How to become a medical lab technician

1. 1Take chemistry, biology and math in high school

   Time: 4 years (high school)Sources 1

   Lab programs build quickly on chemistry, biology and algebra, so take as much of each as you can, and statistics if it is offered. Any lab class where you measure carefully and record results is good practice. A summer or part-time job as a lab assistant, specimen processor or phlebotomist at a hospital lets you see how a clinical lab runs and helps your application to accredited programs, some of which have limited seats.

2. 2Choose the MLT or MLS route

   Time: Decision before enrollingSources 1, 2

   Decide whether you want the 2-year technician route or the 4-year scientist route. An associate degree in medical laboratory technology gets you working sooner at lower cost. A bachelor's in medical laboratory science leads to more complex testing, troubleshooting and supervision. You can start as an MLT and complete a bachelor's later through an MLT-to-MLS program, which many working techs do part time.

3. 3Complete a NAACLS-accredited program with clinical rotations

   Time: 2 years (MLT) or 4 years (MLS)Cost: $4,914/yr (associate) to $10,863/yr (bachelor's) median public tuitionSources 2, 4, 6

   Pick a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), because the main certification routes, including AMT's, are built on accredited programs. Coursework covers clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, blood banking, microbiology and urinalysis. Programs end with clinical rotations in a working hospital lab covering blood bank, microbiology, chemistry and hematology. Search NAACLS's directory for MLT and MLS programs in your state.

4. 4Pass a national certification exam

   Time: Within weeks of graduatingCost: $220-$245 (AMT, 2026)Sources 3, 4, 5

   Most employers want a certified tech. The two main certifying bodies are the ASCP Board of Certification, whose MLT(ASCP) and MLS(ASCP) credentials are widely recognized, and American Medical Technologists. AMT's fee is $220 for MLT and $245 for MLS, covering application, exam and the first annual fee. Its main route is an accredited program finished within the last 5 years; earlier graduates also need recent lab experience. AMT also has a route for military-trained techs.

5. 5Get a state license if your state requires one

   Time: A few weeks to a few monthsCost: State license feeSources 7, 1

   Most states do not license lab personnel, but some do, and their rules differ by credential level and specialty. In those states you apply to the state health department or licensing board, usually with your degree, accredited program and national certification. Check the CareerOneStop License Finder before you move or accept a job. Certification itself must be renewed, typically with continuing education.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Attention to detail

A mislabeled tube or a missed quality control failure can send a wrong result to a doctor making treatment decisions.

Instrument troubleshooting

Much of the testing is automated, so techs spend real time recalibrating analyzers and figuring out why a run failed.

Microscope skills

Spotting blast cells on a blood smear or bacteria in a Gram stain still depends on a trained eye.

Working under time pressure

Emergency and surgical cases need results, including blood for transfusion, within minutes.

Clear communication

Lab techs phone critical values to nurses and doctors and must make sure the message is received and documented.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: science, critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, monitoring.

Training cost

$10.0K–$43.7K

Before financial aid

Time

2-4 years

Typical path

Median pay

$62,930

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

0.8–3.7 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low (MLT): 2 years x College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for clinical laboratory associate programs, $4,914 = $9,828, plus the AMT MLT certification fee of $220. High (MLS): 4 years x the bachelor's median, $10,863 = $43,452, plus the AMT MLS fee of $245. ASCP fees are not included. Not included: lab fees, books, state license fees and living costs. Private programs cost more; median federal debt is $15,844 for associate and $19,500 for bachelor's graduates.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Phlebotomist$45,230 median

  Many lab techs start or work alongside phlebotomy; it is often an entry point into the lab rather than a step up.

• Forensic scientist$72,060 median

  A bachelor's in a natural science or forensic science is usually required; lab experience with chain of custody and quality control helps.

• Pathologist$312,400 median

  Requires medical school and a pathology residency; lab experience gives a strong foundation for the path.

• Lab supervisor or manager

  Experienced medical laboratory scientists move into supervising shifts or running a lab; many add a master's degree or specialist certification.

• Physician assistant$135,880 median

  Lab techs with a bachelor's can apply to PA programs, which typically require prerequisite courses and hands-on patient-care hours.