Medical Laboratory Degrees: Bachelor, Associate & Online Course Info

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What kind of jobs can you get with an associate's or bachelor's degree in medical laboratory technology or sciences? Find out associate's and bachelor's degree requirements, online options and info on courses in medical laboratory technology training programs.
  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's

Studying Medical Laboratory Technology or Sciences: Degrees at a Glance

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Medical laboratory degree programs prepare you to perform a variety of routine tests, which help physicians diagnose patients and monitor their treatment. Associate's degree programs in medical laboratory technology train graduates for entry-level careers as technicians. By completing a bachelor's degree program in medical or clinical laboratory science, you may become a higher-paid medical lab technologist, a career in which you perform more complex tests and often supervise lab technicians.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted the healthcare and social assistance sector to provide 28% of all new jobs from 2010-2020 nationally; however, the BLS predicted only average job growth of 15% for medical lab technicians and 11% for medical technologists (www.bls.gov). Though job prospects, as well as pay, are better in other healthcare careers, a medical laboratory degree may be a good option if you prefer operating high-tech lab equipment to interacting directly with patients.

Associate's Bachelor's
Who is this degree for? Students who want to become medical lab technicians Students without previous related training and technicians seeking more responsibilities as medical lab technologists
Common Career Paths (with approximate median annual salary) -Medical lab technician ($37,000)*
-Phlebotomist ($30,000)**
-Histology technician ($50,000)**
-Medical lab technologist ($57,000)*
-Medical technologist in hematology ($56,000)**
- Cytogenetic technologist ($54,000)**
- Medical technologist in microbiology ($57,000)**
Time to Completion Two years full-time Four years full-time
Common Graduation Requirements - Laboratory practicum - Laboratory practicum
Prerequisites High school diploma or equivalent High school diploma or equivalent
Online Availability Rare (usually in a hybrid format) Yes (typically degree-completion programs)

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2011 figures), **Salary.com (June 2012 data).

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  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's

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