Some states require that laboratory personnel have a license. In these states, a Medical Laboratory Technician License or clinical laboratory technologist license is required if you would like a job in this field. The states that normally require licenses for this type of personnel include California, Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Getting Your Associates Degree Through An Accredited Program
The first step to getting your license is to attend an accredited educational program. Usually these programs are for an associates degree in this field. Some states have their own lists of approved programs, but many will accept any of the accredited programs from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) list which is available on their website.
There are hundreds of programs available, including some in almost every state. For those without programs in their area, there are a few programs listed on the website that offer a distance learning option as well.
Taking The National Exam To Get Certified
Once you have gotten your associates degree from an accredited program, then the next step towards getting your Medical Laboratory Technician License is to apply for and take the national exam to become certified through the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel. Most states will accept this exam for licensing purposes.
In a few states, such as California, you must pass a state licensing exam as well as the national exam in order to get your license. California also does not accept licenses from other states, so anyone wishing to work in this field in California needs to get their California license.
Applying For Your License
Once you have your degree and your certification, getting your license usually involves filling out an application, submitting the required backup materials and fees, and sometimes a photo as well. If you meet all the requirements for a license you will get it after they have reviewed the materials and made sure that everything is complete.
Once you have received your Medical Laboratory Technician License you are ready to look for a job. With the shortage of qualified personnel for this type of position, this shouldn't be too difficult. The majority of the positions are available are in hospitals, so this is a good place to start looking for a Medical Laboratory Technician position, though there are positions in other types of organizations as well that are worth trying for if you see a good opportunity.
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