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How to Become a Medical Technician in Virginia

By Kathy Foust, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 15 2010

Steps to Becoming a Medical Tech in Virginia

To begin the process of certification, an individual should first complete high school. The next step would be to enroll in one of the online or campus based Virginia medical technician schools offering an associate’s degree program. The program must end with the completion of an associate level degree. Once the student receives the degree, they may request an application for certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathologists Board of Certification.

Once the application is complete in full, it can be sent along with any other requested paper work back to the ASCP Board of Certification. Once all of the paper work is received and the application is approved, the applicant may then sit for the certification exam. If the exam is completed with passing scores, then the examinee will receive a Medical Technician Certification. Upon certification the individual is able to put “MT” after their name when they write it.

The next step in the process is simply to keep up to date on the developments of procedure within the medical community. The reason for this is that there are so many new procedures being put in place on a regular basis, that the need for licensure may occur at some point and the certified Medical Technician needs to be aware of when these changes take place so as to not jeopardize their career through lack of knowledge. Residents of Virginia can obtain this information by contacting the Virginia Board of Health Professions. The contact information for the Virginia Board of Health Professions as well as the contact information for the American Society for Clinical Pathologists is provided below for the convenience of the reader.

Virginia Board of Health Professions
Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, Virginia 23233-1463
(804)367-4403

American Society for Clinical Pathologists
Board of Certification
33 West Monroe St., Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
1-800-267-2727 option 2, 2

This information was found through the American Society for Clinical Pathologists, Indeed.com, Bureau of Labor and Statistics and the Virginia Board of Health Professions.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Medical Technicians in Arlington, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Alexandria, Portsmouth and Hampton, Virginia may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the University of Virginia Medical Center, Saint Mary's Hospital, Lynchburg General Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital.