2020 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Degree Guide

Sometimes, doctors must collect samples and test them for abnormalities or signs of illness. If you are interested in performing these tests, consider a degree in clinical/medical laboratory science.

Students in this major take classes in organic chemistry, genetics, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, hematology, and immunology to learn how to properly test bodily fluids, tissues, and other samples for diseases. You will gain the skills to work with laboratory equipment, interpret data, and perform tests to help physicians find and treat patients' illnesses.

Areas of specialization within the Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science field include Blood Bank Technology, Hematology Technology, Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Clinical Genetics Technology and many others.

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Degrees Decreasing

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science was the 63rd most popular major in the 2017-2018 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 19,295 degrees in this year alone. This 269 less than the prior year, a decrease of 1.4%.

There are 264 schools offering degrees in clinical/medical laboratory science in the United States. Explore this or one of our many other custom clinical laboratory science rankings further below.

Requirements for Getting a Degree in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science

Students who major in this field have strong analysis skills and pay close attention to detail. You must collect samples and perform specific tests in order to help physicians find any diseases within a person. Strong organizational and communication skills will help you collect data and share findings. Professionals also have interpersonal skills since they work closely with patients to collect samples.

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science professionals work full time. Depending on your job location, you may work typical work hours during the day, or be part of a 24/7 facility that requires weekend, holiday, and overnight hours.

Depending on the state you are working and your employer, you may need to be certified to work in this field. It is best to check state laws to ensure you are fulfilling all requirements for this career.

Clinical Laboratory Science Degree Program Entry Requirements

New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific clinical laboratory science careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Degree Types

There are various different levels of clinical laboratory science degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a research / scholarship based doctorate's in clinical/medical laboratory science to something that takes less time like a first year certificate. Different clinical/medical laboratory science degrees vary in how long they take.

Degree	Credit Requirements	Typical Program Length
Associate Degree	60-70 credits	2 years
Bachelor’s Degree	120 credits	4 years
Master’s Degree	50-70 credits	1-3 years
Doctorate	Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation	At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to clinical laboratory science, with approximately 25.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for clinical laboratory science workers below.

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree	28.4%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	19.5%
Post-Secondary Certificate	14.4%
High School Diploma	13.6%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	9.5%

About 63.0% of workers in careers related to clinical laboratory science obtain at least associate's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in clinical/medical laboratory science careers have.

This of course varies depending on which clinical laboratory science career you choose.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Clinical Laboratory Science Graduate

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science graduates work in medical labs in a variety of locations. Some graduates are employed by hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs, and in physician offices. You will have the skills to test any necessary specimen, making you an asset to the medical profession. This occupation is growing at an average rate, meaning there should be an adequate amount of jobs available to students after graduation.

High Growth Projected for Clinical Laboratory Science Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your clinical laboratory science degree? Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science careers are expected to grow 17.9% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical/medical laboratory science.

Occupation Name	Projected Jobs	Expected Growth
Health Specialties Professors	294,000	25.9%
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	191,200	11.6%
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians	187,200	14.0%
Health Technologists and Technicians	152,900	19.6%
Phlebotomists	152,800	24.5%

How Much Money Do Clinical Laboratory Science Grads Make?

Recently graduated clinical/medical laboratory science students earned an average of $37,469 in 2017-2018. Earnings can range from as low as $17,200 to as high as $89,500. As you might expect, salaries for clinical laboratory science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

High Paying Careers for Clinical Laboratory Science Majors

Salaries for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top 5 highest paying careers clinical laboratory science grads often go into.

Occupation Name	Median Average Salary
Health Specialties Professors	$122,320
Surgical Technologists	$49,040
Health Technologists and Technicians	$47,450
Medical Equipment Preparers	$37,990
Phlebotomists	$35,560

Getting Your Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Degree

With over 1,435 different clinical laboratory science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased clinical laboratory science school rankings to help you with this.

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Related Majors

One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Clinical Laboratory Science

Related Major	Annual Graduates
Nursing	293,633
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services	104,465
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants	90,916
Health & Medical Administrative Services	87,058
Allied Health Professions	86,125

View All Clinical Laboratory Science Related Majors >

References

• National Center for Education Statistics

• O*NET Online

• Image Credit: By Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla under License