Laboratory Technician Career

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What You Do in This Career

Becoming a Laboratory Technician probably wasn’t on your list of ideal careers when you were a kid, but perhaps it should have been. Laboratory Technologists perform tests on body fluids and tissue samples that are crucial to detecting, diagnosing, and treating disease. If you like staring through microscopes at bacteria, parasites and microorganisms, or even if you just like helping people with your analytical expertise, this is a great career. It’s not for the faint of heart however, since a tremendous amount of responsibility is placed on the lab technicians to be accurate in their tests. People’s lives are in their hands just like any doctor or registered nurse.

Salary and Career Path

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for laboratory technologists in 2008 was $53,500, with the lowest 10% earning under $36,000 and the highest paid techs earning over $74,680. Lab techs can find employment in many locations like at university medical clinics, physician’s offices, or general hospitals. As with all medical careers, the outlook is good for job hires since the number of older people and the demand for laboratory testing are increasing. To advance up the career ladder requires experience and the ability to take on supervisory positions. Many online colleges offer degree programs that incorporate management skills, which would be a plus on any resume. Online colleges also offer degree programs for nurse practitioners and ultrasound technicians, for those who are interested in medical care outside the laboratory.

What Kind of Degree or Coursework You Need

Laboratory technicians often have AA degrees in fields such as allied health, medical assisting, or health information technology, or certificates from hospitals or vocational schools, even the military. Any of those avenues offer a great start to a career in laboratory technology. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences accredits 479 programs nation-wide, which means further training and specialization through online colleges or regular universities is easy to find.

Top Online Health Services Programs

There are multiple educational paths that can be taken to become an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer. The schools below do not offer ultrasound-specific training, but they do offer medical assisting and other healthcare programs closely related to sonography. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

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DeVry University
AS in Health IT
 		DeVry University — Although DeVry University's online associate's degree in health information technology program is not specifically an ultrasound training program, it does prepare students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more.
Virginia College Online
BS in Health Services Mgmt
 		Virginia College Online — If you want to complete a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for management, then apply for Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration. The tuition for each program includes the cost of every textbook for every course. After earning this degree, additional training may be required to become an ultrasound technician.
Herzing University
AS in Medical Assisting
 		Herzing University — The AS in medical assisting degree program from Herzing University is not an ultrasound training program, but it does present students with an introduction to a physician's office, and can help lead to careers in sonography. Students learn how to assist doctors and nurses in the exam room as well as perform routine medical laboratory procedures.
Hodges University
AS in Health Info Mgmt
AS in Health Admin
 		Hodges University — Hodges University's AS in Health Information Technology and AS in Health Administration programs, while not purely an ultrasound training program, do teach students how to use the latest information technology to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Health information technology allows medical offices to collect and analyze data from patients and doctors, a vital part of the medical process. Students learn to manage patient health information, medical records, administer computer information systems, and code diagnoses and procedures.
Lincoln College
AAS in Health IT
 		Lincoln College — The AAS in Health IT degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the ins and outs of technological-related medical work such as data tracking, organizing, and recorded. This degree is useful for anyone wishing to advance in his/her career within a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, ultrasound clinics, physician offices, and more. Additional training is required before becoming an ultrasound technician.

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DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. Program availability varies by location.

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