Healthcare

How to become a Medical Laboratory Technician

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

2 years

Typical pay

$46k–$62k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required — not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2 years

   Enrol in a NAACLS-accredited MLT program

   Two-year associate degree — chemistry, hematology, microbiology and a clinical rotation.

2. 2

   during program

   Complete the clinical rotation

   Unpaid bench time in a real hospital lab. It is where you learn to trust a result.

3. 3

   Sit the ASCP board of certification

   The MLT(ASCP) exam. Most hospital labs will not hire without it.

   ◆ MLT (ASCP)

4. 4

   1–2 years

   Start on nights or weekends

   Off-shift openings are how new techs get hired; day shift comes with seniority.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Medical Laboratory Technician

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