You don’t have to be a doctor to work in the medical field. Many hospitals and other medical organizations are in need of support staff, including medical lab technicians. With this job, you can work in a fast-paced, interesting environment, but you don’t have to go to school for ten years! In fact, you can get a job working as a medical lab technician with one to four years of training.

As a medical lab technician, you’ll be as responsible for a patient’s care as a doctor, but without actually dealing with patients in most cases. Instead, you’ll work to present lab results to doctors, who will make judgment calls based on each patient. Your exact duties will depend on the type of medical laboratory where you work – Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Biochemistry, Hematology, or Genetics. In most hospitals and clinics, the microbiology lab is the largest, encompassing bacteriology, virology, parasitology, immunology, and mycology labs. In a lab setting, you’ll use equipment to study tissue, blood, and other samples from patients to help diagnose diseases, create cures, and otherwise study the human body. Every day is different as a medical lab technician.

Training as a medical lab technician starts with relevant classes in high school, including high levels of math, science, and computer information technology. Following high school, look for an accredited medical lab technician associate’s degree program. Alternatively, there are four-year degree programs for those who want advanced training. After school, you’ll need to take one of the national certification tests, administered by the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel, or the American Medical Technologists.

As of 2006, there were 95,000 medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the United States. From 2006 to 2016, medial lab technician job demand is expected to grow by about 9%, which is about average when compared to other careers in the US. You won’t get rich quick with this career choice, as median hourly wage is just around $17, but if you stick with your career choice and advance in the field, you could make more than $27 per hour.

Although most medical lab technicians work at hospitals, there are other places where you can find a job as well, including research facilities, crime laboratories, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and biomed companies. You can even pursue a career as a medical lab technician in the military, and if you enjoy working with animals, you can switch you focus and work as a veterinary lab technician instead of working with humans.

Working in a medical laboratory requires a high level of responsibility, manual dexterity, and the ability to work well under pressure. In this career field, however, you really can make a difference in people’s lives, even if you’re not interested in becoming a doctor. Check out medical lab technician programs at schools online or in your area today to learn more about this career path.