Which Program in the Laboratory Sciences is Right for You?

The following disciplines require education of less than two years: 

PHLEBOTOMIST (PBT)/Phlebotomy Technician:

As a phlebotomist, you’ll be the most patient-adjacent member of the laboratory team, serving as the crucial link between patients and accurate lab results. Your role involves collecting and processing blood samples for testing, transfusions, research, or donations. With your hands-on work, you’ll ensure samples are collected with precision and care, all while providing a positive and professional experience for patients and collaborating effectively with healthcare providers. 

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in healthcare.
• Precision and accuracy. 
• High attention to detail. 
• Excellent people skills. 

Education Requirements: 

• High school diploma. 
• Phlebotomy education certificate from a NAACLS accredited program or relevant work experience.

MEDICAL LABORATORY ASSISTANT (MLA):

As a medical laboratory assistant, you’ll support clinical testing by handling and preparing patient samples with care and precision. From receiving and labeling specimens to simple testing and storage, you’ll ensure quality at every step. You’ll work in diverse settings, including hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, and research labs, to keep lab operations running smoothly. 

What You’ll Need: 

• Interest in healthcare.
• Attention to detail. 
• Strong organizational skills. 

Education Requirements: 

• High school diploma or GED 
• Medical laboratory education certificate from a NAACLS accredited program or relevant experience in laboratory procedures. 

The following disciplines require education of at least two years: 

HISTOTECHNICIAN (HT)/Histology Techinicians:

As a histotechnician, you’ll prepare and process tissue samples for microscopic examination, playing a key role in helping pathologists make accurate diagnoses. Your work transforms raw tissue into microscope-ready slides through precise techniques. While similar to a histotechnologist, this role typically involves less complex testing and requires fewer educational qualifications.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, healthcare, and technology. 
• Excellent hand-eye coordination. 
• Attention to detail and precision. 

Education Requirements: 

• Associate’s degree. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited HT program or experience in laboratory procedures. 

MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN (MLT):

As a medical laboratory technician (also known as a Clinical Laboratory Technician), you’ll perform a wide range of routine laboratory tests in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, and/or urinalysis to help diagnose and treat diseases. Your work involves analyzing blood, tissue, and body fluids using microscopic techniques, sophisticated laboratory equipment, and hands-on procedures. In addition to conducting tests, you’ll confirm the accuracy of laboratory test results and troubleshoot lab equipment as necessary. This role is essential for patient care and spans various departments within the medical lab.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, healthcare, and technology.
• A strong science background.
• Knack for solving puzzles.
• Good organizational skills.

Education Requirements: 

• Associate’s degree. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited MLT program. 

The following disciplines require education of at least four years: 

HISTOTECHNOLOGIST (HTL):

As a histotechnologist, you’ll play a vital role in diagnosing diseases by preparing and performing routine and advanced histologic techniques, such as enzyme histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence, on tissue samples. Working closely with pathologists, you’ll process tissue biopsies and ensure high-quality preparation for microscopic examination. This role is ideal if you enjoy hands-on work and have a keen eye for detail. Histotechnologists requires deeper theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills than the HT. With advanced training, histotechnologists can also evaluate new techniques or advance to leadership roles.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, healthcare, and technology.
• Excellent hand-eye coordination. 
• Attention to precision and accuracy. 

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited HTL program. 

MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST (MLS):

As a medical laboratory scientist (also known as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists), you’ll perform a wide range of routine and advanced laboratory tests: blood banking, chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology molecular biology and/or urinalysis to help diagnose and treat diseases. Your work involves analyzing blood, tissue, and body fluids using microscopic techniques, sophisticated laboratory equipment, and hands-on procedures. In addition to conducting tests, you’ll confirm the accuracy of laboratory test results and troubleshoot lab equipment as necessary. Beyond standard testing, you may develop testing protocols, validate new methods, and solve complex analytical problems. This role requires deeper theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills than the MLT. In addition, MLS also have opportunities for career advancement into supervisory, management, and educational roles within the laboratory. 

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, healthcare, and technology.
• A strong science background. 
• Knack for solving puzzles. 
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work with a team.

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited MLS program. 

