Medical Laboratory Technician: Duties & Job Market

by Barbara Bellesi

Clinical laboratory technicians--also known as clinical assistants, medical technicians, or medical laboratory technicians--play a vital role in health care. These men and women perform the necessary tests and procedures for detecting, diagnosing, and treating various diseases and disorders.

Duties of a clinical laboratory technician

Clinical laboratory technicians perform many tests and lab procedures but not of the complexity that clinical laboratory technologists do. Technicians often prepare specimens and perform manual tests, working under the guidance of lab managers or clinical laboratory technologists. Clinical lab technicians can work in a variety of specialty areas, including clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunohematology, immunology, cytotechnology, phlebotomy, and molecular technology.

Where to find clinical laboratory technician jobs

The majority of clinical laboratory technician jobs can be found in hospitals, but there are also employment opportunities in doctors' offices and in medical diagnostic labs. Others find work in education and in ambulatory health care.

Clinical laboratory technician programs

An associate degree or a certificate is often required for those looking to pursue a career as a clinical laboratory technician. Many programs are offered through hospitals, where students can gain valuable hands-on training. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) has accredited over 450 programs for scientists, technologists, and technicians, including about 60 programs just for phlebotomists and clinical assistants. Technicians wishing to become technologists can advance by earning a bachelor's degree and additional work experience.

Demand for clinical laboratory technicians

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14 percent growth of clinical laboratory technician jobs by 2016. This increase is due to population growth and development of new tests and procedures. However, many tests and procedures are becoming more simplified and can be conducted by physicians and even the patients themselves, thus reducing the need for clinical lab technicians and assistants in some areas of health care.