You are here: About Allina > Careers > Explore Careers

Careers in a Medical Laboratory

Career Overview:

• Lab Assistant(NA) - collects and processes specimens. Performs limited laboratory procedures in addition to clerical duties such as order entry, billing, and phone triage. Phlebotomists may also be called Lab Assistants at Allina
• Phlebotomist - a medical technician who draws blood for analysis
• Medical Lab Tech/Clinical Lab Tech (MLT/CLT) - perform less complex tests than Clinical Laboratory Scientists/Medical Technologists. They perform tests critical to the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. They use microscopes, chemicals, laboratory equipment and computers. They report abnormal results to the Clinical Lab Scientist or Pathologist
• Histology Technician (HT) - Performs routine and frozen section tissue processing. Daily tasks include cutting and staining tissue specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists
• Pathology Technician - Assists pathologist in specialized research and diagnostic pathological examinations. Must be able to work with human tissues and chemicals
• Medical Technologist/Clinical Lab Scientist (MT/CLS) - perform tests that play a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. They collect and process specimens and evaluate results for accuracy. They analyze results and convey them to physicians
• Cytotechnologist (Cytologist) - perform microscopic examination of slides from different body sites for the detection and diagnosis of disease. Specimens include cervical/vaginal, body fluids, and bronchial specimens. They assist in the collection of these specimens in physician offices and Radiology exam rooms

Earnings & Employment Outlook:

• Salaries for Lab Assistants vary. Entry level minimum starting salary for Lab Assistants is $12.79/hour.
• Salaries for Phlebotomists vary. Entry level minimum starting salary for Phlebotomists is $12.79/hour.
• Salaries for Medical Lab Techs/Clinical Lab Techs vary. For more detailed nformation go to US Department of Labor Statistics
• Salaries for Histology Technicians vary. Entry level minimum starting salary for Histology Technicians is $18.34/hour.
• Salaries for Pathology Technicians vary. Entry level minimum starting salary for Pathology Technicians is $12.00/hour.
• Salaries for Medical Technologists/Clinical Lab Scientist vary. For more detailed nformation go to US Department of Labor Statistics
• Salaries for Cytotechnologist (Cytologist) vary. Entry level minimum starting salary for Cytologists is $24.81/hour.

Education:

For more information go to How to choose a Healthcare Program.

For more information on laboratory careers and current activities in Minnesota's laboratory professional community go to mnlabcareers.org.

• Lab Assistant - Requires a High School diploma, some science college coursework preferred.
• Phlebotomist - High School diploma and Phlebotomy training course required.
• Medical Laboratory Tech/Clinical Lab Tech - Requires Associates Degree in a Medical Lab Tech or Clinical Lab Tech program.
• Histology Technician - Requires an Associate degree in Histology; also requires a HT (Histology Technician) certification within the first year of employment.
• Pathology Technician - Requires a BA or BS in a science related field, ideally Pre-Med. Basic knowledge of human anatomy required.
• Medical Technologist.Clinical Lab Scientist - Requires a Bachelors Degree in a Medical Technologist or Clinical Lab Scientist program; also requires MT (Med Tech) Certification within the first year of employment.
• Cytotechnologist (Cytologist) -Requires a Bachelors Degree in Cytology; also requires a CT (Cytotechnologist) within the first year of employment.

Programs offered in Minnesota and Wisconsin:

Lab Assistant/Phlebotomist Programs are offered:

Minnesota:

The College of St. Catherine

Wisconsin:

Milwaukee Area Technical College, Mid-State Technical College, North Central Technical College

Medical Lab Tech/Clinical Lab Tech Programs are offered:

Minnesota:

Argosy University, North Hennepin Community College, St. Paul Community and Technical College, Alexandria Technical College, Hibbing Community College, Lake Superior College, MN State Community and Technical College - Fergus Falls, MN West Community and Technical College, South Central Technical College

Wisconsin:

Chippewa Valley Technical College, Moraine Park Technical College, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Western Technical College, Madision Area Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, North Central Technical College

Histology Technician Programs are offered:

Minnesota:

Argosy University, North Hennepin Community College

Medical Technologist/Clinical Lab Scientist programs are offered:

Minnesota:

University of Minnesota, Winona State University, St. Cloud State University

Wisconsin:

University of Wisconsin - Madison, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point