Medical Tech Degrees
For the most part, medical technologists generally hold a bachelor’s degree in medical technology or a related scientific field. Some schools offer science degrees with an option to specialize in medical technology. Typical courses you can expect to take include general chemistry, organic chemistry, hematology and immunology, biology, and statistics.
To become a medical technologist, you may need to complete a medical technology program that's accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAA-CLS). These programs are designed to augment the knowledge you already have with job-specific knowledge and skills, including diagnostic testing, molecular diagnostics, clinical chemistry, and immunohematology.
There are other fields within the overarching category of medical technology. These alternative programs require various levels of education, mostly at the Associate level, with some only requiring a much shorter certification and on-the-job training.
Below is a list of other Medical Technology Programs:
Medical Records Technician Degrees
There is an especially high demand for health administration workers such as medical records technicians to manage and record patient information electronically. Medical records technicians are primarily responsible for the record-keeping of confidential patient information.
Becoming a medical records technician requires specialized training. While a postsecondary degree is not always required for entry-level positions, some medical records technicians choose to earn a diploma or an associate degree in medical office administration or enroll in a medical billing and coding program.
Laboratory Support Technician Degrees
Laboratory Assistants perform or supervise the performance of standardized and recurring technical procedures in the natural, physical or social sciences in a teaching and/or research laboratory; perform or supervise a variety of business operations related to management of a laboratory; and perform other related duties as required.
Minimum requirements of becoming a laboratory assistant are graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Medical Lab Assistant Degrees
Medical laboratory assistants (MLA) perform the basic functions of medical laboratory work under the supervision of other medical laboratory professionals. Tasks include processing specimens, simple testing, reporting results, and performing data entry in a medical laboratory setting. Work settings include doctor’s offices, hospitals, research facilities, and industrial laboratories
Similar to Lab Support Techs, minimum requirements of becoming a laboratory assistant are graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Radiologic Technologist Degrees
Radiologic Technologists are trained healthcare professionals who perform medical imaging to assist a physician in diagnosing a patient's injury or illness. There are many components to obtaining high quality diagnostic images such as proper use of the equipment, positioning of the patient, selecting adequate technical factors, following radiation safety regulations, etc.
Becoming a Radiology Tech requires an Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology. Upon graduation you will be eligible to take the national registry exam offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
You can find Radiology Tech Programs here
Phlebotomist Certificate Training
A Phlebotomist is an allied health care professional who has been educated and trained in all aspects of venipuncture (AKA procedures involving drawing blood) and the processes surrounding it. Sometimes a blood draw is needed so that physicians can diagnose or rule out a specific medical condition or evaluate the effectiveness of a patient’s medication. Sometimes blood specimens are needed by insurance companies to assess a patient’s health status, and sometimes blood or plasma is being collected so that it can be used to save others’ lives.
Requirements to become a phlebotomist vary from state to state, but in most cases, completion of a phlebotomy certification is required. Phlebotomy programs are normally offered at technical and vocational schools and community colleges and they generally take less than a year to complete.
Surgical Technician Degrees
A surgical technologist is an allied health professional who prepares an operating room (OR) before surgery and assist during and after the operation. Surgical techs work alongside the surgeon, the surgeon’s assistants, the nurses, and the professional providing anesthesia. Surgical technologists may also be called surgical techs, surgical assistants, scrub tech, or operating room technicians.
To become a surgical tech, you’ll need to complete a Surgical Technology program from an accredited college or university, which is usually a 2-year Associate’s programs. While finishing a surgical tech program normally requires around two full years in school, although it’s possible to earn your degree in as little as 90 weeks with an accelerated degree program.
You can find a list of Surgical Tech Programs here
MRI Technician Degrees
MRI Technicians, similar to Radiologic Techs or X-Ray techs are the are healthcare professionals who perform MRI specific imaging to assist a physician in diagnosing a patient's injury or illness. There are many components to obtaining high quality diagnostic images such as proper use of the equipment, positioning of the patient, selecting adequate technical factors, following radiation safety regulations, etc.
Becoming an MRI Tech requires an Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology with a specialty of MRI. Upon graduation you will be eligible to take the national registry exam offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
You can find Radiology Tech Programs here
Dental Lab Technicians
Dental laboratory technology is the art, science and technology of designing and manufacturing corrective devices for and replacements of natural teeth. A dental laboratory technician communicates and collaborates with the dentist to plan, design and fabricate dental prostheses for individual patients. The dentist is responsible for providing dental laboratory with a prescription detailing final treatment choice and for placement of restoration or corrective device in the patient’s mouth. The dental technician aids the dentist in material choices and case design and is responsible for fabrication of the final prostheses or corrective devices.
A high school diploma or GED serves as the minimal educational requirement for a lab tech job. For some employers, a diploma will suffice to get a position. If you’re thinking in high school about a dental tech job or another role in the dental profession, take classes such as biology, chemistry, math, computer science, and anatomy. High school courses in art help hone your creative design skills and ability to use small tools that require manual or finger dexterity.
Patient Care Technician Degrees
Patient Care Technicians, also known as PCTs, are an integral component of the healthcare community. PCTs support nurses, doctors and other medical staff by compassionately caring for patients with physical and mental health concerns in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, assisted living communities and in patients’ homes.
Patient Care Technicians work beside patients, taking care of basic needs such as meals and hygiene, similar to certified nurse assistant, but PCTs usually have more training that allows them to complete other tasks as well. For example, under the supervision of doctors and RNs, PCTs may be responsible for some medical or medication-related care.
PCT training will teach the student to work hands-on with patients in a range of settings. Students will be trained to conduct blood draws, catheterizations, wound care and the removal of sutures and staples. Students will also learn how to administer electrocardiography (ECGs), take vital signs, operate dialysis equipment, and perform emergency room procedures. Most PCT training courses will require the student to already be a certified nurse assistant. Some PCT training programs will offer both CNA training as well as PCT training.
Some areas of study for PCT training include:
- Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology
- CPR and First Aid
- Phlebotomy
- Emergency Room Procedures
- General Systems Pathology
- Infection Control
- Electrocardiography
- Specific Systems Pathology
- Medical Documentation
- Renal Anatomy and Physiology
- Principles and Practices of Hemodialysis
- Hemodialysis Equipment and Water Treatment
Hemodialysis Technician Degrees
Dialysis technicians work with people whose kidneys no longer work properly or at all. The Hemodialysis Technician operates machines that remove wastes, salt, and extra water from a patient’s blood while keeping safe levels of certain chemicals. Dialysis patients generally use the machine for about four hours, three times each week. The technicians prepare patients for dialysis, monitor them and the machine during dialysis, and perform required procedures when dialysis is completed.
Becoming certified as a dialysis tech, you must first have a high school diploma or GED, and then complete a nephrology training course to provide real-world experience with patients. Many schools offer dialysis tech training in 3-6 months.
Clinical Medical Assistants (CMA) Degrees
CMAs are allied health professionals that assist with administrative and clinical duties in doctor’s offices, outpatient clinics and hospitals. Clinical medical assistants in particular act as supporting staff, working alongside doctors and nurses to educate and help with patient care.
Becoming a certified medical assistant requires an associate degree in medical assisting. Upon completion of your AA degree, you will be required to pass the CMA examination and maintain the AAMA (CMA) credential every 60 months although some states require it to be renewed sooner.
You can find Medical Assistant Programs here