Who is lab technician

Anyone that is looking to get into the healthcare industry will benefit by getting an internship at either a hospital or medical clinic. These are the most common internship opportunities that aspiring lab technicians complete when preparing for a career in this field. Once you complete your internship, the next step will be to get your first job. There are a number of starter jobs you can get when looking to become a lab technician. For example, at LOC Scientific link opens in a new window , to become an entry-level lab technician, one must have done two things: completed an internship in a laboratory and have received a degree in a related field.

However, the most common type of job you will get is that of either an entry-level clinical lab technician if you pursue a career in healthcare or a lab technician if you work in the scientific fields. Both of these jobs will give you a start in the field and experience to build upon throughout your career.

Like many other careers, lab technicians can benefit by having certain hobbies. In order to have a promising career as a lab technician, you will want to be someone who is very interested in science.

Fields such as biology and chemistry should be subjects that you have a strong interest in. Along with being very interested in science, it will also benefit you to like doing experiments and having a very curious mind about scientific samples.

With these hobbies, you will be in great position to have the necessary interests and abilities to get into this exciting field. These hobbies will also help enhance your aptitude for this career as well. These professionals analyze body fluids, tissue, and cells. Using powerful medical equipment, they look for bacteria, parasites, and abnormal cells.

They should be able to schedule their days so they can monitor each step of the process. Good time-management skills also help lab technicians complete a variety of concurrent tasks. Depending on the field, a lab technician may work in the following settings:. Laboratories: Many lab techs work in a laboratory environment where they handle hazardous materials. Offices: Laboratory technicians can work in an office environment collecting, analyzing and writing data results.

Construction sites: Lab techs may work on a construction site obtaining soil and water samples. Industrial plants: Industrial plants hire lab techs to perform experiments on new chemicals and record results. In many of these settings, lab techs may have a designated workspace, called a lab bench, where they use a variety of scientific instruments to perform tests and analyze results.

Lab technicians could spend their time sitting, standing and moving around their workspace while completing tasks. Depending on the role and environment, lab techs will wear pants, close-toed shoes and shirts with long sleeves. They may also wear protective gear, such as goggles, a lab coat and gloves. Depending on the setting, lab techs can work a variety of hours. Most lab techs work full time during regular business hours, though some overtime may be necessary when conducting extensive research.

Some lab techs may work occasional nights and weekends when conducting a timed experiment. Some companies may hire you with a high school diploma and offer on-the-job training. In many cases, you can substitute a high school diploma with a GED. Depending on your preferences, you can earn a degree in laboratory sciences or a related major. Depending on the state in which you intend to work, you may need to earn a certification.

Even if your state does not require certification, you should consider obtaining one to demonstrate your professionalism and relevant knowledge. As there are continually new scientific discoveries, staying current in the field can help you excel in this career path. Additionally, if you obtained a lab tech certification, you will need to attend courses or training to maintain your certificate.

You can complete online courses, go to conferences or read about your field in scientific journals. Our manufacturing plant is seeking a lab technician to join our team. The quality control manufacturing lab technician will maintain laboratory equipment and materials in adherence with company and government standards. They will prepare reagents and solutions and keep track of general laboratory supplies, logbooks and labels.

They will also participate in hazardous waste training and maintain lab databases. The right candidate will be committed to the highest standards of compliance and ethics, take ownership of actions, enthusiastically embrace change and strive to understand the needs of our customers.

Business demands may require extended hours. About 25, 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.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians. Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians with similar occupations.

Clinical laboratory technologists commonly known as medical laboratory scientists and clinical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances. Both technicians and technologists perform tests and procedures that physicians and surgeons or other healthcare personnel order.

However, technologists perform more complex tests and laboratory procedures than technicians do. For example, technologists may prepare specimens and perform detailed manual tests, whereas technicians perform routine tests that may be more automated. Clinical laboratory technicians usually work under the general supervision of clinical laboratory technologists or laboratory managers.

Technologists in small laboratories perform many types of tests; in large laboratories, they sometimes specialize. The following are examples of types of specialized clinical laboratory technologists:. Blood bank technologists , or immunohematology technologists , collect blood, classify it by type, and prepare blood and its components for transfusions.

Clinical chemistry technologists prepare specimens and analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids. Cytotechnologists prepare slides of body cells and examine these cells under a microscope for abnormalities that may signal the beginning of a cancerous growth.

Immunology technologists examine elements of the human immune system and its response to foreign bodies. Microbiology technologists examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms.

Molecular biology technologists perform complex protein and nucleic acid tests on cell samples. Like technologists, clinical laboratory technicians may work in several areas of the laboratory or specialize in one area. For example, histotechnicians are a type of clinical laboratory technician who cut and stain tissue specimens for pathologists— doctors who study the cause and development of diseases at a microscopic level.

Technologists and technicians often specialize after they have worked in a particular area for a long time or have received advanced education or training in that area. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held about , jobs in The largest employers of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians were as follows:.

Clinical laboratory personnel are trained to work with infectious specimens or with materials that are caustic or produce fumes. When they follow proper methods to control infection and sterilize equipment, the risk decreases.

They wear protective masks, gloves, and goggles for their safety. Technologists and technicians can be on their feet for long periods, and they may need to lift or turn disabled patients to collect samples. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians risk injury or illness on the job. For example, they may be subject to repetitive motion injuries because they do the same tasks repeatedly. Most clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work full time. Technologists and technicians who work in facilities that operate around the clock, such as hospitals and some independent laboratories, may work evening, weekend, or overnight hours.

Clinical laboratory technologists typically need a bachelor's degree in medical technology or a related life sciences field, such as biology. Clinical laboratory technicians typically need an associate's degree in a field such as clinical laboratory science.

Students typically complete college coursework and then apply to the clinical portion of the program. Coursework emphasizes laboratory skills, including safety procedures and lab management, while the clinical portion includes hands-on training in a typical work setting like a hospital. The Armed Forces and vocational or technical schools also may offer certificate programs for medical laboratory technicians.

Technician coursework addresses the theoretical and practical aspects of each of the major laboratory disciplines. High school students who are interested in pursuing a career in the medical laboratory sciences should take classes in chemistry, biology, and math.

Some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed. Requirements vary by state and specialty. For specific requirements, contact state departments of health, state boards of occupational licensing, or visit The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Certification of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is required for licensure in some states. Although certification is not required to enter the occupation in all cases, employers typically prefer to hire certified technologists and technicians.

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians can obtain a general certification as a medical laboratory technologist or technician, respectively, or a certification in a specialty, such as cytotechnology or medical biology. Most credentialing institutions require that technologists complete an accredited education program in order to qualify to sit for an exam. Ability to use technology. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians must understand how to operate computerized lab equipment.

Detail oriented.