One sector or industry that will always be booming with job opportunities is the healthcare industry and individuals who work as medical laboratory scientists fall under this sector. Furthermore, medical laboratory scientists are in high demand. Although several of their activities are not highly noticeable, clinical laboratory scientists play an essential role in the medical field.
One of the ways they do this is by helping patients and their physicians by providing authentic and reliable test results. An example of how they do this is by conducting tests on patient samples to find out if they have any disease or if they do not have any in their body. It is important to note that clinical laboratory scientists are sometimes referred to as medical laboratory scientists.
Working as a clinical laboratory scientist can be very lucrative because one of the highest-paying industries in the United States is the health industry and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earn more than that amount and half earned less.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $84,670. Some of the top-paying industries for this career path include outpatient care centers, General medical and surgical hospitals; state, local, and private to name just a few of them. To know more about this, see Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Techniques.
So if you choose to become a certified clinical laboratory scientist in the US, you would definitely be making one of the best choices for your life because aside from the pay, you would be doing some honest and critical work of helping medical doctors and likes know what they are handling and how to provide a cure.
So we at Binge Educate will be providing you with some of the most popular clinical scientist certifications in the US, let us start already.
The 6 Best Clinical Laboratory Scientist Certifications in the US for You
The following are some of the top clinical laboratory scientists certifications in the US:
- A Guide to Becoming a Laboratory Technician
- Microbiology Laboratory Technician
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Coding
- ISO 15189:2022 – Medical Laboratories’ Quality Assurance and Competence
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
A Guide to Becoming a Laboratory Technician
Here is a quick overview of this course:
- Cost: this course is free.
- Course duration: the duration of this course is 2–3 hours.
- Learning platform: this course is available via Alison.
This course provides a comprehensive guide about all you need to know concerning the roles and duties of an effective laboratory scientist. You will start this class by discussing the duties, clinical laboratories’ purposes and subcategories, rules, requirements, and standards.
Now after this, you will proceed to learn about the different departments that exist within the medical laboratories field. Over 9,380 students have enrolled for this certification course on Alison.
The course contains the study of many types of lab equipment, as well as their functions and how to maintain them. I can tell you that this course is going to be worth it because if clinical lab workers did not exist, there would not be professionals to collect samples properly, carry out tests, and conduct research.
We at Binge Educate have included this certification course in our list because it is for all who want to learn the essential skills to become a laboratory scientist. You can learn how to conduct laboratory procedures in healthcare or research sectors. One good thing about this certification course? It is free but you will have to pay a fee for the certificate.
For more information about this course, see A Guide to Becoming a Laboratory Technician.
Microbiology Laboratory Technician
Here is a quick overview of this course:
- Cost: this course is free.
- Course duration: this course runs for 2–3 hours.
- Learning platform: it is available on Alison.
This is another certification course that you can enroll in, it teaches you important microbiological principles and explains the steps you need to take to become a clinical laboratory scientist in this field. Students will start by identifying the different types of organisms that could be analyzed in microbiology, some of which include viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.
This course then proceeds to teach you about metabolic processes and essential enzymes before introducing you to microbes. You will learn about what they need to survive and grow and outline the stages of bacterial growth. The course then delves into how to grow and measure microbes in culture media for observation and points out what chemical agents to use to regulate them.
This course explains the function of microorganisms and next, you will journey down to learning about the process required in vaccine development so that you can explore a career as a clinical laboratory scientist.
Finding new vaccines for diseases is the key to a healthy world and in this free online course, you will be placed at the forefront of the battle against sickness and disease. For more information about this course, Microbiology Laboratory Technician.
Introduction to Medical Terminology
Here is a quick overview of this course:
- Cost: This course is free.
- Course duration: This course runs for 2–3 hours.
- Learning platform: It is available on Alison.
More than 35,884 students have enrolled for this course on Alison. To succeed in this field, you must understand the basic verbal or written clinical terms and abbreviations generally used for healthcare communication and this can be difficult but understanding the basic word format and definitions of several popular word elements makes the the journey to understanding terms used easier. Medical terminology contains the words used by those who work in the medical field.
These terms are very distinct terms used to identify and describe the human body, how it operates, its diseases, and the procedures and medications used to treat it. Learning about these terms is a must if you must succeed in this field hence why this course is recommended by us at Binge Educate. This certification course improves your medical fluency and introduces you to a language that enables you to communicate with doctors, nurses, and patients.
This course is recommended for individuals who wish to work in the health or science industry and need to communicate with doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and other medical professionals. Support staff like receptionists, medical clerks, or patient-care coordinators are not left. This course includes graphic presentations, images, and diagrams to assist students learn better.
For more information about this certificate course, see Introduction to Medical Terminology.
A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Coding
Here is a quick overview of this course:
- Cost: This course is free.
- Course duration: This course runs for 2–3 hours.
- Learning platform: It is available on Alison.
Over 17,825 people have enrolled for this certification program on Alison. If you are wondering what this certification is for, individuals who enroll for this course are responsible for documenting their health information such as diagnosis and test results. The whole process of doing that is called clinical coding. This course ensures a smooth medical record transfer between different healthcare providers.
This course will contain a detailed explanation, of clinical coding, as well as several important principles, techniques for using i,t, and in-depth expertise. The course will start with the basics of clinical coding knowledge and finally proceed to expert knowledge.
Students will learn to differentiate the theories of coding from billing. Furthermore, you will learn about clinical records, their significance, and their principles. This is just to name a few things you will be learning in this course.
For more information, see A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Coding.
ISO 15189:2022 – Medical Laboratories’ Quality Assurance and Competence
Here is a quick overview of this course:
- Cost: This course is free.
- Course duration: This course runs for 4–5 hours.
- Learning platform: It is available on Alison.
This is one certification course that will prepare you for a role as a clinical laboratory scientist. It will provide you with all the important information about quality laws in medical laboratories. When you enroll in this course, you can skillfully prove yourself to be a professional who can assist medical laboratories become compliant with this law.
This certification is grouped into three topics. The first topic contains five subjects, out of which the first two subjects handle the basic perspectives of ISO 15189. These topics will examine the significance of ISO 15189 for quality standards in medical laboratories.
Analyze why quality regulations are important for medical laboratories. For more information about this course, see ISO 15189:2022 – Medical Laboratories
Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
Here is a quick overview of this course:
- Cost: The cost of this course was not specified.
- Course duration: this course is self-paced.
- Learning platform: This program is available via the NHA platform.
In this program, you will be expected to develop and apply necessary soft skills through simulation using role-play discussions with virtual patients. This program is available online and you will take part in an assessment-based test that concentrates on skills needed to transition to a patient-centered care category.
You will be provided with online learning resources to build a strong ground of knowledge and skills required throughout your career. You will also be engaging in interactive games, animations, simulated discussions with online patients, and more. As students, employees, and facilitators have the privilege to access NHA’s learning platform on any desktop, laptop, or mobile device at any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
One of the perks of enrolling in this program is that you will be working closely with people in the industry who make a difference. Connecting people, make a stronger system of assistance for healthcare professionals, and ultimately, the patients they cater to. For more information about this course, see Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).
How to become a medical laboratory scientist
So now that you know some of the most in-demand clinical laboratory certifications in the US, allow me to provide you with the steps you need to take to become a medical laboratory scientist in the US today.
Earn a bachelor’s degree
Clinical laboratory scientists must possess a bachelor’s degree in science-related fields. Programs such as clinical laboratory science also known as medical laboratory and programs like biomedical science, biology, or biochemistry are essential for those looking to pursue a career as clinical laboratory scientists. These courses will educate you on how to use laboratory equipment and lots more.
You can also complete a bachelor’s degree from a medical laboratory scientist major accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Unlike conventional education, taking this oath is swifter and enables you to accelerate your career as a clinical laboratory scientist.
In this program, you will get much-needed experience and training to become a clinical laboratory scientist which will enable you to get a job faster after you complete the program as compared to the conventional route.
Individuals taking this bachelor’s degree program in medical laboratory technology, which is usually referred to as a medical laboratory scientist degree, will take lessons in chemistry, biology, and hematology.
Accredited courses generally contain instruction in laboratory skills, such as safety measures and lab management, as well as practical coaching in a hospital or other clinical environment. Some laboratory science courses can be completed in 2 years or less and need a bachelor’s degree.
Get certified or license
In most cases, before you can practice in some states, you need to possess a license or be a registered clinical laboratory scientist. However, this is not a major requirement in all because requirements vary by state and specialty. For specific requirements, reach out to your state department of health or even the state board of occupational licensing as the situation may be.
Another thing you should bear in mind is that in several states, licensure requires certification. Although certification is not often needed before you can practice, employers may choose to hire certified technologists and technicians. So to be on the safer side, get your certificate ready.
You can get your certification as a medical laboratory scientist or medical laboratory technician. Furthermore, you are expected to take an accredited education program before you can sit for a certification exam.
Build experience
One way some clinical laboratory scientists progress to technologist positions is by gaining experience and additional education. For individuals who did not earn a degree from an accredited medical laboratory science program, you are expected to get five years of relevant work background before becoming a certified laboratory clinical scientist.
You can get some of this work experience while you are an undergraduate. Several courses provide internship opportunities as well as several hands-on coaching experiences for students. Working in entry-level positions after graduation can also help you earn more experience this way.
Pick a field
The next step after you have earned a degree, gotten your certification and obtained some work, you can pick apart or choose a certain field within clinical science. Some of the best careers for laboratory clinical scientists include working in fields like clinical biochemistry, microbiology, and toxicology, to name just a few of them.
These specializations require more knowledge and training, which is why you must possess a strong foundation first before you proceed.
Pursue a career in clinical laboratory science
After you have passed all the steps mentioned above, you can now proceed to look at a clinical laboratory scientist. Although you can still apply for entry-level roles you are still learning as this will help you build experience. As a field that has a favorable amount of projected job opportunities and growth, pursuing a career as a clinical scientist is guaranteed to be a smart and fulfilling choice.
Conclusions
Clinical laboratory scientists are experts who operate at the frontline of life-saving diagnostics in various healthcare sectors. If you possess problem-solving abilities and enjoy what goes on in the clinical laboratory field, then maybe you should consider learning about how to become a certified clinical laboratory scientist in the US.
I have made these picks based on generalized research that I conducted. I advise you to perform more personalized research using the information on this page before deciding.
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