Laboratory Technician Schools: Taking The Best Route
Medical lab technicians are responsible for the preparation of specimens such as blood, stool, and urine and conducting laboratory procedures for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of many diseases. For those who wish to embark on this fast-growing career, enrollment in an accredited training program is the primary requirement. Training programs are usually available in vocational/technical schools, community colleges, and laboratory technician schools as well.
Laboratory technician schools are the most common institutions which offer accredited laboratory technician training programs. Students will have to pursue a two-year associate’s degree course, usually in applied science. Here they will be taking up subjects such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, and microbiology. An individual can also choose to advance as a medical technologist by pursuing a bachelor’s degree program.
Inside laboratory technician schools, you will be properly trained in routine lab tasks which include microbiological, cellular and chemical analysis of body fluids. Training is also given on conducting test procedures in urinalysis, hematology, blood banking, microbiology, clinical chemistry, and serology. As compared to lab technologists, lab technicians perform less complex lab procedures and therefore undergo less education and training.
It is important that laboratory technician schools have their training programs accredited by authorized agencies such the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is among the most important aspects of a good medical lab technician training program.
You will need to consider a few factors when evaluating laboratory technician schools. As previously mentioned, you must always check to see whether a school offers programs accredited by the NAACLS, ABHES or CAAHEP. It is also a good idea to inquire about the focus of their programs and if they provide students with supervised clinical experience. Class structure, tuition fees/financial aid, and success of graduates are important factors as well.
Certification, although not always required, can provide lab technician graduates with a significant career advantage. You can receive certification by earning a certain level of working experience and passing a certification exam from authorized bodies such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Laboratory technician schools can help prepare you for the tasks and challenges that await you as a full-time medical lab technician.