Career Opportunities in Medical Laboratory Science:

The practice of modern medicine would be impossible without the tests performed in the clinical laboratory. It is estimated that 70-80% of all patient diagnosis is made on the basis of laboratory tests.

There is a nationwide shortage of qualified clinical laboratory personnel.

A medical team of pathologists, specialists, technologists, and technicians work together to determine the presence, extent, or absence of disease and provide data needed to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Laboratory procedures require an array of complex precision instruments and a variety of automated and electronic equipment.  However, women and men interested in helping others are the foundation of a successful laboratory. They must be accurate, reliable, have an interest in science and be able to recognize their responsibility for human lives.  Clinical Laboratory Personnel need good judgment and the ability to work under pressure. Close attention to detail is essential, because small differences or changes in test substances or numerical readouts can be crucial for patient care. Manual dexterity and normal color vision are highly desirable.

Check out the website Diagnostic Detectives to view an interactive laboratory career program.

         

View the TOP 10 reasons to choose a career in the Clinical Laboratory

Education Levels
Laboratory roles are based on a career ladder of academic and technical components. Individuals interested in a medical laboratory career may direct their goals to one of many levels of education. 

Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) or Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT)
Medical Laboratory Technician, also known as a Clinical Laboratory Technician, is a laboratory worker with an Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology such as the one that is offered at Allegany College of Maryland.

   Learn the difference between an CLT/MLT and an CLS/MT

Medical Laboratory Technologist (MT) or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)
A Medical Technologist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist is a person that has graduated with a 4-year BS degree.

Allegany College of Maryland offers the 2 year-Associate Degree in Medical Technology and has formal articulation agreements with 4 year programs. Outreach programs through distance learning are also available.

   Discover how to obtain a B.S. Degree after completion of an AAS in Medical Technology at ACM

Masters level and Doctoral degrees also available in Clinical Lab Science

Laboratory Specialist would be an MLT or MT who has attained certification as categorical specialist in the main areas of the clinical laboratory profession.

• Hematology
• Blood Banking
• Chemistry
• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Cytotechnology
• Virology
• Laboratory Safety
• Cytogenetics

Career & Salary Information
More career information can be found at the following sites:

Occupational Outlook Handbook- Clinical Laboratory Careers.

National Institute of Health LifeWorks - explore health and medical science careers

Your Hospital Laboratory by the Medical Center of Louisiana

Careers in Medical Laboratory Technology by the American Society for Clinical Pathology

Certification and Licensing
Critical to high-quality health care is the assurance that individuals performing laboratory tests are able to carry out their responsibilities in a proficient manner. Therefore, laboratory personnel are most often certified by one or both of two professional organizations:

• The Board of Registry (BOR) of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• The National Credentialing Agency (NCA) sponsored by The American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science.

These certification agencies provide a mechanism for Laboratory personnel to be recognized as having the necessary competence to perform the medical laboratory roles they seek.

Currently 13 states require license of Medical Laboratory Personnel.  The majority of these states recognize the national examinations.

Allegany College of Maryland's MLT Program Options

For more information or to make an appointment, please contact:

Molly Saunders-Bloom, Program Director and Professor
301-784-5548
msaunders@allegany.edu

Stacey Rohrbaugh, Associate Professor
301-784-5547
srohrbaugh@allegany.edu