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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clinical laboratory technician?
Where do these individuals work?
What type of training is required?
How long will it take to become a clinical laboratory technician?
What are the necessary high school courses?
What is the typical cost of the program?
If I apply, what are the chances of getting accepted?
Whom may I contact for more information?
What online resources
would you recommend?
Q: What
is a clinical laboratory technician?
A: Clinical laboratory technicians perform all of the routine
tests in an up-to-date clinical laboratory: blood banking, chemistry,
hematology, immunology, urinalysis and microbiology. Working with
the supervision of a clinical laboratory scientist, a clinical laboratory
technician looks for clues to the absence, presence, extent, and causes
of diseases. The challenges and rewards of medicine and science allows
the clinical laboratory technician to be involved in the best of both worlds.
Clinical laboratory technicians must be accurate, dedicated and skilled.
They must also be self-motivated, and take the initiative to do what must
be done every day to be part of the healthcare team.
Clinical laboratory technicians must be able to discriminate between closely similar items and correction of errors by use of pre-set strategies. They are required to know specific techniques and instruments, and be able to recognize factors which directly affect procedures and results. For confirmation of results, knowledge of more than one test within each specialty area is expected. The technician monitors quality control programs within predetermined parameters.
Q: Where do these
individuals work?
A: Clinical laboratory technicians can work in a variety of settings,
such as hospitals, for-profit laboratories, clinica, nursing homes, public
health facilities, private laboratories, doctors' offices, research, sales
and commercial laboratories. Business and indistry currently have
positions open for qualified clinical laboratory technicians.
Q: What is the average
salary?
A: The national average salary for clinical laboratory technicians
is approximately $26,800, although salaries vary by area of the country.
The entry-level salary in Rhode Island is $26,000-$32,000 per year, and
usually includes benefits. Evening and part-time positions are available
with shift differential.
Q: What type of
training is required?
A: A two-year program that includes clinical laboratory training
is required. At the end of this experience, the students are eligible
to take a registry examination which certifies them to work in this field
and become licensed as a clinical laboratory technician by the State of
Rhode Island. The training program at CCRI is an associate degree
program that combines theory with technical skills. This program includes
a 23-week supervised clinical experience at a local hospital.
The student will receive an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree with a major in Clinical Laboratory Technology. The student can advance in this area by continuing his/her education at a four-year institution like Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island to get a Bachelor's degree in Clinical Laboratory Science.
Q:
How long will it take to become a clinical laboratory technician?
A: This program can be completed in two consecutive years.
However, if a student must work, all the non-technical courses can be taken
at the student's convenience (evening or day). The technical courses
are offered only during the daytime and must be taken in sequence unless
special permission is obtained from the Program Director. At a student's
request, a program of study can be designed to fit his/her special needs
as long as there is a space available at the clinical site and arrangements
have been made with the Program Director prior to the student's entrance
into the technical courses.
Q: What are the necessary high school courses?
A: Any high school student interested in this program should be
enrolled in a math and science curriculum, which includes algebra and basic
sciences (including biology and chemistry). The student should also
have good reading and writing skills, and be ready for English Composition
I at the college level.
Q: What is
the typical cost of the program?
A: The typical cost of the program includes the tuition for a
full-time student for five semesters, books, lab coats, uniforms, and travel
expenses for the semesters at the clinical site. The total cost is
approximately $5,000.
Q:
If I apply,
what are the chances of getting accepted?
A: CCRI accepts approximately 16 students into the Clinical Laboratory
Technology Program each May. If students have prior college education
or clinical experience, they can gain advanced placement into the program.
Q: Whom may I contact for more information?
- E-mail Coral Maack, Office of Enrollment Services, or Tel: (401) 333-7172
- E-mail Lela Morgan, Program Director, or Tel: (401) 333-7144
1762 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
Q: What online resources would you
recommend?
A:
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) -
www.ascls.org
This is the professional organization for clinical laboratory science practitioners.
Click on Careers Center.
American Society for Clinical Pathology -
www.ascp.org
Information on medical laboratory careers.
