Medical Lab Assistant Education: Program Length & Requirements

Medical laboratory assistants typically complete an associate degree program that lasts about two years. The program covers topics such as clinical laboratory techniques, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and laboratory safety. Some programs may also offer internships or externships to provide students with hands-on experience in a clinical laboratory setting.

Upon completing the program, students must pass a national certification exam to become certified medical laboratory assistants. This exam is offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA).

After becoming certified, medical laboratory assistants can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and reference laboratories. They perform a variety of tasks such as collecting and processing specimens, performing laboratory tests, and analyzing results.