Medical technologists (a.k.a. clinical laboratory scientists) are board-certified, licensed professionals who analyze clinical samples (body fluids, specimens, infectious agents), usually in a hospital or clinical laboratory. Doctors rely on this work, as 75% of medical diagnoses are made based on clinical lab tests performed by medical technologists.
What Will I Learn?
Major-specific courses in biology, microbiology, genetics, chemistry and immunology combined with general education courses in humanities and social sciences will get you ready for your fourth year of clinical training in a hospital or approved medical center.
What is Unique About Our Program?
You will acquire critical clinical laboratory skills as part of your senior year internship, leading to immediate employment at a highly competitive salary upon graduation.
Graduates from SUNY Plattsburgh are, in addition, licensure-qualifying in New York State, further boosting their recruitment. As many medical technologists in the workforce today are reaching retirement age, job prospects are excellent.
Most medical technologists work in clinical hospital laboratories. Work opportunities can also be found in industry, public health departments, clinical equipment sales, private diagnostic laboratories, research institutes, and higher education institutions.
Career Advancement
Although there is no requirement for an advanced degree beyond the 4 year bachelor’s degree, many opportunities for advancement exist. Medical technologists can qualify to be certified as specialists in one or more laboratory disciplines, such as blood banking, microbiology or hematology or earn an advanced degree (master’s) in their field, or in laboratory management. Others avail themselves of opportunities to apply to medical school or graduate school after several years of clinical laboratory work.
Our students’ undergraduate research projects have resulted in numerous student publications, research grants and presentations at national and international conferences. We actively engage our students in research through participation in faculty-mentored research projects (BIO 495).
Expected January, August 2025
School of Arts and Sciences
101 Ward Hall, 101 Broad Street,
PLATTSBURGH,
New York,
12901, United States
Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma.
Minimum English proficiency requirements for admission through the English Bridge Program:
TOEFL paper: >490
TOEFL internet: >57
IELTS Academic: >5.5
ELS: >110
British 'O' Level English Pass: >E
PTE (Pearson Test of English): >45
Freshmen are encouraged to submit their applications for the fall semester by Dec. 1 and spring semester applicants by Nov. 1.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.