment with a clear organizational structure, and who is good at thinking through problems and undertaking research. Laboratory technician research can lead to new methodologies, new products and discoveries about diseases and treatments.

Those who start out as a laboratory technician often go on to earn a bachelor's degree and become a laboratory technologist, enabling them to conduct more sophisticated work. From there, it's possible to move into a supervisory role and eventually become a laboratory manager or program director.

In summer 2010, ASCP President Mark Stoler told Western Pennsylvania Hospital News & More that the average age of the current laboratory technician workforce is about 50. Young people are therefore being actively recruited into the profession through government initiatives, such as a $3.2 million grant awarded to Minnesota health care providers. New hires are also being fast-tracked into more advanced positions in the lab.

Job outlook and salary information for those interested in laboratory technician careers

Demand for laboratory technicians is extremely high. U.S. News and World Report named it one of the 50 Best Careers of 2011. It's no surprise that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts excellent 2008-2018 job growth of 16 percent. Other sources think job growth may be even higher. The Wall Street Journal has reported that 138,000 new lab technicians will be needed by 2012, and it's likely that not even half that number will have been trained by that time. The BLS also indicates that the pay in this field is very good, with a mean 2009 hourly wage of $18.20. Lab technicians in some industries, such as scientific research and development services, earned even higher hourly wages ($20.00), as did those in certain states, such as Rhode Island ($26.68) and Maryland ($22.05).