Certified medical technicians conduct laboratory testing and analysis.
Medical technicians conduct laboratory tests necessary for the detection and treatment of disease. They may also perform clinical laboratory analysis with the aid of sophisticated technological equipment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that employers prefer technicians who have been certified by a certification organization. The bureau also reports that the top paid professionals in this field made more than $55,000, as of May 2009.
Certification Organizations
According to the BLS, there are four primary organizations for medical certification. However, the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) merged, as of 2009, one year after the BLS report. The other two primary certification organizations are the Board of Registry of the American Association of Bioanalysts and the American Medical Technologists.
American Medical Technologists
The American Medical Technologists' certification process is fairly straightforward. Technicians submit an application to the AMT along with the appropriate fee. The organization processes the application and notifies the applicant of his eligibility via letter. The certification exam is multiple choice and can be taken at a testing facility or at the school in which the technician completed his training. Once technicians have passed their exam, they receive their certification card via mail.
American Board of Bioanalysis
The American Board of Bioanalysis offers six levels of certification in three areas of specialization. The board offers certification for laboratory consultants who perform tests and advise clients on the nature of the tests being performed. Two certification levels are offered for supervisors of technicians, a technical and general supervisor certification. Above supervisors, laboratory directors can obtain three levels of certification: Bioanalyst Clinical Laboratory Director, High-complexity Clinical Laboratory Director and Embryology Laboratory Director. As of 2011, the fee for each certification was $225, with fees varying from $100 to $395 for each type of examination.
NCA/ASCP-BOR Certification
The NCA and ASCP-BOR offer certification for four types of laboratory technicians: Phlebotomy technicians, histotechnician, medical laboratory technician and donor phlebotomy technician. Each field of certification allows the technician seeking certification to choose among multiple routes for obtaining certification. This involves a combination of education and experience working in the technician's field of expertise. Fees for certification vary according to each area of specialization.
Tags: American Medical, American Medical Technologists, Laboratory Director, Medical Technologists, American Board, American Board Bioanalysis
