Medical Laboratory Technologists a U.S. News & World Report “Best Career” for 2011
Once Again, Medical Technologists (MT) and Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) Are Top Careers
Medical technologists (MT) and clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) were declared among “The 50 Best Careers of 2011” by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) in its annual survey of high-demand careers. Editors at the respected news magazine declared “clinical lab technicians and technologists” to be the “unsung heroes of the healthcare industry.”
Medical technologists and clinical laboratory scientists had a prominent place in the USNWR’s special issue featuring “The 50 Best Careers of 2011,” published on Dec 6. 2010. MTs, pathologists, and clinical laboratory managers will see the MT and CLS career opportunity profiled under “Best Careers 2011: Lab Technician.”
Medical technologists (MT) and clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) can earn more than $55,000 according to U.S. News & World Report.
High Demand for Clinical Lab MTs, CLSs, MLTs, and Other Professionals
Each year, USNWR publishes its analysis of the “50 Best Careers.” In each of the past two years, Lab Technician has made the list. According to the editors of U.S. News & World Report:
- “Job growth is expected to be faster than average, with the number of clinical lab workers rising about 16% between 2008 and 2018, adding about 25,000 jobs, according to the Labor Department.
- “Median annual take-home pay was $36,030 in 2009. For those at the top of the pay bracket, salaries can be more than $55,210.
- “[Stress level] is pretty low, though hefty patient loads and keeping up with technological and regulatory issues can require some serious multi-tasking. You’ll be working in a clean, well-lighted lab most of the time.
- “The lower-cost education is a highlight of this occupation. For entry-level work, you’ll likely need to have an associate’s degree or complete a certificate program. It’s possible to learn some of your skills on the job.”
Predict Strong Job Growth and Above Average Income for MTs
“To come up with this year’s list,” the report stated, “U.S. News considered job-growth projections from the Labor Department, estimates for 2008 to 2018, the most recent data available. We narrowed it down to occupations that are expected to add jobs at an above-average rate over the next decade, as well as those that provide an above-average median income.
“We also considered, where possible, data on job satisfaction, turnover, and impending retirements, which crank up openings in jobs that may have only slightly above-average employment growth,” the report continued.
This continues to validate the belief that demand for all sorts of technical healthcare positions will only increase, not only here in America, but in Canada and around the world. Healthcare systems on four continents have reported serious shortages in skilled technical employees in all aspects of healthcare.
Dark Daily covered this topic in January with “Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Are Among Top Growth Jobs for Next Decade” after Lab Technician made it onto the U.S. News top careers list for 2010.
With its selection of MTs and CLSs as “Best Careers for 2011,” U.S. News & World Report is signaling that demand for proficient clinical laboratory professionals will remain strong in coming years. That means that hiring practices at clinical laboratories must evolve as well.
On that point, Dark Daily recently reported on why clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups should be expanding their medical technologist recruitment programs to include the use of the Web and social media. These powerful new recruiting approaches were described during The Dark Report’s November audio conference titled “How to Solve Your Lab’s Med-Tech Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention Problems Now.”
By selecting Laboratory Technologist as a “50 Best Careers for 2011,” U.S. News & World Report is affirming the ever-growing shortage of medical technologists and clinical laboratory scientists. Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers may want to incorporate this U.S. News & World Report story into the recruiting materials they use when hiring new laboratory staff.
