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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