Medical Technicians
Medical Technicians or Clinical Laboratory Technicians perform routine tests in a medical laboratory for use in treatment and diagnosis of disease.They prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of disease.
They also prepare tissue samples for pathologists and perform such laboratory tests as urinalysis and blood counts.
Technicians use microscopes, chemicals, complex precision instruments, and computers to do their work.
PHLEBOTOMISTS draw blood from patients for laboratory analysis.
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Phlebotomists work in health care laboratories under the general supervision of a medical and clinical laboratory technologist.
Requirements
- Completion of an associate degree from a community college, or a certificate from a hospital, vocational or technical school, or from one of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Detail oriented and accurate.
- Phlebotomists receive short-term vocational or on-the-job training.
- Fingerprint clearance may be required by employer.
Wages
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Average annual wage: $36,916
- Phlebotomists earn about 30 percent less than Technicians, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics national wage data.
Job Outlook
- Estimated number of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Phlebotomists in 2002: 12,600
- Estimated number of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Phlebotomists in 2012: 15,000
- Estimated annual job openings: 580
Possible Career Paths
Possible Career Paths for Medical Technicians include becoming a: