Clinical Laboratory Assistant

Working in a clinical laboratory allows you to combine an interest in chemistry, biology, computers and medicine into one career, clinical laboratory assistant. If this piques your curiosity and you would like to learn more, continue reading.

Inside Clinical Laboratory Assisting

A clinical laboratory assistant plays a supporting role in preparing and testing specimens in a medical lab. Their responsibilities include tasks like examining cells under a microscope; using a centrifuge to separate blood cells and plasma; and running tests for disease detection using automated lab equipment. A clinical laboratory assistant works directly under a clinical laboratory technologist. In non-hospital laboratories, a clinical laboratory assistant may also help with administrative tasks like answering the phone or greeting patients.

Most clinical laboratory assistants complete a 1- or 2-year program to receive a certificate or an associate degree. Upon graduation from one of these programs, a clinical laboratory assistant may apply for certification from a number of different credentialing bodies, like the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel. Formal training and certification may make a student a more attractive candidate for a job. However, some clinical laboratory assistants are still trained on the job. The most important qualities for a clinical laboratory assistant to possess are an interest in chemistry and biology, professionalism and acute attention to detail.

As technology in this field continues to expand, more medical tests are created, possibly resulting in more job opportunities for clinical laboratory assistants. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), jobs for clinical laboratory assistants were predicted to grow by 16% from 2008-2018. Most clinical laboratory assistants made between $24,493 and $49,061 yearly as of July 2011, according to Payscale.com.

Learn More About Clinical Laboratory Assisting

Clinical lab assistant programs are generally offered through community colleges and include classroom lectures and clinicals in a lab facilities or medical center. Education-Portal.com has a number of articles about the career to help you learn more about its educational and career options.

Degree Options

Clinical lab assistants generally learn their profession by earning a certificate or an associate degree. The following articles from Education-Portal.com discuss various degree options to help you decide which is best for you.

Career Options

Clinical laboratory assistants or technicians do not need to be licensed by the state, but employers generally prefer certified technicians. These articles examine the clinical laboratory assistant career.

Specialization Options

Training, as a clinical laboratory assistant, may open doors to other types of lab-based careers. The following articles examine various specializations.

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