A Medical technologist is responsible for performing diagnostic tests that help to diagnose illness and monitor treatment. A medical technologist is also known as a clinical-laboratory scientist, and the terms are often used interchangeably. The majority of medical technologists work behind the health-care scenes in clinical laboratories or in the biotechnology industry. You must complete a 4-year degree in a related field of study and be nationally certified to become a medical technologist.
Instructions
1. Apply for the accredited training program that best meets your needs and learning style. Though most medical technologist programs last for 4 years, the ratio of required classroom time to years of clinical-based rotation is variable. For someone who learns better through on-the-job experience, a two-plus-two program, featuring 2 years in the classroom and 2 years of clinical rotation, may be a good option.
2. Matriculate in your chosen program and obtain a bachelor of science, with a major in clinical-laboratory science. A bachelor of science in life science will also qualify you for the field, but it will be necessary to complete additional training to be eligible for certification. The rotation provides hands-on training during which interns learn the disciplines of the laboratory and perform diagnostic testing.
3. Choose a specialty area. Though it's not required, many medical technologists complete further education in a particular field, allowing them to obtain additional certification and add credentials to their names. The choices of specialties are vast, including hematology, urinalysis, virology, toxicology and immunology.
4. Take one or more of the certifying exams. The American Medical Technologists (AMT) certification, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification and the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel's (NCA) certification each provide a different credential. Certification by the ASCP allows you to use "MT" after your name while those certified by the NCA use "CLS" (Clinical Laboratory Scientist).
5. Check with your state to see whether you need to apply for a license in addition to a certificate. Approximately one-third of the states require MTs to fill out paperwork and show proof of certification from a national accrediting agency in order to become licensed. Florida, New York and California require applicants to take a state exam in addition to a national one.
6. Look for your first job in medical technology. Using a specialized website, like MedHunters.com, can show you where the need for medical technologists is highest (see Resources below).
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