DIAGNOSTIC MOLECULAR SCIENTIST (DMS)/Technologist in Molecular Biology:  

As a diagnostic molecular scientist, you’ll use molecular biology methods, including PCR, DNA/RNA sequencing and proteomic analysis, to help diagnose and treat inherited and acquired diseases, such as cancer, metabolic disorders, and infections. Your work involves performing tests on nucleic acids and proteins, like gene sequencing, to analyze cell samples and assist in diagnosing patients. This is a good choice for students interested in research and diagnosis of genetic and infectious diseases. Work environments for graduates with Molecular Biology certification include top research facilities, hospital molecular laboratories, companies that combine diagnostic testing with research to create new testing methodologies, forensic science and the identification of microbiological agents.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, technology, and research.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited DMS program. 

CYTOGENETIC TECHNOLOGIST (CG):

As a cytogenetic technologist, you’ll perform chromosomal analyses on biological samples to help diagnose, predict, and treat genetic diseases, both inherited and acquired. Your role involves working with techniques like chromosome analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and genomic analysis to support healthcare teams. You’ll contribute to research, clinical decision-making, and quality assurance in the fast-evolving field of genetics.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, technology, and research.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited MLS program or relevant work experience. 

MEDICAL LABORATORY MICROBIOLOGIST (MLM)/Technologist in Microbiology:

Medical laboratory microbiologists perform, develop, evaluate, correlate and ensure accuracy and validity of laboratory information, direct and supervise clinical laboratory resources and operations, and collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, specifically in the area of medical microbiology. This practitioner identifies bacteria and other microorganisms in tissue samples and body fluids to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. They may also practice in public health or research microbiology laboratories as well as in industry or specialty clinics and laboratories.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, technology, and research.

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited MLM program or relevant work experience. 

BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST (BMS):

A biomedical scientist is part of an evolving career pathway accredited by NAACLS that encompasses various specialized laboratory roles beyond the traditional clinical settings. The biomedical scientist is qualified by academic and applied science education to provide service, management, and/or research in both existing and emerging fields. Examples may include clinical embryologist or nanotechnologist. The specific scope of practice and entry-level competencies may vary by specialty and these professionals may work in various settings including industry, specialty clinics, and clinical or research laboratories.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, technology, and research.

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited BMS program. 

PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGIST (PHM): 

Public health microbiologists are vital experts who use both academic knowledge and specialized laboratory skills to protect community health through diagnostic and surveillance testing. They serve across multiple microbiological disciplines, including bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, mycobacteriology, and food microbiology testing among others. These professionals play a crucial role in early identification and management of infectious diseases by ensuring prompt detection. Public health microbiologist’s work extends to monitoring foodborne illnesses and addressing vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, providing vital support for public health safety. Not only diagnosing infectious diseases, but public health microbiologists also serve a critical role in tracking pathogen trends, monitoring antimicrobial resistance, and detecting emerging health threats in both clinical and environmental settings.

What you’ll need: 

• Interest in science, technology, and research.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong personal initiative and innovative thinking.

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited PHM program. 

The following disciplines require education of at least six years: 

DOCTORATE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE (DCLS):

A Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) is an advanced-practice laboratory professional who bridges the gap between laboratory testing and patient care. They collaborate directly with physicians, healthcare teams, and laboratory staff to ensure accurate test selection, interpretation, and application of laboratory results for optimal patient outcomes. They provide consultation services as the liaison between the clinical laboratory and professionals treating the patient. Those who possess a DCLS degree will be prepared to act as consultants to health care providers, serve as laboratory directors, educate patients and health care providers, perform and disseminate research on evidence-based practice and test utilization and enter academic positions.

What you’ll need: 

• Strong communication skills.
• Precision and accuracy.
• High attention to detail.

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science.
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited MLS program.

PATHOLOGISTS’ ASSISTANT (Path A):

Provides anatomic pathology services under the direction and supervision of a pathologist to perform gross examination and dissection of surgical pathology specimens and performance of postmortem examinations. Pathologists’ assistant: A highly trained, certified allied healthcare professional that performs the examination and evaluation of all surgical pathology specimens and assists with postmortem examinations. A pathology assistant provides hands-on assistance pathologists need to help patients. For instance, if you like dissecting frogs, you might enjoy a career as a pathologists’ assistant. You’ll work directly with specimens and tissues and be the “eyes” that help pathologists diagnose diseases correctly. This can include everything from helping surgeons in the operating room find cancer in organ tissue to performing autopsies on people who have died.

What you’ll need: 

• High attention to detail. 
• Ability to touch and examine human cadavers. 

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in science. 
• Completion of a NAACLS accredited Path A program (NAACLS 2-year program typically leads to master’s degree).