Is becoming a medical and clinical laboratory technologist right for me?
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How to become a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
In order to become a medical and clinical laboratory technologist, a bachelor's degree in medical technology, clinical laboratory science, or allied health technologies is the minimum entry-level requirement. These four-year programs are focused on general sciences as well as research methods and laboratory specific skills. Courses include physiology, immunology, clinical microbiology, lab management, anatomy, parasitology, and medical ethics. They also often include an internship.
It is important to enroll in a medical technology degree program that meets industry standards and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
After getting a degree, laboratory technologists can pursue professional certification (see below). Advancement to laboratory director is a relatively common career step for medical technologists, and this position usually requires a master's degree.