Technologists and Technicians
Technologists and technicians have a technical role in diagnosing or treating disease. They work in a variety of settings. Examples of technologists and technicians include:
- Laboratory Technologists help providers diagnose and treat disease by analyzing body fluids and cells. They look for bacteria or parasites, analyze chemicals, match blood for transfusions, or test for drug levels in the blood to see how a patient is responding to treatment. Most lab tech positions require a 4-year bachelors’ degree and some states require a license.
- Radiology Technologists, also called radiographers, help providers diagnose and treat disease by taking x-rays. For some procedures technologists make a solution that patients drink to help soft body tissues can be seen. Radiology technologists are can specialize in computed tomography (CT scans), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI’s) or mammography. Most radiology technologists complete a 2-year an associate degree, but some have a 4-year bachelor’s degree or a certificate, which takes 21-24 months. Licensing requirements vary by state.
- Pharmacy Technicians help pharmacists prepare prescription medications. They also provide customer service and perform administrative duties such as take prescription requests, count pills, label bottles and prepare insurance forms. There are no standard training requirements for pharmacy technicians, but some States require a high school diploma or its equivalent. Some pharmacy technicians are trained on-the-job and others complete a certificate, which takes 6 months to 2 years. Licensing is not required, but in most states, pharmacy technicians must register with the state board of pharmacy.
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