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2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Health Career Information
Medical Lab Technician / Technologist
Job description
Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists perform laboratory tests necessary to provide information for use by physicians in detecting, diagnosing or treating diseases. The Medical Technologist works with pathologists (physicians who diagnose the cause and nature of disease), over-sees many lab operations and supervises Medical Laboratory Technicians as well as other personnel.
Activities may include
Techonologist:
●
perform supervisory and administrative duties
●
use microscope, a variety of chemicals, computers and precision instruments to perform complex analyses
●
develop laboratory techniques and procedures
●
conduct research
●
take blood samples
●
work with pathologists or physicians
Technician:
●
collect blood specimens
●
monitor quality control of tests and procedures
●
report results to medical technologists, pathologists or physicians
●
use microscope, a variety of chemicals, complex precision instruments to perform tests on body fluids and tissues
●
work under supervision of medical technologist, pathologist, or other physician
Specialties
Specialties in the medical technology field include: microbiology technologist, histologic technologist, chemistry technologist, immunology technologist, hematology technologist, blood bank technologist, and cytotechnologist; and with even additional training, other fields include a specialist in blood bank technology; a specialist in chemistry; a specialist in immunology; and a specialist in microbiology.
Salaries and benefits*
A Laboratory Technician I working for the State of Washington earns $2,106 to $2,660 per month. The wage range for a Medical Technologist I with a bachelor's degree working for the State is $2,259 to $2,864. In the Northwest, certified Medical Laboratory Technicians average $2,846 to $3,303 per month. Non-certified Medical Technologists average $2,442 to $2,832 per month, while ASCP certified Technologists average $3,200 to $3,621. Statewide, Medical Technicians average $1,963 to $3,010 per month, and nationally they average $2,320 per month. The average for Medical Technologists in Washington State is $2,915 to $3,926 per month, and nationally they average $3,183. Cytotechnologists in the Pacific Northwest average $3,728 to $4,016 per month.
Training and requirements
The minimum educational requirements for the Medical Technologist is the completion of a Bachelor's Degree program, which includes three to four years of course work plus a twelve month clinical experience in an accredited hospital laboratory educational program in medical technology. For Medical Technologists, training is available at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Seattle University, University of Washington and Washington State University. In Seattle, post bachelor's training is offered through Children's Hospital & Medical Center and the Laboratory of Pathology.
The most common training for Medical Lab Technicians is a two-year associate degree program in medical laboratory technology. In Washington, training for Medical Laboratory Technicians is available at Bryman College (Renton Campus), Edmonds Community College, Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College (at both Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses), Shoreline Community College, and Wenatchee Valley College.
Necessary skills
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good eye/hand coordination and manual dexterity
●
good or corrected vision
●
precision and accuracy
●
ability to distinguish between fine color graduations
●
good listening skills and ability to communicate clearly
●
aptitude for science course work
●
ability to work well under pressure
Licensure/Certification
Technologist:
After graduation from an accredited bachelor's degree program, which includes the twelve month hospital course in medical technology, the candidate may take the registry examinations and become certified as a Medical Technologist — MT ASCP — by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology; or as a Medical Technologist, MT, by the American Medical Technologist Association.
Technician:
Medical Lab Technicians must pass an exam given by one or two agencies - the Board of Registry of Medical Technologists of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, or the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel.
Helpful high school courses
Include math, chemistry, and biology, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, physics, zoology, foreign language, English composition, and computer applications.
Colleges/Vocational Schools in Washington State
●
Central
Washington University
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 963-1211
●
Eastern Washington University
526 5th St.
Cheney, WA 99004
(509) 359-2397
●
Seattle University
900 Broadway & Madison
Seattle, WA 98122-4340
(206) 296-6000
●
University of Washington
Medical Technology
NW 120 University of Washington Medical Center
University of Washington
Box 357110
Seattle, WA 98195-7110
(206) 598-6131
●
Washington State University
1 SE Stadium Way
Pullman, WA 99164
(509) 335-3564
Medical Lab Technician ( AAAS/ASA/ATA)
●
Clover Park Technical College
4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499-4098
(253) 589-5678
●
Renton Campus
981 Powell Ave., Ste. 200
Renton, WA 98055
(425) 255-3281
●
Edmonds Community College (Clinical Lab Technician)
2000 68th Ave. W.
Lynnwood, WA 98036-5999
(425) 640-1459
●
Fort
Steilacoom campus
9401 Farwest Dr. SW
Lakewood, WA 98498-1999
(253) 964-6500
Puyallup campus
1601 39th Ave. SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
(253) 840-8400
●
Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Ave. N
Shoreline, WA 98133-5696
(206) 546-4101
●
Wenatchee Valley College
1300 Fifth St.
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 682-6800
Outlook*
In Washington, this occupation is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. Employment is projected to increase 22 percent by 2008. It is estimated that there will be 237 openings annually in this occupation. Currently about 6,579 Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists are employed full-time in Washington.
Professional Associations
●
American Medical Technologists
710 Higgins Rd.
Park Ridge, IL 60068
(847) 823-5169
(800) 275-1268
http://www.amt1.com
●
American Society for Clinical Laboratory
Science
7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 530
Bethesda, MD 20814-3015
(301) 657-2768
http://www.ascls.org
●
American Society for Clinical
Pathology
2100 West Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60612-3798
(312) 738-1336
(800) 621-4142
http://www.ascp.org/index.asp
●
* Note: General career descriptions are updated as necessary, however salary expectations and projected outlooks have not been updated since 2000. Go to Workforce Explorer Washington and search your career for the most up-to-date salary and job growth expectations. Washington Healthcare Careers and Workforce College are also good resources for job information.
For additional information, contact your school's career counselor or
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Page updated 9/15/04