MLT vs. MT

I've read several posts on here about the "differences" between MT's and MLT's. I just wanted to add my opinion, and maybe some insight to those to aren't sure which path to take. I graduated from a state university with my Bachelor's in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. I am now attending an Associate's MLT program at a community college in Pittsburgh, accreditted by NAACLS. I am fully aware that I must work as an MLT for 2 years in order to sit for an MT exam. However, I feel that I have received a comparable education to those who received a BS in Medical Technology. The University where I received my undergrad is affiliated with several MT programs (I opted out of this because of relocation). Anyway... the program required you to complete 3 years (6 semesters) at the university, then 1 year of clinical rotation at the MT program (usually a hospital program). Let me point out that my courses for my degree were EXACTLY the same as those planning on transferring to the MT program. After I complete my MLT courses and externship, I will have the same knowledge as an MT graduate. The only measurable difference is that I have to sit for a different exam due to certain parameters. Just because I would only be considered an "MLT" due to a "life science bachelor degree" and an "associate degree in medical laboratory technology" does not make me any less capable. Must I stress, my undergraduate classes were the EXACT same as an MT student who attended the same university. I even had more indepth classes such as Molecular biology and Biotechnology that were VERY lab intensive and included reading/writing lab protocols, troubleshooting, making reagents, making liquid and agar media, and writing in-depth lab reports.

I understand the pay difference and the "ladder" you must climb, as in any professon. My point is, when I complete my AS MLT program, I will be just as capable as a BS MT graduate.

Samantha in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said: I understand the pay difference and the "ladder" you must climb, as in any professon. My point is, when I complete my AS MLT program, I will be just as capable as a BS MT graduate.

No, you will not be as capable as a BS MT graduate, because MTs are specifically trained to perform high-complexity testing that MLT programs do not cover. This is not a dig against MLTs, it is simply a fact of the training.

I earned a BS in Microbiology, and then enrolled in 4+1 MT program at a hospital. Despite my graduate-level coursework in genetics, immunology, and virology, I found that the material and techniques in MT school to be both new and challenging.

For instance, how much training have you had in analyzing peripheral blood smears? Can you correlate WBC and RBC abnormalities with the symptoms and medical history of patients to determine their clinical significance? Can you rapidly distinguish between a basophil, a promyelocyte, a prolymphocyte with toxic granulation, and an erythroblast with basophilic stippling. Do you know which Chemistry tests would tell you the significance of each of those abnormal cells?

Now perhaps your program is very comprehensive, but here MLTs do not perform peripheral smear analysis.

You know, a while back I would have been up in arms on this subject. For example, I would have told you that as an MLT here in Oklahoma, I do diffs just as well as the MTs that I work with. Even with my MLT Associate's, I can differentiate between cell types and (stain willing) catch most cell inclusions and realize their significance. I would have been fairly put off by any and all detrimental comments regarding the inferiority of MLT vs MT.

But I recently started an MT program. Yep, that shut me up. My program goes so much more in-depth than my MLT program could. There just wasn't enough time in that two years to cram in all the necessary knowledge necessary to being a really good tech.

It is true that classroom education is no substitute for on-the-job experience. I know MLTs with lots of experience that run circles around some MTs that I know. But having been in the lab for awhile and keeping my eyes open, you'll notice that for the most part, the person that everybody in a department goes to with those wacky problems is invariably an MT.

Wow Rus, I remember how we would argue back in the days MT vs MLT and how you would vigorously defend MLTs. I'm glad to see that your perspective has changed now that you are in a CLS program, as education does make a difference, and the difference in pay is deserved.

To Samantha, all I can say is you made a mistake. After having a BS in biotech why would you go get an AS in MLT???!! You're going backwards. At least go for the BS in CLS. You could have probably worked as an MLT with your BS alone.

It took me a long time to decide what to do with my degree. Being from western PA, there aren't many opportunities. I was having a very difficult time finding a job, and most places gave me BS about being "overqualified." Other facilities looking for MLTs wouldn't even respond to my application. I'm not sure if that's due to no cert. or the new reform that was a big thing at the time. At this time, I'm not able to relocate, it would just be very financially poor for me to do so. All of the 3+1 hospital affiliations were just too far away (I know, I find it very wrong that most of the sites were 1.5hrs+ from the university... making them easily 2-3 from my home which would made a terrible commute). But the MLT program seems like a great program and I do feel as if I'm learning a lot, with a decent tuition. I admit a lot of the cirriculum is very different than BS-Bio. But I don't feel I am very much taking a step back... my degree will just help me in the long run.

Off topic... but howcome it now says I am in Rittman, Oh??? Odd. Maybe because I'm on my mobile.

