Are you looking for a new career that offers stability and a good salary? If so, consider becoming a clinical lab technician. With hospitals and other healthcare providers in desperate need of skilled workers, jobs as clinical lab technicians are in high demand across the state of Vermont. In this blog post, we’ll look at the qualifications, benefits, and opportunities available to those who pursue this career path.
What Is A Clinical Lab Technician?
A clinical laboratory technician or technologist is responsible for performing laboratory tests on blood and other bodily fluids to help diagnose and treat diseases. They use sophisticated equipment to test for the presence of infection-causing bacteria, viruses, or parasites in body samples. Additionally, they may also be required to process tissue specimens taken during surgery or biopsies.
In order to become a clinical lab technician in Vermont, you must have an associate’s degree in medical laboratory technology (MLT) from an accredited college or university. After completing this degree program, you will be eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification exam. Passing this exam is necessary before you can begin working as a lab technician. It is important to note that certification requirements vary by state so it’s important that you check with your local health department regarding what is required in your specific location.
What Are The Benefits Of Being A Clinical Lab Technician?
The benefits of being a clinical lab technician are numerous. For starters, the job pays well; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical and clinical laboratory technologists was $51,770 as of May 2019. Furthermore, there is job security; with hospitals and other healthcare facilities always needing skilled workers to fill their labs with qualified technicians, job prospects remain strong throughout Vermont and beyond. Finally there is room for growth; with additional education and experience comes more responsibility which can lead to higher salaries and more meaningful work opportunities over time.
Conclusion
Being a clinical lab technician in Vermont can be both rewarding and challenging—but it’s definitely worth considering if you’re looking for stability and good pay in your next career move. With hospitals across Vermont needing skilled workers like never before, now is an excellent time to begin exploring your options as a certified medical laboratory technologist or technician today. So don’t wait—start researching what it takes to become a certified professional today.
EDUCATIONAL GOALS
- Graduates will be competent to function as entry-level medical laboratory scientists in any clinical or public health laboratory environment;
- Graduates will demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills;
- Graduates will demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills;
- Graduates will demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science, all MLS graduates will demonstrate:
- Competency to perform a full range of testing in a contemporary clinical or public health laboratory encompassing pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of laboratory services;
- Proficiency to interpret results, use critical thinking skills to problem solve, and apply statistical approaches when evaluating data;
- Ability to identify and trouble-shoot technical problems in laboratory procedures and instrumentation;
- Professional conduct as a member of the healthcare team and effective communication skills;
- An understanding of basic concepts related to quality assurance, quality improvement, laboratory education, administrative operation, information technology, and clinical decision making.
Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Laboratory Science concentration, graduates will demonstrate:
- Ability to critically evaluate laboratory results and correlate them with human disease;
- Ability to determine the appropriate utilization of laboratory tests for screening, monitoring, therapy, and prognosis of human diseases;
- Adherence to standard operating procedures regarding safe work practices related to clinical specimens and infectious agents;
- Application of governmental regulations and standards as applied to medical laboratory practice in the clinical setting.
Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science Public Health Laboratory Science concentration, graduates will demonstrate:
- Ability to critically evaluate microbiology laboratory tests and results and correlate with infectious disease;
- Adherence to standard operating procedures regarding safe work practices related to microbial agents;
- Knowledge of laboratory testing as a vital component of broader public health surveillance systems.
The core curriculum includes courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, and mathematics. Students choose either the clinical laboratory science concentration or the public health laboratory science concentration, which focuses on microbiology.