How to Become a Medical Technician

By: Mary Ziegler

Last Updated: Jun 29, 2021

“Medical technician” is a broad term that encompasses a number of important careers in the healthcare industry. These jobs can involve tasks such as utilizing equipment that provides the latest life-saving medical treatments for patients in need. Duties may involve the utilization of diagnostic equipment to produce images that allow physicians to diagnose and effectively treat a host of ailments.

In addition to the responsibility of running medical equipment, medical technicians can also perform administrative duties that include organizing patient charts and making sure records are accurate and up to date.

Medical technicians include:

• Cardiovascular technicians, whose duties involve performing echocardiograms, or sonograms of the hearts of patients
• Dialysis technicians who are trained to operate dialysis equipment for people with failing kidneys
• Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who work with the fire department or ambulance teams to care for patients needing transport to the hospital
• Radiologic technologists and ultrasound technicians whose job is to administer x-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans, and MRIs for patients
• Surgical technicians who are part of the surgical team and assist in preparation for the surgery, performing the surgery, and caring for patients after the procedures

In addition to these positions, other medical technicians specialize in the dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary fields. With so many different specialization options, an aspiring medical technician can find a position well suited to his or her interests and abilities.

Work Environment

Due to the broad range of positions that medical technicians occupy, the work environment varies widely. Medical technicians who administer direct patient care work in doctors’ offices, hospital operating rooms, rehabilitation facilities, and other healthcare settings. Those who work in hospitals enjoy the opportunity to have a flexible schedule that includes evenings, nights, weekends and on-call shifts. Medical technicians who work in clinical laboratories can be located in hospitals, physicians’ offices, private medical diagnostic labs, government agencies and blood banks.

Most medical technicians work under supervision. Those who work in laboratories do so under the supervision of medical technologists, while those who work in direct patient care do so under the supervision of doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers.

Hover over any state to explore local income and job growth data.

Medical technician salaries vary depending on the specialty, but according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for health technicians is $54,180. The BLS states that the median salary for a cardiovascular technologist is $59,100, for an EMT it is $36,650 and for a surgical technician it is $49,710.

The job outlook for medical technicians is very positive. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, job growth between 2019 and 2029 for health technicians and technologists broadly will be 8%. For cardiovascular technologists, growth is expected to be 5%. For EMTs it is predicted to be 6%, and for surgical technicians 7%. All of these growth rates are slightly higher than the average job growth rate; jobs in all medical technician specialties are predicted to increase to varying degrees faster than average.

The type of education required depends on the field of specialty. In general, most medical technicians usually need to obtain, at the minimum, an associate degree from an accredited school. This is true for laboratory positions as well as positions in diagnostic imaging, such as ultrasound and radiologic technology. Some technician positions require a bachelor’s degree, while other positions (such as in medical records) may only technically require completing a certificate program. However, in today’s job market, technician candidates striving for any position may find their employment prospects improved by acquiring an associate degree at minimum.

The coursework varies as well depending upon the focus of the technician, but will generally be heavy on sciences, covering such subjects as biology, chemistry, anatomy, microbiology, hematology, phlebotomy, and immunology. Many training programs are offered for students just out of high school, and these students who are interested in becoming medical technicians should have high school coursework that focuses on the sciences, including biology, chemistry, math, and computer science.

Most states require medical technicians to be certified/licensed. Details should be obtained through the local state board or department of health. The certification and/or licensing depend on the field of interest. Some information about certification can be obtained from the nationally and internationally recognized certification agency known as the American Medical Technologists. As part of the job, certification must be maintained and updated periodically, which varies depending on the specialty.

Medical technicians who pursue further training and certification can specialize in fields like the analysis of skin samples for cancer and performing vascular ultrasound. This type of specialization is one way to increase marketability in the workforce as well as the rate of compensation. Certification and educational requirements vary based on the field of specialization.

Some medical technicians go on to become medical technologists by completing a four-year undergraduate program in medical technology or a related field. Others may also decide to pursue higher degrees in the sciences, such as a master’s or doctoral degree, or may even enroll in medical school. Having work experience in medical laboratories or patient care is a good stepping-stone towards an advanced career in healthcare.

There are two kinds of medical technology certification programs.

An initial certificate program is designed for students who are new to the healthcare field. It teaches the basic technical skills needed for practice.

Depending on your location and discipline, a certificate may be necessary for state licensure. It can also make you eligible for certain credentials. Because certificate programs focus on technical skills, you may need to complete some prerequisites (for example, English and science courses) before enrolling in the program.

