Medical Laboratory Technology Courses

Last Updated on July 28, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar

Do you want to become a Medical Lab Technician? Want to pursue a job oriented course after 12th, which is related to the field of medical science? If yes, Medical Laboratory Technology course will be of help to you. This article is all about MLT courses available in India. Article covers topics such as course details, eligibility criteria, admission process, pg courses and career prospects.

Medical Laboratory Technologist or Technicians are allied healthcare professionals. Their main task is diagnosis of disease in patients referred to them by Doctors.

Do you know how a Doctor treats his/her patients? The treatment process starts with observation of symptoms in patients and diagnosis of the disease. It is after diagnosis that a Doctor arrives upon a conclusion and prescribes medicine/surgery or whatever the best solution is.

Diagnosis of the disease is the stage when MLT professionals come into play! In many cases, Doctors refer the patients to medical labs so that they may get tested and correct diagnosis can be made. MLT professionals, by testing samples of urine, blood, stool or other body tissues, makes the correct diagnosis and sends the report back to the Doctor.

At first, the role of a medical lab technician might seem simple and small. On looking closer, one will be able to realize how they play a crucial role in the treatment of patients. A correct diagnosis is the first step that will lead patients towards effective treatment. So, the task of medical lab technicians is very much important.

 

To become a medical laboratory technologist or technician in India, one must study professional courses related to the field of Medical Laboratory Technology. It can be said to be a paramedical course. The course trains students in aspects such as learning about various diseases, their detection and diagnosis. Techniques such as operating electronic and electrical lab equipment, patient record keeping and progress monitoring are also taught in this course. Let us check out course details in the next section-

 

MLT Courses

In India, Medical Laboratory Technology courses are available in 3 main formats, when it comes to undergraduate level. They are-

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Diploma
• Certificate

 

If you want to become a ‘Technologist’, going for Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma programs will be of use. If you want to become a ‘Technician’ and get entry level jobs, short term Diploma and Certificate courses will be help to you.

 

Let us take a closer look at each course format and find out vital details about them-

 

1 Bachelor’s Degree courses

Bachelor’s Degree MLT courses are nothing but different variants of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) courses related to the field of laboratory technology. The most popular courses in this format are-

• B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Technology (B.Sc. MLT)
• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology

 

The above mentioned courses focus well on the topic of MLT. Both are more or less the same courses. Just names are slightly different. If you are interested in slightly generalized version of MLT course, the below courses will also be of help to you-

• B.Sc. Medical Imaging Technology
• B.Sc. Clinical Laboratory Technology
• B.Sc. X-Ray Technology
• B.Sc. ECG and Cardiovascular Technology

 

Though the above mentioned courses are slightly different from the traditional MLT course, they could still help you become a lab technologist or technician. This is because of the fact that diagnosis and detection of diseases is involved in the above mentioned courses also.

 

Duration: When it comes to Bachelor’s Degree courses, course duration is 3 years. Academic program is a mixture of classroom lectures and laboratory practical sessions.

 

Eligibility criteria: Most institutes have “10+2 passed with science stream subjects (with Biology subject) from a recognized board” as the minimum educational qualification required. Minimum marks criteria may exist in case of some institutes. If that criteria exists, it is generally around 50% aggregate marks.

 

Admission process: Depends on the institute. It could be merit based admission process or direct admission process. If merit based admission is followed in an institute, marks scored by a candidate in board exam and/or relevant entrance test will be taken into consideration.

 

PG courses and further studies: To become a ‘technologist’, going for advanced courses after graduation will be of use! MLT graduates have a handful of PG courses to choose from. They include- M.Sc. Medical Laboratory Technology, Master of Medical Laboratory Technology, M.Sc. in Medical Imaging Technology, M.Sc. X-Ray Technology and M.Sc. ECG and CVT.

 

Other than the Master’s Degree courses mentioned above, graduates may also go for PG Diploma as well as PG Certificate courses related to the field of MLT. PG courses can be pursued to specialize in disciplines within the field of medical technology. Some such well known areas of specialization includes- cytotechnology, immunology, microbiology, immunohematology, phlebotomy, histotechnology and forensic science.

 

2 Diploma courses

When it comes to Diploma courses related to the field of MLT, both ‘Technology’ and ‘Technician’ level courses are available. Let us check out some of the well known Diploma MLT courses-

• Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology
• Diploma in Radiography Technology
• Diploma in ECG Technology
• Diploma in CVT Technician
• Diploma in Medical Imaging Technology
• Diploma in Clinical Analysis
• Diploma in Medical Laboratory Assistance

 

Duration: A standard Diploma course is 2 years long. Some institutes offering technician training courses are known to offer 1 year long course.

 

Eligibility criteria: Most institutes have “10+2 passed with science stream subjects from a recognized board” as the minimum educational qualification required. Some institutes offering technician training course are known to have 10th passed as the minimum qualification required. Minimum marks criteria may exist in case of some institutes. If that criteria exists, it is generally around 50% aggregate marks.

 

Admission process: Depends on the institute. It could be merit based admission process or direct admission process.

 

PG courses and further studies: Valid Diploma certificate holders may pursue relevant B.Sc. courses (related to the field of MLT). Thereafter, they may go for further advanced courses like M.Sc., PG Diploma and PG Certificate courses.

 

3 Certificate courses

Certificate courses are not as valuable as its Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma counterparts. Certificate courses offer technician level training and education. Such courses can be used to obtain entry level technician job posts.

 

Duration: Depending upon the institute, course duration could be anywhere between 6 months- 1 year.

 

Admission process: Depends on the institute. It could be merit based admission process or direct admission process.

 

Eligibility criteria: Since this is technician level course, 10th passed is the minimum educational qualification required, to secure admission.

 

Career prospects and job opportunities

Depending upon one’s training and qualification, MLT professionals may work as technologists or technicians at medical laboratories. One may start off by working as technician. After gaining work experience, one may rise through the posts and even become lab manager!

 

Also read:

Nursing courses

Operation Theatre Technology courses

Anaesthesia Technology courses

Paramedical courses in India

Optometry courses

Dialysis Technology courses

Radiography courses

 

Some of the common job profiles available in front of graduates include-

• Lab technician
• Lab technologist
• Lab supervisor
• Lab manager
• Lab assistant
• Instructor/Tutor
• Lab analyst

 

Medical labs are where MLT professionals can be seen in action. Government hospitals, private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes having medical labs are known to recruit medical technicians. Independent commercial medical labs and pathological labs are also known to recruit MLT professionals.

 

Salary

Medical laboratory technicians may earn around 8-10k Rupees per month, when starting off. Starting salary depends on numerous factors such as job profile, profile of the employer, skills of employee, employee qualification and job location. In case of Government job, the salary will depend on grade of the employee and the pay band meant for that particular grade.