Medical Technology Degree - Online and Campus Programs

Medical technologists play an essential role in healthcare by performing and analyzing laboratory and imaging tests. They can work in hospitals, doctor's offices, and other healthcare facilities; or, they may work for companies that manufacture testing equipment or pharmaceuticals. Some students earn a certificate in their field; however, most jobs as a medical technologist require at least a two-year associate's or a bachelor's medical technology degree. You can further your career in medical technology by earning advanced degrees such as a master's and PhD.

Getting a Medical Technology Degree

Subjects studied by students in medical technology students include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Immunology
• Medical Terminology
• Mathematics
• Statistics

Students can take some courses online but they also must have hands-on training for most medical technology jobs.

Career Outlook for Medical Technologists

Medical technologists can be lab technicians, working in a laboratory performing tests on blood, urine, and tissue samples. They also can work in imaging and perform radiologic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and CTs. Diagnostic medical sonographers perform sonograms using sound waves. Still another option is to work as a surgical technologist assisting in the operating room. Surgical technologists may help prepare the operating room for a procedure, transport patients for surgery, and hand instruments and other supplies to the surgeons and their assistants during surgery. Medical technologists can earn anywhere from $26,000 to more than $80,000 depending on their skills, training, and willingness to relocate. Jobs for medical technologists are expected to grow at a rate higher than average given the growing demand for healthcare as the population ages. Those who earn a medical technology degree, pass qualifying exams and are certified in their respective fields will be most in demand.