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How to Become a Medical Technician in Florida

By allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 3 2010

Medical Technicians are typically responsible for a variety of functions that pertain to clinical laboratory tests on body fluids, blood or tissue.  They will be responsible for a multitude of duties to include, but not limited to the following: collect blood; prepare chemical solutions; analyzing specimens; maintaining records of lab tests; maintaining quality control; instrumentation troubleshooting and reporting results.  These vital tests will help determine the patients’ treatment and diagnosis.  Medical Technicians will work directly under a Medical Technologist, Pathologist or Physician and must be prepared to work flexible shifts and on-call for emergency purposes. 

In 2008, there were approximately 7,066 individuals employed in the state of Florida as a Medical Technician.  The job growth rate in this industry is expected to reach 8,229 job openings for medical technicians by the year of 2016.  According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 13,000 new Medical Technicians will be needed in the United States each year.  The state of Florida has on average 250 openings annually.

Steps to Becoming a Medical Technician in Florida

In order to work in the state of Florida as a Medical Technician, you will need to have at least a high school diploma, complete one of the training programs offered through either online or campus based Florida Medical technician schools, obtain certification by passing a national exam and obtain a Florida Clinical Laboratory Personnel Licenses.  In most cases the medical technician programs will include curriculum in: coagulation, hematology, chemistry, biology, microbiology and anatomy to highlight some of the main courses.  Most of these particular programs will also include some sort of internship or clinical rotation.  There are several ways to obtain the necessary training and certification.

1. Enroll and complete a medical or clinical laboratory training program that prepares the student for exams. (Or)
2. Have five years of hands-on clinical laboratory experience before applying for licensure.  (Or)
3. Obtain an Associate’s Degree plus four years of hands-on clinical laboratory experience before applying for licensure.  (Or)
4. Earn a Bachelors Degree and three years of hands-on clinical laboratory experience before applying for licensure.  (Or)
5. Successfully pass the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) or AMT’s Board of Registry examination for Medical Technicians.
6. Be prepared to pay your $100 fee for an application to be licensed and then another $100 fee for actual license.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Medical Technicians in Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando, Florida may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including Baptist Medical Center, Florida Hospital Orlando, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Memorial Regional Hospital.

Florida Clinical Laboratory Personnel Licenses
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin # A00
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1701
Phone:  850-245-4444