Lab Technician - Career Information

Lab Technician - Career InformationLab Technician - Career InformationA lab technician collects and processes specimens, including skin and bodily fluid samples, from patients in a hospital or private medical diagnostic laboratory. He or she works under a laboratory technologistssupervision using procedures that helpmedical professionals diagnose diseases and,subsequently, plan treatments and ascertain their effectiveness. An alternative title for this career is medical laboratory technician. Quick Facts Employers include hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories and physicians offices. Most jobs are full time and, depending on when facilities are open, may include weekends, evenings and holidays. Workplace Problems Lab technicians come into contact with infectious specimens and toxic chemicals they must take the proper precautions, including wearing protective clothing and eyewear, to decrease their risk of exposure to these dangerous substances.They spend a lot of time on their feet. How to Become a Lab Technician To work in this occupation, you can complete an associate degree program in clinical laboratory science at a community college. This will take approximately two years. Alternatively, you can earn a one-year certificate from a hospital or a vocational or technical school. The Armed Forcesalso offertraining for lab technicians. Some states may require a professional license. You can use theLicensed Occupations Tool from CareerOneStopto learn about the requirements in the state in which you plan to work. What Soft Skills Do You Need? You will acquire the hard skills that allow you to do your job through your formal training, but lab technicians also need certainsoftskillsor personal qualities. They are Physical Strength and Stamina You must be able to lift and turn patients who have disabilities that limit their movement.Listening Skills The ability to understand laboratory technologists instructions and patients concerns is essent ial.Reading Comprehension Lab technicians must be able to read and understand instructions.Critical Thinking You must be able to compare the benefits of different solutions to problems before choosing the best one.