Studies & Degrees in Lab Technology
Laboratory technology trains the people who carry out the day-to-day tests and analyses in medical, research and industrial laboratories. Most programmes belong to one of two branches. Medical or clinical laboratory technology prepares technicians who, in the words of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, testing and analysing body fluids such as blood, urine and tissue samples. Science or industrial laboratory technology prepares technicians who run chemical, microbiological and quality-control tests on materials, food, water and manufactured products.
Students learn to collect and prepare samples, operate and check laboratory equipment, follow quality and safety protocols and record results. A medical programme is organised by laboratory area. Bismarck State College, for example, lists phlebotomy, haematology, chemistry, microbiology, immunohaematology (blood banking), molecular diagnostics and urinalysis. Practical placements are part of the training: the same programme includes a 22-week rotation in a clinical laboratory.
Qualifications and levels
- Associate degrees (United States). Clinical laboratory technicians typically complete an associate's degree in clinical laboratory science, according to the BLS. Bismarck State College offers a two-year associate degree that also prepares for entry to a four-year medical laboratory science programme. The Medical Laboratory Technician associate degree of Delaware Technical & Community College combines coursework on campus with a clinical affiliation in an approved hospital. Both programmes state that they are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
- Bachelor's degrees. The BLS notes that clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically need a bachelor's degree, while technicians sometimes qualify with an associate's degree. In Ghana, Accra Technical University (listed in the directory as Accra Polytechnic) runs a four-year Bachelor of Technology in Medical Laboratory Science, and its science laboratory technology department offers a Bachelor of Technology and a Higher National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology.
- Vocational training in Spain. There are three official vocational training (FP) qualifications, each of 2,000 hours: the Técnico Superior en Laboratorio Clínico y Biomédico (health family, higher level), the Técnico Superior en Laboratorio de Análisis y de Control de Calidad (chemistry family, higher level) and the Técnico en Operaciones de Laboratorio (chemistry family, intermediate level).
- United Kingdom. The National Careers Service lists a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a scientific subject, college courses such as the T Level in Science, and the Laboratory Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
In the United States some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed or registered, and employers may prefer certified staff. Graduates of the Delaware programme, for instance, qualify to take the ASCP registry examination for medical laboratory technicians. Rules differ by country, so students who plan to work abroad should check how their qualification is recognised there.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 15 active schools for lab technology: 5 in the United States, 2 in Australia, 2 in Ghana and 1 each in Peru, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Argentina. Most teach in English; the schools in Peru and Argentina teach in Spanish. Most of the US schools in the directory are community colleges, which award associate degrees.
When comparing programmes, look at the branch (medical or science and industry), the length and place of the practical placement, and whether the programme is accredited or leads to a professional registration in the country where you want to work.
Careers
Medical laboratory technicians work in hospital laboratories, independent diagnostic laboratories and doctors' practices; Delaware Technical & Community College also mentions research centres, pharmaceutical and biomedical laboratories, and quality control in food processing or manufacturing companies. Spain's official profiles name jobs such as clinical diagnosis laboratory technician, technical assistant in a research laboratory, and chemical or microbiological laboratory analyst.
In the United States, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held about 343,000 jobs in 2025, according to the BLS; private general hospitals employed 36% of them and medical and diagnostic laboratories 19%. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 20,800 openings a year. Chemical technicians, who typically enter with an associate's degree, held 60,000 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 5% over the same period.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a laboratory technician?
It depends on the route. An associate degree such as the one at Bismarck State College in the United States takes two years, Spain's vocational qualifications take 2,000 hours, and a bachelor's degree such as the Bachelor of Technology in Medical Laboratory Science at Accra Technical University takes four years.
What is the difference between medical and science laboratory technology?
Medical laboratory technology deals with tests on patient samples for diagnosis and treatment. Science or industrial laboratory technology deals with chemical, microbiological and quality-control tests on materials and products.
Do laboratory technicians need a licence?
In the United States some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed or registered, and requirements vary by state. Elsewhere the rules depend on the country.
What is the job outlook for laboratory technicians?
The BLS projects 3% growth in jobs for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in the United States from 2025 to 2035, with about 20,800 openings a year.