Samantha in Rittman, Ohio said: It took me a long time to decide what to do with my degree. Being from western PA, there aren't many opportunities. I was having a very difficult time finding a job, and most places gave me BS about being "overqualified." Other facilities looking for MLTs wouldn't even respond to my application. I'm not sure if that's due to no cert. or the new reform that was a big thing at the time. At this time, I'm not able to relocate, it would just be very financially poor for me to do so. All of the 3+1 hospital affiliations were just too far away (I know, I find it very wrong that most of the sites were 1.5hrs+ from the university... making them easily 2-3 from my home which would made a terrible commute). But the MLT program seems like a great program and I do feel as if I'm learning a lot, with a decent tuition. I admit a lot of the cirriculum is very different than BS-Bio. But I don't feel I am very much taking a step back... my degree will just help me in the long run.

Once you save up enough money working as an MLT, apply to any and all 4+1 MT programs in your region and rent an apartment near the one you join. This will require you to keep your expenses down so that you can save up the cash reserves to endure a year without income.

Had you the fiscal means, you should have moved near an MT program before enrolling in the MLT program. Here in Ohio, the cost of an apartment will quickly be offset by the higher MT pay and opportunities for promotion.

Or you could rotate the required time in each lab department and sit for your MT/MLS exam, since you already have a bachelors...but you may have to take additional college courses if you do not have all the requirements.

I am an MLT working in WV and we do the same work as an MT! Yes, they are paid a little more, but we were told in school that we would be doing the exact same job and so far, this has been true. I read peripheral blood smears alot and I know how to differentiate between blood cells and all that. We were taught that in the first semester. As far as I'm concerned, most of what both MT's and MLT's do is learned through on-the-job training and it's all the same! In fact, the hospital I worked for prior to now gave me the choice to work there for two years and then I could take the test to become a licensed MT just through working the job and of course, as long as I passed the test. Several of the MLT's working there had already done so and passed.

I have recently been interested in getting into an MLT program, but after reading these blogs i am a bit torn. If MLT's and MT's do the same work yet MT's get paid substantially more then it seems pretty apparent which path to take. Is there a higher demand for one or the other?

Jasmyn,

There is a demand for both programs. It all depends on you. If you are looking for more money, then CLS or MT is the way to go. You also have better chance of landing a job with the MT degree. If you can not afford to take the MT 3+1 course, then the MLT program is a great beginning.

I have been in this field for 10 years, and still love my job. You will see a lot of posts bashing that MLT are nothing more than glorified Lab Assistants due to location, but some of the most knowledgeable people I met were MLT. You can learn a lot from the MLT course.

One difference I do see is that MT positions are generally the supervisor positions.

Helpful in Cleveland, Ohio said: No, you will not be as capable as a BS MT graduate, because MTs are specifically trained to perform high-complexity testing that MLT programs do not cover. This is not a dig against MLTs, it is simply a fact of the training.

I earned a BS in Microbiology, and then enrolled in 4+1 MT program at a hospital. Despite my graduate-level coursework in genetics, immunology, and virology, I found that the material and techniques in MT school to be both new and challenging.

For instance, how much training have you had in analyzing peripheral blood smears? Can you correlate WBC and RBC abnormalities with the symptoms and medical history of patients to determine their clinical significance? Can you rapidly distinguish between a basophil, a promyelocyte, a prolymphocyte with toxic granulation, and an erythroblast with basophilic stippling. Do you know which Chemistry tests would tell you the significance of each of those abnormal cells?

Now perhaps your program is very comprehensive, but here MLTs do not perform peripheral smear analysis.

That is Hematology 101.How can you learn Hematology without learning white cells and morphology.The book we used in Hematology was the same as theMT level.The clinicals were the same.The ASCP asks MLT the same questions they ask a MT.Majority of the BOR book is practice material for both and MLT and MT. Only a small portion is reserved for just MT.Whether your hospital allows MLT's to do diffs is preference not because they lack knowledge. MLT's programs teach you to correlate results to diseases.(case studies if you ever heard of them).I have read up to 50 or more diffs in a shift at work in the world renowned Texas Medical Center as a MLT.I would probably be hired before you and this is not because they can pay me less but because I have more experience reading diffs(normal and abnormal)because of the volume we get and diverse population we get here from around the world. contiun...

I'm also a generalist with blood bank experience. So what if a Mlt there cant read a diff. That's more work for you. Oh and I also know how to correlate Glucose and protein in a CSF to lab findings on a gram stain and cell count. Let's see what else can I do. We can all sit here and talk about what we know. What I do know for sure is that my diverse background and my experience will out trumph yours anyday. A MLT generalist is always more valuable than a MT who specializes in Hematology for 30yrs. Multitasking is in and sitting on your butt thinking your to good to do anything else because of your degree is out. I noticed that alot of older MT's hide behind their degree. It's because your intimidated and worried about losing your job because you were stupid enough to stay in one department you entire career. Who would you hire a 30yr MT who worked in micro 30yrs that is now applying for a hematology position or an MLT with hematology experience? Which one would be harder to train? The BS MT of course. You would probably have to re-teach hematology. Yeah a BS is always better than a AS but when you lose your skills to specialize in one area that BS isn't worth the paper it's written on. You still get the higher pay but you are basically useless in other departments.

Hi WVLAB,

I feel bad for you.... You're working your butt so hard with less pay (MLT). For those MT and MLS, be prepared for the new upcoming rules and regulations that will be talked about soon. In the overview, we have discussed across the board that MLT job descriptions will be changed. They will no longer do similar jobs like MT performs but rather it will be a combination of helping the lab assistant draw blood, processing, register patient etc... perform waived tests, run samples, load reagent etc.... MLT can only do waived and moderate tests but not allowed to verify any moderate test results. Moderate and high complexity tests are reviewed and verified results.

Don't you think this is a good news for you since you don't have to work you butt that much anymore.

MLS in Renton, Washington said: Hi WVLAB,

I feel bad for you.... You're working your butt so hard with less pay (MLT). For those MT and MLS, be prepared for the new upcoming rules and regulations that will be talked about soon. In the overview, we have discussed across the board that MLT job descriptions will be changed. They will no longer do similar jobs like MT performs but rather it will be a combination of helping the lab assistant draw blood, processing, register patient etc... perform waived tests, run samples, load reagent etc.... MLT can only do waived and moderate tests but not allowed to verify any moderate test results. Moderate and high complexity tests are reviewed and verified results.

Don't you think this is a good news for you since you don't have to work you butt that much anymore.

What i mean was, MTs are the only lab personnel that can review and verified moderate and high complexity tests.

MLS in Renton, Washington said: What i mean was, MTs are the only lab personnel that can review and verified moderate and high complexity tests.

Actually where I work there is no differentiation in pay because there is no differentiation in the work. New laws can be passed, but MLT's already working will be grandfathered in and their duties will not change. The lab does not have enough MT's or graduating MT's to be able to change the scope of practice of the MLT's already in the field. However the pay will change and you MT's that hate MLT's will hate us even more because a law that you are dying for will make us equal. The MLT's coming in after us yeah maybe they will be limited in their scope of practice but that doesn't apply to so many. I love my job and I do not work my butt off. Only lazy techs think it's to much work. Personally I like to be responsible for my own work. If you feel better sitting on your butt and only releasing results feel free. But what happens when you release results on a mislabeled specimen because you didn't load the instrument someone else did. Good luck with your pipe dream. It will never affect me or any MLT's already in the field. And I say this as a MLT who is the only tech working in Blood Bank today at a trauma center. (The MT is in hematology and our supervisor whom is a MLT is in Chemistry).Tommorrow it will be the Chemistry department, because that is what us generalists do move around. Let yall tell it I'm not qualified to do my job but yet here I am doing it. So let's see the MLT is doing types and screens, issuing blood, FFP, platelets etc. while the MT is in Hemo doing diffs. Which department do you think has the greatest impact on life? Wow I love this job because by just doing mine an MT feels threatened.

Ok I applied for the MLT program and didn't get accepted. I'm not sure why but i think it was because of my gpa. I had a 3.2 but after I made a c in 2 of my classes, they brought me down to a 2.7. I'm retaking them now and I have only intro chemistry and english 102 to take and I will be finished with all my general classes and electives as well as classes for the BSN program. I really don't know what to do. I don't know if I should take some of the classes over I made a "B" or what. It's only 2 other classes I made a "C" in and thats ENG101 and BIO202.I really want to get in this program. Can anyone give me some insight on this. I'm about to turn 26 years old, engaged, and have a 3 year old daughter. I just want to give her the life I never had.

Samantha in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said: I've read several posts on here about the "differences" between MT's and MLT's. I just wanted to add my opinion, and maybe some insight to those to aren't sure which path to take. I graduated from a state university with my Bachelor's in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. I am now attending an Associate 's MLT program at a community college in Pittsburgh, accreditted by NAACLS. I am fully aware that I must work as an MLT for 2 years in order to sit for an MT exam. However, I feel that I have received a comparable education to those who received a BS in Medical Technology..

Why in the world did you do that? I have a bachelor's of Biology and went straight into an MT program at UTSW. That seems weird to me, MLT's do almost the same things as MT's accept MT's have a bit more opportunity for advancement. Some hospitals won't even hire MLT's or they just put them in the same lot as client services. I don't get why you just went and spent a whole 2 years at MLT school when I only spent 19 months doing my MT...

And for the record, I learn a LOT from some of our grandfathered OJT techs, that have been around for years, they rock. And I also learn from MLT's that have been in the field for just a little longer than I have. I agree there gap is thinning on MT and MLT besides pay and a title.