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New York Health Careers

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

What Do Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Do?

Medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.

Medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians have different job responsibilities: technologists perform more complex tests and procedures than do technicians, and they typically supervise technicians.

Medical and clinical laboratory technologists examine blood and other body fluids, analyze samples for chemical content or a chemical reaction, and determine concentrations of compounds such as blood glucose and cholesterol levels. They also collect and study blood samples for use in transfusions by identifying the number of cells, the cell morphology or the blood group, blood type, and compatibility with other blood types. In their work, they operate sophisticated laboratory equipment and computerized instruments. They may also supervise or train medical laboratory technicians.

Medical and clinical laboratory technicians perform less complex tests and laboratory procedures than technologists and usually work under the supervision of medical or clinical laboratory technologists or a laboratory manager.

Both medical and clinical technologists and technicians may specialize in a particular type of work. For more information about the various specialties, go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm

Where Do Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Work?

More than half of medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work in hospitals. Most of the remaining jobs were in physician offices and in medical and diagnostic laboratories. A small number work in educational services and other ambulatory health care services.

What Do Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Earn?

According to the 2019 BLS, the average salary for full time, medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians nationwide was $109,560, varying by specialty and geographic region. Average annual salary also varies greatly across New York State, depending on location. The NYSDOL reports medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in New York earned an average annual salary of $65,560, (entry level-$36,560, experienced- $96,820).

Supply and Demand

The BLS projects that between 2016 and 2026 in the U.S., the number of jobs will increase by 11.5% for medical and clinical laboratory technologists and by 14.0% for technicians. In New York, the number of jobs for medical and clinical laboratory technologists will increase by 15.1% , and by 18.8% for technicians during the same period. The volume of laboratory tests continues to increase with both population growth and the development of new types of tests. Hospitals in New York continue to report difficultly recruiting medical and clinical laboratory technicians and technologists, especially technicians.

For more information on employment projections of medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians by New York State labor regions, 2014-2024, click here.

Educational Program Requirements

The usual requirement for an entry-level position as a medical and clinical laboratory technologist is a bachelor’s degree with a major in medical technology or one of the life sciences; however, it is possible to qualify for some jobs with a combination of education and on-the-job, specialized training. Many universities and hospitals offer medical technology programs, which may include  courses in chemistry, biology, microbiology, mathematics, and statistics as well as specialized courses devoted to knowledge and skills used in the clinical laboratory.

Clinical laboratory technicians may have an associate degree or a training certificate from a hospital, vocational, or technical school, or the Armed Forces. Some technicians may acquire the necessary skills with on-the-job training.

New York Licensure Requirements

New York requires licensure for those who work using the titles of clinical laboratory technologist or certified clinical laboratory technician, or cytotechnologist or certified histological technician. Licensure requires meeting certain educational and examination criteria for each profession.

For details about New York licensing requirements, please go to: www.op.nysed.gov/prof/clt/.

Certification

Many employers prefer applicants who are certified by a recognized professional association. Groups offering certification include the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the American Medical Technologists, the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and the American Association of Bioanalysts. Each of these agencies have different requirements for certification.

Financial Support

The National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences offers scholarship information from a number of sources for medical and clinical laboratory students on their website at: http://www.naacls.org/Students.aspx.

Education Programs in New York (subject to change)

Clinical Laboratory Science and Medical Technology or Technician Programs

Canisius College
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14208-1517
(716) 888-7000
Monroe Community College (Technician)
1000 E Henrietta Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
(585) 292-2029
College of Staten Island-CUNY
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 982-2000
Elmira College
One Park Place
Elmira, NY 14901
(800) 935-6472
Hartwick College
1 Hartwick Drive
Oneonta, NY 13820
(607) 431-4000
Hunter College- CUNY
Brookdale Campus, 7th floor
695 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10065
(212) 481-4442 or (212) 772-4000
Mercy College
555 Broadway
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
(914) 674-7600
Long Island University- Post
School of Health Professions and Nursing
720 Northern Blvd
Brookville, NY 11548
(516) 299-2900
Marist College
3399 North Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 575-3000
The College at Brockport – SUNY
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, NY 14420
(585) 395-5755
SUNY Plattsburgh
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 564-2000
University at Buffalo- SUNY
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
26 Cary Hall, South Campus
Buffalo, NY 14214-3005
(716) 645-6900
Nassau Community College (Technician)
One Education Drive
Garden City, NY 11530-6793
(516) 572-7501
Stony Brook University
School of Health Technology & Management
101 Nicolls Road
Stony Brook, NY 11794
(631) 444-2252
Upstate Medical University-SUNY
College of Health Professions
766 Irving Ave
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 464-6560
SUNY Orange Community College  (Technician)
115 South Street
Middletown, NY 10940
(845) 344-6222
St. John’s University
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
(718) 990-2000
St. Thomas Aquinas College
125 Route 340
Sparkill, NY 10976
(845) 398-4100
York College-CUNY
Department of Health Professions
94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11451
(718) 262-2000
Bronx Community College   (Technician)
2155 University Avenue
Bronx, NY 10453
(718) 289-5100
Broome Community College (Technician)
907 Upper Front St
Binghamton, NY 13905
(607) 778-5000
Farmingdale State College
2350 Broadhollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021
(631) 420-2000
Dutchess Community College (Technician)
53 Pendell Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 431-8000
Erie Community College
North Campus
6205 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 851-1322
Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
106 New Scotland
Albany, NY 12208
(518) 694-7130 or (518) 694-7200
 The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany, New York 12203
(800) 637-8556
SUNY Fredonia
280 Central Ave
Fredonia, NY 14063
(716) 673-3111
 Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES (Technician)
6820 Thompson Road
Syracuse, NY
(315) 433-2635

Histotechnology Programs

SUNY Cobleskill
106 Suffolk Circle
Cobleskill, NY 12043
(518) 255-5011

Cytotechnology Programs

SUNY Plattsburgh
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 564-2000
Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
106 New Scotland
Albany, NY 12208
(518) 694-7130 or (518) 694-7200
 

 

Additional Web Links

For more information on CLPs and all the other associated professions, go to:

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences website at: http://www.naacls.org

American Society for Clinical Pathology website at: http://www.ascp.org

American Society for Cytotechnology website at: http://www.asct.com

National Society for Histotechnology website at: http://www.nsh.org

American Medical Technologists website at: http://www.americanmedtech.org/Home.aspx

American Association of Bioanalysts website at: http://www.aab.org/aab/default.asp.

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