Wallace State trains important background workers in medical field

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — If you were to describe clinical laboratory technicians in theatrical terms, you might refer to them as the background actors of the medical field.  They play an important role, the public rarely sees them, but the quality of care wouldn’t be the same without them.
Wallace State’s Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT) programs trains these essential cast members who help guide patient care by performing the tests ordered by physicians and interpreting the results. Their efforts help the physician decide on the course of treatment for their patient.
Demand for clinical laboratory technicians is expect to grow by 22 percent between 2012 and 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). An aging population and federal health regulations that give more people access to medical care will increase the need for diagnosis of medical conditions, and BLS states.
Wallace State’s Clinical Laboratory Technician program is ready to help meet those demands. Applications are currently being accepted for entry into the program for the Fall 2015 semester. The deadline for applications is June 30. Applications can be found at www.wallacestate.edu. Click on Programs link and navigate to the Health Division and then the Clinical Laboratory Technician program.
The CLT program can be completed in five semesters for an Associate in Applied Science. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
The annual mean wage in Alabama for medical and clinical laboratory technicians as of May 2014 was $35,600, according to BLS data, with the lowest 10 percent making more than $21,700 and the highest 10 percent making $52,320. The median annual salary nationwide as of May 2012 was $37,420.
For more information about the Wallace State Clinical Laboratory Technician program, contact program director Julie Welch at 256.352.8347 or julie.welch@wallacestate.edu.