Some medical technician certificate programs are designed for experienced healthcare professionals who want to learn a new discipline. An example would be a registered nurse who wants to become certified as an ultrasound technician (sonographer).

Medical technician certificate programs can be found at universities, 2-year colleges, vocational-technical schools, careers schools, the Armed Forces, and even some hospitals and health systems.

When choosing a certificate program, quality matters. Some things to look for:

• A good reputation with local employers and teaching hospitals
• Accreditation or approval by a professional organization (for example, the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT) lists approved dialysis technician programs on its website)
• Public and non-profit schools usually offer the best value for money

Medical technicians studying for certificates often take courses in:

Medical technicians in some disciplines (for example, biomedical or radiology) require an associate degree for certification and licensure.

Even when an associate degree isn’t required for practice, it’s sometimes just as easy to earn as a certificate. This is especially true if you have no previous healthcare coursework or prerequisites. And, importantly, it can give you an advantage in hiring.

Another advantage of having an associate degree is that you earn real college credits, many of which can be transferred to other schools. This is especially important if you later wish to earn your bachelor’s degree.

Associate degree programs for medical technicians are most commonly found at 2-year colleges and technical and career schools. The best programs usually have specialty-specific accreditation or approval. For example, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits surgical technician and ultrasound technician (sonography) programs. Many accreditors and professional organizations list recommended programs online.

Common courses for associate-level medical technician programs include:

Bachelor’s degree programs for medical technicians offer training in more advanced modalities and procedures. A medical technician with a four-year degree has many career options, including leadership, management, teaching, and research. Also, many employers favor medical technician candidates with bachelor’s degrees, making it easier to land your first job.

Disciplines with bachelor’s degree options include radiology, MRI, biomedical, ultrasound, and medical laboratory technology. Medical technicians with four-year degrees are sometimes called “technologists.”

Medical technicians in bachelor’s programs usually complete 2–3 years of general education and prerequisite classes followed by 1–2 years of core medical technology classes. Coursework at this level typically covers:

Bachelor’s degree completion programs are also available for working professionals who already hold an associate degree in medical technology.

Most medical technician certifications are voluntary. However, some states require certification as a condition of licensure. For technicians in some disciplines (for example, radiology technicians), certification is strongly preferred by employers, and it’s difficult to practice without it.

The following lists major medical technician certifications by discipline. To earn most of these credentials, you’ll need to fulfill education and work requirements and pass an exam.

It’s important to note that not all credentials are equally recognized by employers and licensing boards. Before pursuing certification, talk to your employer, academic advisor, or mentor to ensure you’re making a wise choice.

Dialysis technicians can be certified by the National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO), Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC), and the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT). The following credentials are available:

• Basic and advanced certification – NNCO, NNCC, BONENT
• Biomedical Nephrology Equipment Technician – NNCO, BONENT
• Dialysis Water Specialist – NNCO

Certification of laboratory technicians is overseen by American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and The American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB). Credentials available include:

• Medical Laboratory Technician – AMT, ASCP, AAB
• Medical Technologist/Scientist – AMT, ASCP, AAB (for bachelor’s-trained lab technicians)
• Clinical Laboratory Consultant (CLC) – AMT
• Histotechnician/Histotechnologist – ASCP
• Blood banking (BB) – ASCP
• Chemistry (C) – ASCP, AAB
• Cytogenetics – ASCP
• Cytotechnologist – ASCP
• Hematology – ASCP, AAB
• Microbiology – ASCP, AAB
• Molecular biology/diagnostics – ASCP, AAB
• Pathologists’ Assistant – ASCP
• Immunology, immunohematology – AAB
• Andrology – AAB
• Embryology – AAB

For operating room technicians (surgical technologists), basic certification is available from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), and the American Board of Surgical Assistants.

Several certifications for biomedical technicians are available through the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation:

• Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET)
• Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES)
• Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES)
• Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM)
• Certified Quality System Manager (CQSM)

Ultrasound technicians (sonographers) generally hold basic certification in one or more modalities such as cardiac, abdomen, or vascular imaging. Certifying organizations include American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). The following specialty certifications are also available:

• Advanced Cardiac Sonographer – CCI
• Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer – CCI
• Registered Vascular Specialist – CCI
• Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS) – ARDMS

Radiologic technicians are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). In addition to basic certification, ARRT offers advanced credentials in:

• Mammography
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Quality management
• Bone densitometry
• Cardiac interventional radiography
• Vascular interventional radiography
• Sonography
• Vascular sonography
• Breast sonography
• Radiologist assistant

MRI technicians are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the American Registry of MRI Technologists (ARMRIT).