What Do Lab Technicians Do--and Could You Do It, Too?

As the unsung heroes of the medical world, clinical laboratory technicians do the legwork (or often, the hand and eye work) necessary to provide diagnostic information to doctors. Lab technicians prepare specimens for testing, and sometimes run the tests themselves. Specialized medical laboratory technicians include histotechnicians, who work in tissue specimen preparation, and phlebotomists, who take blood samples for laboratory analysis.

A Behind-the-Scenes Medical Career

If you enjoy detail-oriented work, a career as a medical laboratory technician is a great option. Enjoy the sense of satisfaction you get from knowing that your work is helping others, without the stress that can come with direct patient contact. Work settings for medical lab technicians can vary from a private physician's office to a research lab or a hospital. Best of all, you can hang up your white coat for the day and leave work without being on call, allowing you to have a beeper-free life outside of the lab.

Becoming a Technician: Educational Requirements

Earning a degree in medical laboratory technology is the first step on the path to a career as a technician. Associate's degrees and career diplomas are common credentials in the early stages of this career path, with courses on the operation and maintenance of lab equipment and the proper handling of specimens. For this type of education, you need to have graduated high school or have a GED. If you don't, consider getting your high school diploma online to prepare you for career-specific training.

Due in part to our country's aging population, job prospects are excellent for medical laboratory technicians, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median earnings of these professionals were over $30,000 annually in 2004.

Source:

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians"