Master's degree in medical technology

Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum. I was just accepted into a Master's Program for medical technology this past week. My program offers several tracks: microbiology, chemistry, hematology, genetics, immunology, computer science, management, and education. I was wondering what advantages a Master's degree offers over that of a Bachelors as well as which specialty has the most earning potential and career advancement. Thank you in advance for your replies. I look forward to hearing from you all and contributing to this forum. Hope all you mom's out there had a great Mother's day and that everyone else had a fantastic weekend:)

Masters only helps you get into a supervisor or lab manager position. All specialties basically pay the same. With that said, I suggest taking the management track. Your program will already allow you to be a generalist, and that management training will definitely give you an advantage in getting a supervisor position.

Hey there CLS48,

Thanks for the input! It is very appreciated. Any other advice is always appreciated:)

What are you interested in? Management/supervisor positions may pay a little more, but do you want to be a paper-pusher, sit in meetings, make phone calls and deal with personnel problems all day long. I personally like hands-on lab work better, and for me the extra pay is not worth the headache of being a supervisor. If I was in your shoes, I would choose the genetics track of the program, and look for a gentics tech job (for example at a fertility clinic)after graduation. Just my two cents...

Thanks KM,

I appreciate the reply. I am getting somewhat of a late start into the field. I already hold a M.A. in School Psychology and recently decided to drop out of a Ph.D program in that field to pursue a graduate degree in medical technology. My wife and I recently had our first child, bought our first house, and subsequently have bills to pay. With that being said, earning potential is very important for me at this point, have to start putting away for that college fund right. Anyway, in terms of interests, both genetics and immunology are appealing. I also have no adverse feelings toward management.

Dana is there not a one year certification course out there? Since you already have your BS and MA you just need to find a one year certification course and you can sit for your MLS ASCP.

Texas Tech has a online program if you already have your BS in Biology or other science related fields. Everything is online except the last few months of preceptorship.

I posted the link on another thread here, you should check it out.
Once your in the field, I would hold off till the DCLS programs starts to open up, then you can open your own lab, be director, and skies the limit in earning potential.

Dana Horn in Hattiesburg, Mississippi said: Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum. I was just accepted into a Master's Program for medical technology this past week. My program offers several tracks: microbiology, chemistry, hematology, genetics, immunology, computer science, management, and education. I was wondering what advantages a Master's degree offers over that of a Bachelors as well as which specialty has the most earning potential and career advancement. Thank you in advance for your replies. I look forward to hearing from you all and contributing to this forum. Hope all you mom's out there had a great Mother's day and that everyone else had a fantastic weekend:)

Dana you wonderful job doing masters ,... You can qualify for any upper level position laboratory .... I am interested for MS too ... Which College you going to ... can you email me back rafid786@gmail.com.
Good luck ,, bye

Todd MT (ASCP) in San Antonio, Texas said: Dana is there not a one year certification course out there? Since you already have your BS and MA you just need to find a one year certification course and you can sit for your MLS ASCP.

Texas Tech has a online program if you already have your BS in Biology or other science related fields. Everything is online except the last few months of preceptorship.

I posted the link on another thread here, you should check it out.
Once your in the field, I would hold off till the DCLS programs starts to open up, then you can open your own lab, be director, and skies the limit in earning potential.

Hey Todd,

Thanks for the reply. I couldn't find the certification program on the texas tech website. Do you know the link? Or the link to your thread would be fine. I was wondering about a certificate program. I'm not sure if I would qualify though due to my undergrad and master's degrees being in psychology. Also, do you know if master's level med techs could eventually qualify for lab director positions, or do you need a doctorate for that? Thanks again!

Dana that might be a problem because I believe the requirements are a BS in Biology anything science related.
www.ttuhsc.edu/sah/cls/default_2nd_degree_postbac.aspx

The Second Degree and Post Baccalaureate Certificate programs in clinical laboratory science are 12-month online programs for students who have completed a four-year science degree from an accredited university. Didactic material is delivered online and a six-day laboratory session is conducted on-site at the end of each of the first two semesters. The students will also be required to complete a clinical preceptorship in an affiliated laboratory. Candidates must have an overall 2.5 GPA based on a 4.0 scale and a 2.5 science GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students who complete requirements for the certificate are eligible to sit for the national certification examination through the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry and National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel.

Thanks for the replies so far all:) I actually just accepted the graduate offer today from USM. It comes with an assistantship offer for $7000.00 and full tuition remission. I'm excited. Longer than a certificate program but its free. 1 yr coursework, 1 1yr practicum, and 6 mo clinical rotation at a hospital.

Go for it, it's free and u get a masters.

Dana...Good for you ..anyone knows if there is a graduate program here in dallas TX that offers assitantship and tuition remission...

marie in Frisco, Texas said: Dana...Good for you ..anyone knows if there is a graduate program here in dallas TX that offers assitantship and tuition remission...

Hey Marie,

If you know of a few programs that you're already interested in, I would just give them a call. A lot of times that information isn't posted on their website, or its hard to find. I would just call and talk to the secretary at whichever university's medical technology department and ask them directly. I think that would be the quickest way to find out! Also, if you do find one that offers this, its best to make yourself look like the best applicant out there (I know you will already be trying to accomplish this when you apply). Sometimes this is reflected by motivation! Before I was accepted I went directly to the chair of the department and expressed my interest in the program and the assistantship. It worked for me. I wish you the best and good luck. I will look online also and see if I can find any other useful information for ya:)

Dana, Thanks for your input...I will call few medical universities and check...let me know if you come across any too.. i Have a MS IN CHEMISTRY ....

Dana Horn in Hattiesburg, Mississippi said: Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum. I was just accepted into a Master's Program for medical technology this past week. My program offers several tracks: microbiology, chemistry, hematology, genetics, immunology, computer science, management, and education. I was wondering what advantages a Master's degree offers over that of a Bachelors as well as which specialty has the most earning potential and career advancement. Thank you in advance for your replies. I look forward to hearing from you all and contributing to this forum. Hope all you mom's out there had a great Mother's day and that everyone else had a fantastic weekend:)

Hi! I got my BS in Medical Technology, i know that not many school out there offer MS for Medical Tech, i wonder which school did u enroll for?