QUICK FACTS: MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Description: Medical technologists work in clinical laboratories performing tests which provide information to physicians needed for disease diagnosis and patient treatment and monitoring. They may do blood banking, identify bacteria infecting a patient, analyze the chemicals in a patient’s blood. Medical technologists must be precise and accurate in their work.

Salary and employment opportunities: Employment opportunities are good with beginning salaries in Tennessee ranging from $34,000 to $40,000. The average national salary for medical technologists is reported to be about $40,000; supervisor and lab manager salaries range from $59,000 to $63,000.

Education required:

Undergraduate: Some programs require 2 years of pre-requisite work while others require 3 years.

Professional: All programs require 4 years total (undergraduate + professional). In 2-2 programs, the professional school offers the bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology. In some 3-1 programs the undergraduate university awards the bachelor’s degree in Pre-Medical Technology.

Admissions requirements:

Required courses:  
University of Tennessee-Memphis: (2-2 program) 61 hours required.
  Lipscomb Seminar and Freshman Comp. II
  Principles of Biology–Diversity and Ecology
  Principles of Biology–Cell and Genetics
  Anatomy and Physiology (BY 3514 or BY 2213)
  General Chemistry I and II (with labs)
  Organic Chemistry I and II (with labs)
  Algebra
  25 hours of electives
Vanderbilt University: (3-1 program) 90 hours required.
  You must meet Lipscomb’s general education requirements.
  General Chemistry I and II (with labs)
  Organic Chemistry I and II (with labs)
  Biology: Microbiology, Immunology and additional 9 hours
  Math: recommend statistics and computer courses
  They recommend Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Methods of Analysis, Genetics, and Anatomy and Physiology.
Grade Point Average: 2.5