My Colorado Journey
Back to pathway map
HealthcareTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Medical/Clinical Laboratory Technologist

Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.

Annual openings

448

Median wage

n/a

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Growth 2024–2034

+12%

Interactive walkthrough

Explore My Colorado Journey Careers

See where to compare pay, job demand, locations, skills, education, and training for a Colorado career.

Open in a new tab

Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Experience detail

It is common for a person to work as an Medical/Clinical Laboratory Technician before they become a Cardiovascular Technologist.

Employer competency information

Feedback from employers identifies the following critical competencies and how they apply for this job

  • Critical and Analytical Thinking — Applying theory and knowledge to correlate with a patient’s results and identifying when the results do not correlate with the current situation.
  • Basic Problem Solving — Following procedures to analyze a specimen, but also being able to troubleshoot and solve issues as they arise.
  • Health & Safety — Knowing and following institutional policies in an ethical manner and leading by example in dealing with specimens in a proper manner.
  • Teamwork — Interacting professionally with colleagues and other members of the Healthcare team.
  • Communication and Customer Focus — Communicate effectively with patients, to provide good customer service, co-workers, to facilitate effective shift handoffs of in-process activities, and physicians/care providers so that test results are understood and appropriate action/treatment can be taken.
  • Tools & Technology — Must be able to skillfully use laboratory information software and instrument software.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

A typical day

  1. Analyze samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction.
  2. Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results.
  3. Enter data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage.
  4. Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment.
  5. Select and prepare specimens and media for cell cultures, using aseptic technique and knowledge of medium components and cell requirements.
  6. Collect and study blood samples to determine the number of cells, their morphology, or their blood group, blood type, or compatibility for transfusion purposes, using microscopic techniques.
Feedback