Medical Technician Jobs: What Are My Options?

A career as a medical technician is attractive for a variety of reasons. You’ll move through school quickly, make a good salary, have a variety of job options, and help others on a daily basis. And that’s just for starters.

Training

“Medical technician” sounds like a single career, but it covers a range of jobs and certifications. For those looking to pursue a career in the medical field without 10+ years of training, being a medical technician is the golden ticket. At a minimum, you need an associate’s degree, but more technical roles will require a bachelor’s. There are a variety of roles within the field, with most medical technicians focusing on a particular part of the body, such as the cardiovascular system, or on a specific type of equipment, like X-ray machines.

Medical technician training prepares you for similar jobs, so whether you start as a medical laboratory technician or a surgical technician, you can switch it up later on without spending years back in school. Focus your education on a broader field, and then narrow down your specialty as you gain experience. X-ray technicians, for example, have the skills needed to train for virtually any other technician job, which emergency room technicians can transition to nursing or other intensive care positions. You can get certified in college or through an online degree program.

Next steps

Once you have your degree, you’ll need to get licensed or certified through your state’s department of health. After you’ve spent some time in the field, consider taking additional classes or getting more specialized certifications so you can seek out higher-paying jobs or move into a more intensive field.