How to Become a Laboratory Scientist
By Eric Hammer
Want steady work where you know you'll pretty much be in a
recession proof job? Then you should definitely consider becoming
a laboratory scientist. Also known as a laboratory technician,
a laboratory scientist processes various samples left by people
visiting the doctor so that they can check for various signs
of diseases.
Every time your doctor hands you a little cup to pee in, every
time you have blood drawn or a culture done at the doctor's office,
it goes to a laboratory scientist to be examined and the results
are then sent back to the doctor. The work is not particularly
dangerous as you will always be wearing gloves and other appropriate
protective gear and the best part about it is that the work is
fairly steady.
This is especially true these days, as the Obama health care
plan begins to go into effect. Given the increasing numbers of
Americans who will be getting health insurance shortly, you can
be certain that the need for new laboratory scientists will only
increase exponentially.
How Much Can You Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary
in 2008 for a laboratory scientist was approximately $53,000
per year.
Ways to Make More | Related Opportunities
| Tips
Keep in mind that your work will generally not involve much
interaction with patients or even with other people since you
will typically process your samples in a lab which is separated
from the patients coming to visit. If you happen to be in a smaller
lab, you may well be there all on your own. Thus if your motivation
for working in medicine is to work with people, you may want
to consider an alternative career such as physical therapist
or registered nurse.
On the other hand, for those looking for steady, quiet work,
becoming a laboratory scientist is generally a good idea. The
work does however require you to be somewhat repetitive in your
tasks since you will largely be performing the same tests over
and over again rather than doing something new every day.
Being able to maintain a safety routine is also very important
for a laboratory scientist. You need to make sure that you always
wear gloves, dispose of any sharps in the appropriate containers
and handle all human samples with great care since there is a
real chance to get very sick or even die if you don't follow
safety protocols.
Qualifications / Requirements
Generally, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree in order
to become a laboratory scientist, though in some cases an associate
degree will be enough. In all cases, expect to do plenty of on
the job training and expect to need continuing education to learn
about new tests as they come on the market. In some states, a
licensing exam may also be required along with a certain amount
of on the job experience.
First Steps
Start by finishing a degree in medical technology or a related
field and then contact your state licensing bureau to check if
they have additional licensing requirements.
|
