What Does a Medical Technologist Do?

A medical technologist is a highly trained professional who plays a vital role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

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Job Description

A medical technologist is responsible for the daily operations of a medical laboratory. This may include performing and interpreting laboratory tests, maintaining equipment, and keeping accurate records. A medical technologist may also be responsible for training new laboratory staff and supervising other technicians.

Duties

A medical technologist is a health professional who performs chemical, physical, immunologic, and microscopic analysis of body fluids, tissues, and cells. They use these techniques to provide information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

Medical technologists typically work in hospitals or clinical laboratories. They may also work in blood banks, public health facilities, or research laboratories.

Most medical technologists have a bachelor’s degree in medical technology or a related scientific field. Some have a master’s degree or doctoral degree. Certification by a nationally recognized organization is generally required to work as a medical technologist.

Salary

How much does a Medical Technologist make?
The national average salary for a Medical Technologist is $52,450 in united states Filter by location to see Medical Technologist salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 3,671 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Medical Technologist employees.

Education and Training

An Associate’s Degree in medical technology or a related field is the minimum educational requirement for this occupation, although many employers prefer applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree. Several schools offer medical technology programs that are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Students in these programs take classes in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, as well as complete clinical rotations in various laboratory departments. After completing an accredited program, graduates must then earn certification from a professional organization, such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), to become a certified medical technologist.

Career Outlook

The medical technologist career has a positive outlook with a projected 17 percent growth in the next decade. A medical technologist is a professional who uses their expertise in chemistry, biology, and other sciences to perform laboratory tests. These tests help diagnose and treat diseases.

Job Growth

job outlook for medical technologists is very good. Employment for medical technologists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for medical technologists will continue to grow as the population ages and more people need medical care.

Job Opportunities

The job outlook for medical technologists is good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of medical technologists will grow by 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to an aging population and advances in medical technology, which will require more highly trained personnel to operate and maintain the equipment.

Advancement Opportunities

Medical technologists can advance in their careers by taking on additional responsibilities, such as leading a team of technicians, or by completing additional education to become a supervisor or manager. Some technologists may also choose to pursue a specialization, such as blood banking or microbiology.

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