These agencies have different requirements for certification and different organizational sponsors. Manufacturers of home diagnostic testing kits and laboratory equipment and supplies seek experienced technologists to work in product development, marketing and sales. Graduate education in medical technology, one of the biological sciences, chemistry, management or education usually speeds advancement. A doctorate is sometimes needed to become a laboratory director. However, federal regulation allows directors of moderate complexity laboratories to have either a master's degree or a bachelor's degree combined with the appropriate amount of training and experience.
Technicians can become technologists through additional education and experience.
More than half worked in hospitals. Most others worked in medical laboratories and offices and clinics of physicians. About 1 laboratory worker in 6 worked part time. Employment of clinical laboratory workers is expected to grow about as fast as the national average for all occupations through the year 2006 as the volume of laboratory tests increases with population growth and the development of new types of tests. Hospitals and independent laboratories have recently undergone considerable consolidation and restructuring that has boosted productivity and allowed the same number of personnel to perform more tests than previously possible.