Medical Laboratory Technologist

n8isgr8 · Oct 31, 2004

Are there AA programs for this? In Arizona I cannot find even one! In addition, there is only one university that actively offers this degree program.
Anyone know MLT's? Do they like their job? Do you think MLT school would be easier or harder than nursing school? For some reason, I keep coming back to this profession as an interest. Is their anything I can get two-year that would be similar?? Just coming up with plan B's in case nursing school is not right for me.
Thanks all!!
Janice

Hey my mom is a hemotologist and I think it is now a four year course but there are some 2 year degree for mlt you have to look around it is extremely interesting. I worked in a lab for five years as an assistant I loved it. It was great and is helping me tremendously with nursing school I feel lucky to have had the opportunity I had. I would definately look into it if I was you. There is a need for lab personel right now and the pay is comparative to an LPN in my state.Good luck it is worth a try!

plchavard · Sep 18, 2005

Pima Community college just started an MLT program this fall. It got filled pretty quickly, but it looks like it will be a 2 year program with a bridge to a four year degree. Good Luck!

CrazyPremed, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 18, 2005

I work in one of the Banner labs and I know that Phoenix College is starting an MLT program soon. If you have many of your AZ prereqs for nursing school, then you can walk right in! I would check it out at http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=29&subpage=651&sublink=14551.

Also, you can work your way up the Banner 'career ladder'. Starting as a CLA (clinical lab assistant), you can actually finish projects and be promoted from the inside. You can sit for the boards in different areas (Chemistry, Hemo, etc.). I wouldn't recommed this route, though. I don't know how much of it transfers to other hospitals. Anyway, the PC route would be much cheaper than Pima, even though I think that they are both great schools. Check it out. If you have anymore questions for me, feel free to PM me. Good luck.

CrazyPremed

Indy, LPN, LVN · Sep 18, 2005

I think in Georgia we have MLT, medical laboratory technician- and there are some schools that offer it as a 2 year course. Then if you go for your BS and get some combination of majors... god help me, I don't know what exactly, you can go to a course for Medical Technologist or MT in Augusta that qualifies you to sit for boards. I think one lady I used to work with told me it took her six years- this was 15 years ago though. There's a big difference in pay between the 2 year and BS degree from what I hear.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 18, 2005

Medical Laboratory Technician is a two year program.

Medical Laboratory Technologist is a four year program.

Hope that this clears things up.

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2005

Thanks everyone for the information. I knew about the PC program. Trying nursing school out first...:uhoh21: :chuckle

I have seen Medical Laboratory Technologist jobs that require either the BS degree OR so many years as a technician (with a two year degree) experience. So.........it looks like you can advance to a technologist even with an AA degree...it just takes years of experience. Or get the degree right off and walk in making more $$$. I went to the CLS advisor at ASU. It looks like a fun program. I would have needed even more spanish and chem though which wasn't so cool, but doable. Honestly, the biggest road block for me going that route is the distance to ASU every day. I live way on the west side and the MLT programs are in Tempe. Same with when I was originally going to school for Dietetics...........ASU East!! I think Az needs another centrally located four year campus/college. I know there is Grand Canyon, but I don't want to spend that much $$$! All in agreement with me, let me hear ya!!:chuckle

The MLT program would be my next choice if nursing ends up not being for me...then maybe radiography....

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2005

I am a medical technologist, but I work with MLT's so I'll try to help you out.

A Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT, also called a Clinical Laboratory Technician) has a two year degree.

A Medical Technologist (MT, also called a Clinical Laboratory Scientist) has a four year degree.

It is NOT possible to advance to a Medical Technologist position with an AS degree without earning a bachelor's degree or completing a bridge program (similar to the RN to BSN programs at many universities). Here is the link to the American Society for Clinical Pathology's website:

http://www.ascp.org/bor/medlab/careers/page3.asp

I am not familiar with the schooling for MLT, but for MT it is much more science-intensive than nursing. My program required 7 semesters of chemistry, including general, organic, biochem, analytical, and clinical chemistry. You would also take classes like immunology, hematology, hemostasis, physics and possibly first semester calculus.

If you like science and don't mind missing out on the patiet contact, then this might be a good career for you.

In my area, four year med techs make wages similar to RN's because there is a shortage of med techs. The pay scale for the MLT's tops out at the bottom of the MT pay scale (around $19 per hour).

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions and good luck!

huggiebear1979 · Jul 12, 2009

Hi Everyone,

I've been considering a BS in Nursing for awhile now, but it doesn't look like it's going to work out for me, because the school is about a 2 hour drive one way, anyhow I was extremely drawn to maybe getting my BS in Medical Technology and doing Army ROTC along with it, and then obtaining a direct commission hopefully. Any tips?? Also does anybody know if promotion is plausible with this career in the army? Also any tips for wrapping my brain around the Chemistry portion, please tell me there is less math involved at the higher levels???? I'm currently in Chemistry 110, and it's kicking my butt. Also what is the starting pay like, and what do you like/dislike about the job. Just a heads up, I already have a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management and that path just wasn't for me, thanks for any input.....

lilo2010 · Jul 12, 2009

Hi! I was an MLT w/an Associated Degree! I am now starting my second yr of ADN program! Run! Don't do MLT! Just kidding! It was an ok program! It contains lots of micro, immunology, hematology, urology, etc. I worked for about 8 yrs in the lab & was also crosstrained in xrays! Enjoyed it but always felt like something was missing! I originally wanted RN but got sidetracked! There is just limited opportunity with lab degree compared to RN! I would recommend shadowing the fields you are interested in to see what is really involved! Good luck in whatever you decide!

PopeJane3rd · Jul 19, 2009

Yes, I have been knowing several MT's for years and none really like their job. All of them say the same thing: go into nursing because the pay is better and you can write your own ticket. This is their exact words. It is hard to find work for 2 yr MT's and this might explain why there aren't many programs for it. If where you live there isn't a huge demand for something then schools will not go out of their way to implement them into their catalogs. So there is a reason why you can't find these programs. Besides, the MT curriculum for schools that do offer them make the students take so many hard courses just to make a mere $35 to $40,000 a year. I don't even have a degree and can make that with overtime. Now, you will like it if you are a quiet person who loves to study chemistry and math. There is alot of that in the curriculum. The MT's I've been around are all quiet and work pretty much in solitude. Their jobs seem to be monotonous.