How long does it take to become a medical laboratory scientist?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

It takes 2-4 years to become a medical laboratory scientist. Medical laboratory scientists generally have postsecondary education, typically a bachelor's degree in medical technology or clinical laboratory science, although there are two-year programs as well.

These programs typically have a clinical portion that requires a certain amount of hours for hands-on laboratory training.

Also, employers usually ask for national certifications through an accrediting group such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) to be recognized as a medical technologist (MT), clinical laboratory scientist (CLS), or medical laboratory scientist (MLS).

Some employers may ask for a master's degree, or you may want to advance your degree by acquiring a specialty, which can help you receive higher salaries.