To get certification as a medical technician, students must apply to a medical technician program, meet certain educational requirements and pass a certification exam for licensing in some states. Because technicians can specialize in areas such as dialysis, laboratory and radiology, they also must take courses to learn how to operate machinery used in these specialties.
To become a certified medical technician can take up 2 years, students also should know about these basic requirements.
- Apply to an accredited school
- Take the required courses to complete the program
- Obtain national certification
Enroll in an accredited school that offers an associate's degree or certificate program for medical technicians. Before applying to a school, students should meet entrance requirements, which can include a high school diploma and immunization proof. High school students also should have a good background in high school science, as most of the coursework in these programs are science-based.
Because a medical technician can work in different areas, students may need to take different types of educational courses to meet requirements for the degree or certificate, such as anatomy, microbiology and laboratory procedures. They also learn to use various types of medical equipment. Additionally, an internship may be necessary to gain clinical training.
After completing the program, students may have to take a certification exam to get licensed in their state. However, not all states require certification. The American Medical Technologists website provides more information on the different types of certification available that students can take an exam in, such as medical laboratory technician.
