LABORATORY SCIENCES
Clinical Laboratory Technician
To be a successful Clinical Laboratory Technician you should...
enjoy science; translate theory into practice; understand the scientific basis of health and disease; wish to continue to learn and grow as a health professional; have good eye/hand coordination and manual dexterity; have the ability to distinguish between fine color gradations; have good listening skills and the ability to communicate clearly; have the ability to work well under pressure.
What will my job be like?
Clinical Laboratory Technicians (formerly Medical Laboratory Technicians) (CLTs) perform tests on blood, body fluids, and tissue to help the physician diagnose and treat disease. They often work under the supervision of a clinical laboratory scientist using microscopes, computers, and other laboratory equipment to gather data and help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Their duties include collecting blood specimens, carrying out testing procedures using a variety of instruments, monitoring the quality of tests and procedures, and reporting results.
Specialties
- Blood Bank Technology
- Chemistry
- Hematology
Where could I work?
Most Clinical Laboratory Technicians work in hospital laboratories under the supervision of clinical laboratory scientists.
Other workplace settings:
- Colleges and Universities
- Industrial Medical Laboratories
- Medical Research Facilities
- Military
- Nursing Homes
Average Annual Salary
$60,780 per year
What is the future of this career?
Employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 24,200 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
Clinical Laboratory Technicians must have an associate degree from an accredited community college, including one year of clinical education. In addition, they must pass an exam given by one of these agencies: the Board of Registry of Medical Technologists of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel, or American Medical Technologists.
Where could I get the education/training?
- CT State Asnuntuck
- CT State Housatonic
- CT State Manchester
- CT State Middlesex
- CT State Northwestern
- CT State Norwalk
- CT State Quinebaug Valley
- CT State Tunxis
- Yale New Haven Hospital
Licensing/Certification
Licensure is not required in the state of Connecticut.
More Information
American Medical Technologists
10700 West Higgins Road, Suite 150
Rosemont, IL 60018
847-823-5169
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
P.O. Box 92
Dundee, MI 48131
301.478.6379
American Society for Clinical Pathology
33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 541-4999
Association of Clinical Research Professionals
610 Madison Street, Suite 101 - #613
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-254-8100
