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About This Program: BS

Bachelor of Science Degree Program

Medical Technologists (also known as clinical laboratory scientists) develop, perform and supervise laboratory testing that is used to diagnose and treat disease and to provide vital data for research studies. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for New York State licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certifying examination given by the Board of Certification of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and other certifying agencies.

After graduation, many medical technologists work in hospital or physicians' office laboratories conducting a wide range of laboratory measurements from simple blood tests to complex analyses for cancer, AIDS, viruses, bone marrow abnormalities, therapeutic drug monitoring, infectious disease and molecular diagnoses.

Graduates are also prepared for careers that research and develop products used to prevent and treat human disease. They also work in academic settings with medical scientists performing experiments as part of research studies, or in industrial laboratories producing vaccines and other drugs.

While a degree in medical technology provides immediate career opportunities after graduation, it is also a good foundation for advanced degrees in medicine or science, or for a career in other medically related fields such as physician's assistant.

We encourage prospective students to visit a clinical laboratory near you, tour the lab at Upstate, or call the Clinical Laboratory Science Department to discuss career options.

The Program accepts 20 students each year.

Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for New York State licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certifying examination given by the Board of Certification of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and other certifying agencies. 

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science, 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, Illinois 60018; telephone 773-714-8880.

For information on individual state licensing requirements, please visit the State Licensing Requirements page.

 

Clinical Laboratory Professional Resources

Clinical Laboratory Sciences FAQs

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In addition to working as a Medical Technologist in hospital and physician's office laboratories, what career opportunities could I pursue with my degree in Medical Technology?

Examples of recent positions advertised in national publications which
cite MT as the background include:

  • Scientific Areas:
    Tissue Typing Specialist
    Histocompatability Specialist
    Analytical Cytometry Specialist
    Research Staff (Bioanalytical Sciences)
    Cell Transplant Team (molecular biology)
    Technologist in:
    hematology, microbiology, clinical chemistry, blood banking, immunology
    Team Leader, Rapid Response Lab
  • Other Areas:
    Laboratory /Instrument Sales
    Laboratory Inspector (JCAHO etc.)
    Change Control Coordinator (Quality Assurance)
    Manager Lab Inpatient/Outpatient Services
    Technical Support Sales Purchasing Specialist
    Laboratory Resource Coordinator
    Product Development Specialist
    Laboratory Information Systems
    Quality Assurance
    Infectious Disease Control
    Laboratory Customer Sales/Services

 

What hours do Medical Technologists/Clinical Laboratory Scientists work?

Round the clock shifts are available in hospital laboratories, with higher shift differential pay for evenings and night shifts. In physicians' office laboratories and research facilities, MT's usually work regular business hours.

Is MT a career that I can practice part-time after graduation?

There are many opportunities for part-time practice as a Medical Technologist in both hospital labs, reference labs, and physicians' office settings.

What makes the "Upstate" MT curriculum unique?

There are several ways in which the MT program at Upstate offers a unique education as a Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist.

  • The MT Program at SUNY Upstate Medical University is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency from Clinical Laboratory Science. This means that it meets the rigorous national standards for programs in Medical Technology, it is housed here on this campus, the faculty are practicing laboratory professionals and our campus directs all aspects of the curriculum.
  • We have our own university hospital here on campus that serves as the Level-1 trauma center for the 15 county Central New York region. It houses the burn center, regional oncology center, trauma center, Central New York AIDS Treatment Center, Center for Forensic Science, and a pediatric intensive care unit, to name a few of the specialized patient services. In addition, it houses more than 80 specialty clinics with services that range from high risk pregnancy to neurology and orthopedics. This means that we can offer our MT students a wide variety of experience across the whole scope of laboratory testing.
  • The faculty teach both the lecture and student laboratories and also go with the student into the clinical setting to perform patient care testing. This keeps the faculty clinically current as they teach in the state-of-the-art laboratories of our University Hospital.
  • Part of the MT curriculum includes a set of core courses which are taken with the other students in the College of Health Professions. These courses are: Pathology, Health Care Ethics, Research Methods, and Professional and Technical Writing. This gives our students the opportunity to work together with students from the other health professions programs in the College as they become members of the health care team.

I am a certified MLT(ASCP). How would this help me if I decide to go on for my baccalaureate degree in Medical Technology?

  • MLT's can work part-time throughout their educational program at Upstate Medical University. There are many opportunities to work in sites such as physicians' office labs, private labs, University Hospital's Clinical Pathology laboratories and in the laboratories of our clinical affiliates.
  • MLT's can apply for transfer credit or advanced placement for selected courses in the MT curriculum.
  • Many of the basic concepts and laboratory vocabulary are already familiar to MLT's and they can build upon this foundation.

Can I formally specialize in an area of Medical Technology after graduation?

Graduate MT's can sit for specialty certification in such areas as:

  • hematology
  • microbiology
  • clinical chemistry
  • hematology
  • flow cytometry
  • cytogenetics
  • virology
  • laboratory safety

This is national recognition of competence in a wide variety that relates to areas of laboratory practice.

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