Medical Technologist Education Requirements

Q: What degree do you need to be a medical technologist?

You need a bachelor's degree in medical technology to be a medical technologist. Some states will require you to pass a licensing examination as well. A medical technologist is typically required to have a bachelor's degree in medical terminology or a related field, such as life science. Your coursework should include extensive math and life science courses, as well as hands-on laboratory training. Without a degree, you cannot successfully enter this field and obtain the necessary licensure as required by the state. During the process of getting your degree, it is important to get hands-on experience through internships. This will give you the opportunity to observe as well as put into practice preparing and testing samples. Internships also give you an opportunity to network. You can make yourself more appealing to potential employers by becoming certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologist (AMT), or something similar and accepted. Getting a graduate degree in medical terminology will refine your skills and build your portfolio, making you stand out above the competition.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a medical technologist. Medical technologists usually study medical technician, clinical/medical laboratory science, or biology. 63% of medical technologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 26,300 real medical technologist resumes to see exactly what medical technologist education sections show.

The most common colleges for medical technologists are the Michigan State University and the Michigan State University.

There are also many online medical technologist courses to help get the education required to be a medical technologist.

There are certain medical technologist certifications that you should consider. These medical technologist certifications include Medical Technologist (MT(AAB)) and Medical Assistant.

What education do you need to become a medical technologist?

What degree do you need to be a medical technologist?

The most common degree for medical technologists is bachelor's degree, with 63% of medical technologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 6%.

Bachelor's, 63%

Associate, 17%

Master's, 6%

High School Diploma, 5%

Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a medical technologist?

You should major in medical technician to become a medical technologist. 31% of medical technologists major in medical technician. Other common majors for a medical technologist include clinical/medical laboratory science and biology.

Medical Technician, 31%

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science, 19%

Biology, 15%

Nursing, 4%

Other Majors, 31%

Most common colleges for medical technologists

Medical technologists often get their degrees at Michigan State University, University of Phoenix, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Here are the most common colleges for medical technologists in the US based on their resumes.

Medical Technologist Common College	Percentages
Michigan State University	8.03%
University of Phoenix	7.84%
Virginia Commonwealth University	5.67%
University of Cincinnati	5.29%
Pennsylvania State University	5.20%

Show more common medical technologist colleges

Best majors for medical technologists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Medical Technician	31.2%
2	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science	19.3%
3	Biology	15.0%
4	Nursing	4.2%
5	Business	4.1%

Show more common medical technologist majors

Best colleges for medical technologists

The best colleges for medical technologists are Vanderbilt University, New York University, and Duke University.

A medical technologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for medical technologists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become medical technologists.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

2. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

3. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-State Tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

4. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

5. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,410

Enrollment

31,321

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

9. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

10. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-State Tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

20 best online courses for medical technologists

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1. Medical Terminology II

This is the second course of the Medical Terminology specialization. It builds on the basic concepts of medical terminology with the introduction of new roots, terms, and abbreviations specific to the endocrine system (hormones). The body's transportation and defense systems (cardiovascular, blood, and lymphatic) will also be covered as well as the respiratory system (lungs)...

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

3. Become a Microbiology Laboratory Technician

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Microbiology...

4. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding

4.6

(352)

Volume One: Medical Hematology...

5. Medical Terminology and the Human Body Fundamentals

In this Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body course, you will learn about the medical language that is used to describe the human body. Throughout each Lesson, the roots of terms are explained to help students understand how medical terminology works in healthcare and to increase their knowledge and understanding of the material discussed. This course will provide you with a better understanding and working knowledge of medicine that is required for understanding of medical...

6. Medical Terminology

4.7

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Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...

7. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing

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Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...

8. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.

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Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...

9. Introduction to Medical Imaging

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Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...

10. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course

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Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course...

11. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers

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An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...

12. Understanding Medications and Therapeutics

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Helping you build the best foundation to truly understand medications and develop clinical reasoning skills...

13. Medical Terminology 101

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For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...

14. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply

4.3

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How to get approval to sell Medical Devices within the European Union. Understand regulatory affairs & ISO 13485 2016...

15. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training

4.5

(645)

Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...

16. Medical Writing for Healthcare Professionals

4.3

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Launch your scientific and medical writing career today. Learn from an experienced medical writer!...

17. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices

4.1

(389)

Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...

18. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices

4.5

(527)

A practical course discussing the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in real-world situations...

19. ISO 13485 Demystified - Medical Devices' QMS 360° Insights

(648)

Deep dive into the world of ISO 13485 international standard for medical devices' QMS, basic concepts & requirements...

20. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - US FDA Medical Devices

4.4

(726)

A practical course discussing the US FDA Medical Device regulations for real-world situations...

Top 10 most affordable universities for medical technologists

The most affordable schools for medical technologists are University of Florida, brigham young university, and university of south florida.

If the best universities for medical technologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for medical technologists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

3. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,410

Cost of Attendance

20,456

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

5. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,886

Cost of Attendance

17,645

6. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,064

Cost of Attendance

15,576

7. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Cost of Attendance

25,527

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,992

Cost of Attendance

22,430

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,207

Cost of Attendance

25,275

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for medical technologists

The hardest universities for medical technologists to get into are Vanderbilt University, New York University, and Duke University.

Some great schools for medical technologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for medical technologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,516

4. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,517

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

23%

SAT Average

1,398

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

7. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

39%

SAT Average

1,367

8. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,456

9. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

Admissions Rate

49%

SAT Average

1,347

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for medical technologists

The easiest schools for medical technologists to get into are D'Youville College, gwynedd mercy university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a medical technologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for medical technologists.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

4. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

87%

SAT Average

1,016

5. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

6. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

1,099

7. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

71%

SAT Average

1,033

8. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

87%

SAT Average

1,059

9. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

72%

SAT Average

1,017

10. Washington Adventist Hospital

Takoma Park, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

52%

SAT Average

958

Average medical technologist salary by education level

According to our data, medical technologists with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $59,681 annually. Medical technologists with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $59,065.

Medical Technologist education level	Medical Technologist salary
Master's Degree	$59,681
High School Diploma or Less	$47,294
Bachelor's Degree	$58,081
Doctorate Degree	$59,065
Some College/ Associate Degree	$52,683

Medical Technologist Education FAQs

What degree do you need to be a medical technologist?

What is the best college for Medical Technologists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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