How to become a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician
Official title: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Also called: Clinical Lab Tech (Clinical Laboratory Technician), Lab Assistant (Laboratory Assistant), Lab Associate (Laboratory Associate), Lab Tech (Laboratory Technician), Medical Lab Assistant (Medical Laboratory Assistant), Medical Technician (Medical Tech), Microbiology MLT (Microbiology Medical Laboratory Technician), MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician), Specimen Processor, Travel Medical Lab Tech (Travel Medical Laboratory Technician)
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
Main tasks
- Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results.
- Conduct blood tests for transfusion purposes and perform blood counts.
- Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
- Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
- Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
- Examine cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities.
- Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
- Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants.
How to become one
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. Technicians sometimes qualify for jobs with an associate's degree. Some states require technologists and technicians to be licensed.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Medical & Clinical Lab Technician (Nof).
- College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 15 states.
Pay · Outlook
- About 343,000 people work in this job now, and about 352,400 are projected by 2035. (+2.7%)
Related jobs
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Histotechnologists
- Histology Technicians
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician?
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. Technicians sometimes qualify for jobs with an associate's degree. Some states require technologists and technicians to be licensed.
Is a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 343,000 to about 352,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician?
Not always. 51% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees; Medical & Clinical Lab Technician (Nof).
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.