subject: How to Become a Medical Lab Technician - Advancing Your Career in the Right Direction [print this page] How to Become a Medical Lab Technician - Advancing Your Career in the Right Direction
Have you ever dreamed about being a Medical Lab Technician? Do you find experimenting with different blood and tissue samples fascinating? Well, here is a quick guide to introduce you to the duties of this job, its training requirements and some tips that can help you advance your career in the right direction.
The Duties
Doctors all around the world prescribe routine tests to determine the health of their patients. However, it is the Medical Lab Technician who actually performs and analyzes these tests. Some of the typical duties of this professional include:
Preparing a number of urine, blood and tissue samples for analysis
Utilizing lab equipment to detect bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms
Testing for drug levels in the blood to discover how positively a patient is responding to treatment
Matching blood samples for transfusions
Performing EKGs
Monitoring different tests and procedures
Analyzing the chemical content of different fluids
The Training
In order to become a Medical Lab Technician, you must first complete your high school diploma, and then complete an accredited medical lab tech associate degree or certificate program. Some of the main subjects included in your curriculum will be Laboratory mathematics, Microscopy, Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology and Chemistry
Practical Experience is one of the most important aspects of being a good medical lab assistant. Try working as an assistant for a lab technician in an entry level position at either a hospital or a clinic. This will help you learn as much as you can.
Skills
Training for this field is sometimes just not enough. You must also possess the necessary skills to succeed within this field. Some of these skills include:
Problem-solving and analytical skills
Using your judgment as well as paying attention to detail
Working independently without supervision
A sound grasp on verbal and written communication skills
The Career
Luckily, Medical Lab Technician is one area of expertise that has had an ever growing demand. Moreover, you also have the flexibility to work full time or part-time based on your preference.
You can start working in a hospital as soon as you complete the medical assistant program. Once you gain some relevant experience, you can easily seek jobs in hospitals, clinics, private laboratories, Public Health Organizations as well as R&D departments of pharmaceutical companies.
Ideally, you can earn up to $ 40,000 a year in this field. However, your salary may increase based on your experience and efficiency.
With so many lucrative benefits, what are you waiting for? Being a Medical Lab Technician just might be the best job for you.