Related Information:
Best Careers 2011: Healthcare Jobs
Best Careers 2011: Laboratory Technician
How to Solve Your Lab’s Med-Tech Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention Problems Now
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Are Among Top Growth Jobs for Next Decade
Critical shortage of lab technicians
ASCP Works to Fight Lab Staff Shortage
I think it’s great that the medical laboratory field is getting exposure, but at what cost? As of late 2010, both the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) merged under the ASCP banner, making Medical Technologists (MT) and Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) (which, for clinical purposes are synonymous job titles with the same training) obselete. The current title is Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS). Formalities aside, the beginning of the article starts with a description of “Medical Technologists”, but later goes on to discuss the wages and benefits of a Medical Laboratory Technician, which is by no means the same profession. Education requirements, job duties, and salaries differ greatly between the two titles. I was excited when I was forwarded this article…
I have been a Medical Technologist for over 30 years (M.T.(A.S.C.P.) and a Laboratory Manager for over 10 years. It is important to let those interested in the career know that many, many laboratories will only hire registered Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT’s) and Medical Technologists (MT’s). Minimum requirement with the ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathologists)for MLT’s is an Associate degree with a clinical rotation; and for an MT, a Bachelor’s degree with a clinical rotation is required.
“[Stress level] is pretty low, though hefty patient loads and keeping up with technological and regulatory issues can require some serious multi-tasking. You’ll be working in a clean, well-lighted lab most of the time.”
Sorry, but the stress level is NOT low. As a matter of fact, it is extremely high. Yes, the multi-tasking is intense.
Maybe one will get a clean, well-lighted lab. However, they’ll also probably get a huge amount of noise, a huge amount of chaos, and numerous personality conflicts.
There’s a reason why there’s a shortage of Medical Technologists. Its because many, many leave the field quite rapidly after entering it. Why? Because “the profession” overworks, over-stresses and underpays. Along with the job are requirements to work numerous holidays and weekends. In some cases hours vary from day to day making it difficult to settle into a daily pattern.
I would not consider Clinical Laboratory Science work as any kind of “best career” choice. Before considering making this a career choice, talk to some “real” techs in the field, not the ones who spend their time supervising or sitting at desks more than 75% of the time.
I’ve been in this “profession” for 32 years, including 8 years in management. It COULD be a rewarding profession, but today’s laboratories are run like factories and one gets many criticisms and far too few kudos.
Recently graduated with a Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology in Ghana and currently undergoing Internship and National Service. I must Confess the work load is so much over here.
I really agree with Thomas, There’s a reason why there’s a shortage of Medical Technologists. Its because many, many leave the field quite rapidly after entering it. Why? Because “the profession” overworks, over-stresses and underpays. Along with the job are requirements to work numerous holidays and weekends. In some cases hours vary from day to day making it difficult to settle into a daily pattern.
I am agreement with the article that 1) Medical Technology is a career. After that I am in agreement with a few responses such as stated by “Thomas” and “Derban” previously,
” the profession” overworks, over-stresses and underpays. Along with the job are requirements to work numerous holidays and weekends. In some cases hours vary from day to day making it difficult to settle into a daily pattern.”
The multi-tasking in warp-speed is VERY stressful especially when you throw a couple of militant-alpha-personalities in the mix. Plus the fact there are people working in the labs who have been there before they were computerized. These are the resources who should be training new technologists to keep the theory. Unfortunately they are still working because of the economy and with jobs so scarce it becomes VERY competitive for a first shift job. When employers do not pay for training it becomes cost-prohibitive to keep up with the latest technology on your own.
How is this career not stressful when you have families after school and the economy dictates the “need” for 24/7 service? Unless you have a MD and are on top of the food chain or have gotten a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Laboratory science you do not make money that is worth the stress of missing out on your families lives which is why it is so hard to fill the 2nd and 3rd shift positions.
I have been laid off for close to 6 months and the only positions that are available are an hour or more away from my home and without hesitation they would require me working double shifts and weekends. Hiring a babysitter negates the money.
I have worked the lab for 30+ years, starting at a Large Hospital in NE. Now I am at a small rural hospital lab in Upstate, NY
Recently, I have “gone down” to nights. On the plus side, the schedule is more predictable than our day shift where the hours usually change every day. The kids are grown and gone, so that part of life is easy.
During the Day Shift, we are responsible for EVERYTHING. This includes dealing with Dx codes not passing medical necessity (Calling or Faxing MD’s offices) to identifying an Antibody in BB. Once in a while, a fellow Tech answers the phone, “lab, secretary speaking”.
