How to Become a Lab Tech

Laboratory

A lab tech assists laboratory technologists in performing procedures and tests in a lab setting. Job duties of a lab tech might include preparing specimens, performing examinations and operating automated analyzers. Certified lab techs work in various industries, including health care, university labs, government agencies and insurance firms. Employment opportunities for trained lab techs are expected to be high as the demand for complex lab tests increases.

Things You'll Need

• College degree
• Certification
• Continuing education courses

Instructions

1. Decide on your lab tech field. Although most lab tech positions are in the medical and dental fields, there are also veterinary lab techs, material lab techs and research lab techs, among others. Your training and educational requirements will vary according to which kind of lab tech you'd like to become.

2. Find and apply to a lab tech training program. Most lab tech positions require you to hold an Associate of Science (AS) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Laboratory Technology. Lab tech educational programs are offered at community colleges, vocational schools, technical colleges and universities. Be sure to pick a lab technology program that is approved by an accrediting association. Dental lab tech programs, for example, should be approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), while aspiring medical lab techs should attend programs accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS; see Resources).

3. Complete your lab tech training program. Typical courses for aspiring lab techs include laboratory math, industrial microbiology, microscopy, instrumental methods and immunology. You will also learn how to use the latest laboratory software applications. A majority of lab tech programs require you to complete an internship to gain hands-on experience using basic lab techniques, such as measuring samples and conducting microscopic research and spectroscopic examinations.

4. Obtain lab tech certification. Regulations regarding certification vary from state to state, but a majority of employers will only hire lab techs who hold certificates. After completing your lab tech training program, you should have the educational requirements needed to sit for national certification exams, such as those offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the American Medical Technologist (AMT) and the National Board for Certification (NBC) in Dental Laboratory Technology (see Resources).

5. Continue your lab technology education. Many states require you to complete a specific number of continuing education (CE) courses in laboratory technology in order to renew your certificate. The AMT and ASCP also require you to complete CE courses for certification maintenance. Coursework might include updates on microbiology, laboratory quality control and hazardous material shipments.

Tips & Warnings

• Becoming a medical or dental lab tech might not be a great choice if you can't handle the sight of blood and various bodily fluids. Aspiring lab techs should be detail oriented and analytical.

References

• Outlook for Clinical Technologists and Technicians

Resources

• NAACLS Accredited and Approved Programs
• CODA Accredited Educational Programs
• Technician Certification Information
• American Medical Technologist Certification Info
• National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology