medical technology/clinical lab specialist

[fort lincoln]

Iam not sure if this is the appropriate place, but does anybody know if there are any websites/forums designed for this field geared to students interested in going in this direction?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[melcal]

check out the ASCP website, http://www.ascp.org/, they're one of the main licensing organizations for laboratory medicine. i don't even know of any existing forums anywhere for this discipline, maybe googling it would help. i'm a medical technologist (still working a few shifts) but am now in PA school. if you have any more ?'s, i'd love to help out.

 

[fort lincoln]

I just have some basic questions. Do most med techs stay in the field or move onto to other disciplines? It seems that pre-reqs are similar to pa/med school so I would assume that some move on? How is the general culture of these labs? Stressful/relaxed/challenging? Iam currently deciding if I should go this route or just go the PA route. But this field does seems very interesting.One more question ,how competitive are the programs to get into?


thanks in advance

 

[melcal]

Whether or not med techs stay in the field really depends on the person! I myself am going to PA school, a friend of mine is doing graphic design but still stick with med tech on the side. Friends in college used it as a pre-med major & has been beneficial to them in med school. Others totally love it and can easily obtain masters degrees in similar fields (e.g. microbiology) and teach. Med tech is all about pathology, investigation, something new all the time. The lab environment is the same way, always challenging, stressful & relaxing, so it's never boring! But it also makes you feel good when you know you have a hand in helping make clinical decisions in diagnosis & treatment. Also, the field is secure & you can get a job anytime/anywhere. It's not really competitive at all to get into, I'm sure it varies with the programs with GPA requirements, but it's not like med or PA school. Having this background is extremely beneficial if one wants to go to med or PA school. I encourage you to look into it more, there's a 2-year program (MLT) if you haven't read about it yet, in case you want to get into it quicker than the 4-year program. There's no huge difference in pay, but in the training & education.

 

[DrB]

Hello, I am a phlebotomist in Santa Cruz, CA. I was wondering what it is like in your states with regards to the jobs performed by MLTs and CLSs. In my state the MLT is a new and emerging field. We only have one at our hospital and all they seem to do is help and support the clinical lab scientist. At the heart of my question is where you see the field of CLS going; do you think the MLT position is a way for the lab to save money?

On a further note... I think melcal's description of a lab environment is perfect, "challenging, stressful, and relaxing." One other thing is that the lab staff have very little patient contact. I like that my job allows me to get out into the hospital.

 

[melcal]

From my experience, an MLT & MT/CLS in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois are doing the same work, but an MLT is getting slightly less pay. This difference is due to to the fact that an MLT has only had basic laboratory procedure training in 2 years, while the MT/CLS has a 4-year college degree & has learned pathology/clinical medicine along with laboratory procedures. MLT's have been around for quite some time, and CA has just recently opened up the opportunity for current MLT's to work in that state. I know that in CA they require state licensure along with national licensure, which is different in other states only requiring national licensure. In CA, the MT's do higher complexity work while MLT's help them out doing other testing. The use for MLT's is needed everywhere, as well as MT's, and because of a shortage in workforce, it can be a quicker way of getting people to fill the positions. MLT's can also further their education by moving onto getting their MT degree, which can most likely be paid for by their employer.

 

[DrB]

Just wanted to clarify the acronyms,

CLS = clinical laboratory scientist

MLT = medical laboratory technician

MT = ?

So it sounds like the labs are trying to save money?

 

[melcal]

sorry...

MT=medical technologist, the "older" name of clinical lab scientist

labs aren't necessarily trying to save money, they're just trying to fill up positions

 

[philapharm7]

this is an old thread, but I have some questions for anyone reading it. I know you can get a BS in Medical Technology, but is there a Master's you can get to increase your salary? The description of a Clinical Lab Scientist is EXACTLY what I want to do and I can't believe everyone directed me to Pharmaceutical Sciences and never even mentioned Medical Technology to me, but earning $50,000 a year is a turn-off for me -- I was originally a pre-pharm student looking at eventually earning a six-figure salary, so $50,000 is a bitter pill to swallow. So anyway, I don't want a higher degree to teach or to just use a bachelor's in MT as a stepping stone, I actually want to be a Clinical Lab Scientist, I'm just wondering if there is an advanced degree that would allow me to earn a higher salary?

 

[lapelirroja]

I don't think a Master's will do anything for you. I think our Lab Director has a Masters in Clin chem, but I would never want to be a lab supervisor or a lab director....

That's why I'm in PA school. I'm getting a Masters and will have increased salary as a Physician Assistant . I like dealing with patients more than lab specimens.

PS I still work per diem as a Medical Technologist while in school.

 

[billw]

this is an old thread, but I have some questions for anyone reading it. I know you can get a BS in Medical Technology, but is there a Master's you can get to increase your salary?

There are schools that offer a master's in medical technology, but it will probably only raise your salary if you go into management.

Because MTs and MLTs are often considered interchangeable, your advanced degree is always pitted against someone with an AA who can do most of the same work. There is rarely an incentive to pay more for someone with more education.