Definition

• Medical technicians are trained medical professionals who are authorized to perform basic medical tests and procedures. They usually provide the test results and medical images that doctors and nurses use to diagnose and treat patients. They may operate and monitor sophisticated equipment as part of their duties--in fact, some medical technicians, such as ultrasound technicians, focus on specific types of medical equipment. Medical technicians may assist the doctor or nurse physically in basic treatments or provide the first line of medical service to a patient, depending on their area of specialty.
  
  

Types

• The term medical technician encompasses more than one field, although all medical technicians end up providing support for doctors and nurses in some way. Medical technicians may include but are not limited to emergency medical technicians, cardiovascular technicians, radiology and ultrasound technicians, surgical technicians and clinical laboratory technicians.
  
  

Education

• As shown by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, medical technicians usually need a high school diploma. Most technicians may begin work once they complete an associate's degree, but a bachelor's degree is required for some positions. All medical technicians take classes such as biology, basic life support or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, anatomy, chemistry and medical terminology. Certification via exam is required by many states for the majority of medical technician fields, but each field has its own certification body.
  
  

Skills

• Medical technicians should be detail-oriented and be able to problem solve well, according to the BLS. They also should be well-organized and communicate proficiently in written and oral forms. Computer skills are a must, especially in medical technician fields that require specialized technological equipment.
  
  

Work Environment

• Medical technicians, like nurses and doctors, usually work in well-lit, well-ventilated hospitals and clinics. They work predictable but demanding hours. Medical technicians may face hazards from chemicals and contact with bodily fluids or tissues that contain disease.
  
  

Wage And Job Outlook

• Wages for medical technicians vary based on specialty, but the BLS indicates that medical technicians can expect a salary of $35,380 based on 2008 data. However, medical technician professions are expected to grow 14 percent from 2008 through 2018.