We JUST lost our other Night-Tech to a hospital that is matching his current wage, and is also giving him a $5,000 sign-on-bonus.
The plus to this Tech shortage? Improved wages? Might I live and work long enough to reap those benefits? We will see! LOL
Respectfully submitted.
I study Bsc Medical Laboratory Technology in Ghana and I’m in my second year.I Would like to know if Bsc medical lab science is the same as Bsc medical lab technology. Some schools award Bmls and not Bsc in medical lab science, also what’s the difference??
I wouldn’t suggest anyone going in the field either I have been doing this for 5 years and the stress level is extremely HIGH. No respect at all in the field yet everyone calls you for answers. There is not near enough people to do the work and yet administation thinks that you should cut more people. You can make more money with just a one year of training as an LPN than as MT with a 4 year degree. I guess I am another one that will be obtaining another degree in the very near future and moving on to better things. I would be helpful to have a group to stand up for us like they should and get us better pay, work conditions, and more help ASCP we give you enough money). Yes most of the time the lab is stuck in the basement with very little lighting, not enough air conditioning to keep your machine and you cool enough. So think hard before you go into this field and actually talk to some techs first.
I am working as a medical laboratory technologist in Srilanka. now I feel to come to USA to study MLS and to get a job with good salaries. I am very fear to give up my permenent job
So what are your ideas.
nadeesh.wijekoon@hotmail.com
i’ve been working as a medical technologist here in the philippines for 23yrs. already.This has been my dream to work in canada . i just dont have any idea on what what to do,where to start.now that i read this article about medical technologist, im really looking forward to hear from you for more informations on how to apply.pls do reply…thank you very much
hello maria, im from the philippines too and is taking up the bmls program. is it really hard to become rich as a medtech here in our country? how’s the job demand? i was hoping to get employed immediately after i graduate but now i have doubts of succeeding in this career.
I am a recent grad, I graduated in june 2011 and had a job 6 days later. The job is in crazy demand if you are not buckeled down where you currently reside. As far as stress, it can be, multitasking, nurses, doctors, ref labs blowing the phones off the hook, it can be a lot at once but would I say steer clear because of it? NO WAY. It is a rapid growing feild and so many MT, MLT are set to retire in the next 5 years. There is alot of opportunity for new grads.
As for myself, I am better off working as a Health Information Specialist where hours are normal and looking for work is really easy to find.
i am very happy to know medical laboratory technology has a wide scope and its being considered as one of the best career. i did my Bsc MLT and now m working in a hospital lab. well i must confess that i am not really satisfied with my working environment because there is no clear job description for Bsc MLT people and they are treated and given the same work like lab technicians. This has really brought down our moral values because we are supposed to be supervising or dealing with more advanced tests but we are dumped in the lab to do the same routine work..this is really frustrating.
hi im raja from pakistan.I did 2 year bsc with(microbiology,biochemistry,zoology) as major than i did my 2 year master program with Biochemistry.After my master i started job in blood banking there i also perform different routine tests including clinical biochemistry hematology and serology also i get certification from iccbs(international centre for chemical and biological sciences well known international research centre in pakistan) in medical technologist training program.Right now im working on advance instrument performing serology testing and biochemical testing.to all iwould like to ask iwish to work at abroad also to get more certification in same field.Any idea from where i should start and what the cradibility of my qualification? i did masters from karachi university well known university at international level.
.Thanks to all.
I know that in place other than sudan the medical laboratory job has a good career and name but in sudan we have no fixed name for the .I have a Msc in Heamatology and anther Msc in histopathology (cytology ) as a supervisor in a hospital also I have a master in health from sudan medical specialiation board but still i am not satisfied and all college are looking for another job .
I have been a med tech for 26 years. The idea that this job in low stress is almost laughable. Imagine being a young tech working by yourself in the middle of the night when a patient goes into DIC…in other words,
she is bleeding to death. And all that stand between her dying is how fast you can move your hands. Also, we are almost the lowest paid healthcare professions.