Of course!! Thank you for watching 😊

Congratulations! MLS is the way to go! You'll have so much opportunity and flexibility throughout your career!! Microbiology is also a vibe for sure!!

You're welcome! It's definitely worth it. Once you have your certification, you'll have endless opportunities! Good luck!!

@@heathergosse Yes definitely! I love being a medical lab technologist!! It is a very rewarding career

@Heather Gosse I graduated in 2022 with associate degrees in Biology what college did you go to get MLT certification

​@@heathergosseHi dear is it good I'm going to do My Ms degree in molecular biology and biotechnology how do you think the scope ?

@@eyerusalemkebede2852 that sounds like a good plan to me! Good luck!!

That vending machine has probably taken at least $300 in the past 3 years from me 😆

Omg good luck and thank you!

Good luck to you!😃

Thank you!! Thats so exciting!! Good luck!

Woah, how'd you land that?

WOW, that would be a dream of mine. How did you find out about the job and land it ?!

Thank you! I'm glad you liked! Might have to make more!

Thank you! It's so organized haha

You're welcome! Yeah definitely get your MLS and then you'll have SO many options! Especially travel MLS. They make bank

Oh wow! That's so cool you're in Nigeria!! Thanks for watching!

I also got accepted in the fall! Just finished my first year in the program. I absolutely love it! How is it going for you?

So far so good . I will be taking Urinalysis and Body Fluids this summer . It also depends on the right professor as well because some of them are crazy . But overall it's a good profession .

Thank you, note taken 😊

Oh that's so interesting. Good luck!

Thank you!! 😊

@@heathergosse you're welcome

Ekkk good luck!!! 🍀😊

@@heathergosse thank you❤️

Hey thank you for your support! I actually switched jobs but will soon be putting out some Embryology content!

Embryology! That’s an interesting field. Go Girl!❤

I would but I actually don't have my MLS. I'm a fraud I know 🥴 I just have a BS in biology and a MS in plant pathology but you don't need a masters to work my position. The hospital I work at has been in need or workers so they dropped the MLS certification requirement for new hires. It depends on the state for this. I'm in Minnesota, currently looking at jobs in other states and most states require MLS so I'm lowkey SOL to be a lab tech in most places. However I'm looking at different career paths so it's fine. Like private biotechnology companies will hire you without a MLS.

@@heathergosse thanks for letting me know! The program at my school is an associates degree for MLT but you can then get a BS after that. I'm in Texas so I'll do more research on that.

@@holli88 Oh I didn't you you can get an associate MLT. That's nice but yeah I recommend getting a BS MLT/MLS because then you get paid more!

@@heathergosse she may mean Medical Laboratory Technician instead of Technologist. At my school, Technologist is Bachelors Technician is Associates

did you end up pursuing MLS, im in this exact same position

After you get your MLS, do travel MLS if you can!! Lots of money, travel, flexibility! Look up the company Aya Healthcare for that.

It depends on the lab but usually work is divided out amongst everyone to work together to get tasks completed.

Our microscopes are pretty ergonomic along with our chairs. I feel you though, I've always had neck and back pain so I go to the chiropractor. It helps a lot!

You're welcome!!

Hello! So I have a set schedule. I work Monday-Thursday 3pm-1:30am and then have to work a weekend shift every 6 weeks, however if I can get someone to take that shift, we are allowed to do give it up. My shift is awesome since I get 3 day weekends. I know some other labs in my area have like a Wed-Sat shift or Tues-Fri. It just depends on the lab. Also, during covid, I switched labs to help with covid testing and had the absolute worst schedule, which was Fri-Tues 11pm-7:30am lol thank god I only had to do that for 3 months. But yeah, shitty shifts are out there but it just depends on the lab!

Unfortunately, anything in the medical field, you're more than likely gonna get screwed on your schedule. Every time I've had a "set schedule" I've been asked to work OT or cover when people call out, take vacation, etc. It was fine when I was single, but after I had kids and started a family I had to get out. When covid hit, I was a supervisor who was supposed to only work 7am-3:30 Monday thru Friday and ended up working every evening/night and every weekend. Medical staff is short everywhere so just be prepared for that

I work dayshift from 6am to 2:30 pm.. Some days I go in at 5:30 am to 2pm.. It depends on who you are working for.. I work at a hospital..I forgot to mention that I also work every other weekend. I get one day off during the week. Thankfully my manager does not have us to cover someone's shift if it's our day off. She also doesn't ask us to work overtime. She only expects us to complete our work before we leave for the day. It is true there is a shortage in med techs.. Alot of it has to do with people not knowing about this field.. most people have never even heard of a medical lab technologist because it isn't advertised as much.

Oh nicee! Good choice! There's so many job opportunities once you have your certification 🤞

Hi. Could please share some information about the 16 months program? I really need to research on it. Thank you

The entry position for MLS is specimen processing specialist. You prep the samples for the technicians and scientists.

I’m currently a phlebotomist straight outta hs and been at my hospital job for about 6 months once I hit a year I’m gonna start going back for MLT. I definitely think phlebotomy is a good step and you’ll have to learn to stick during mlt school as well so might as well do it now haha

@@keraevans1874 thanks so much for your insight! I’ve definitely been considering it. I just get so anxious being up close and personal with people which is why I wanted to work in the lab away from people, haha.

@@luciem4562 thanks for taking the time to answer! I’m going to look for some jobs like that in my area.

@@andrialex1 Choose a hospital near your house, go to their careers section and search the lab positions for specimen processing specialist jobs. The pay should be around 20$/hour and you just need a high school diploma.

There's definitely opportunities. The lab I work in has a development technologist position who does research within the lab. Otherwise within the hospital I work at, there's whole research labs so it would be a matter of connecting with them and applying to an open position. I would assume most hospitals have some kind of research lab but it definitely depends how big they are.

@@heathergosse understood! Thank you so much for the response. I greatly appreciate it and look forward to starting the program 😀

@@alexanderfisher8241 for sure! Yeah with an MLS, you really have so many options available to you! Its a great, career path. Plus you can do non profit or for profit biotech and get paid a lot more 💰💸🤑 and move to essentially any city!!

@@heathergosse great! I wasn’t aware of that. I look online, MLS jobs, clinical research, etc. and nothing shows but when I watch these kinds of videos, there’s so much that isn’t online. Huge thanks again!!!

Heyy! So this was my first job post college. I got my BS in biology and masters in plant pathology (but this job does not require a masters). I don't have my MLS/MLT certification but getting it will help you out a lot depending on what state you're in, it's required. Differences in technician and technologist: technician is just a 2 year degree and yeah probably more paperwork/gruntwork. Technologist is 4 year degree and would be more analyzing but still grunt work depending what lab you're in. I actually switched jobs. I am an embryologist now. Look into that. At my new job we do everything: paperwork, gruntwork, and also analyzing. I will eventually learn ISCI to do IVF. Either way, MLT/MLS is a good career route. It's like nursing as there is a high demand = high pay. Good luck!

@@heathergosse Awesome, thank you so much for the insight! I have a fairly decent job right now, so perhaps it would be more beneficial for me to complete my bachelor's in Microbiology, then go for Technologist Licensing training or Microbiologist position. Guess I need to do some planning haha. Hope your career in Embryology serves you great! It seems like a fascinating job

Of course! Good luck 😊

Ohh congratulations! My title was just Clinical Laboratory Technologist in the FISH lab! It's a broad title

can i become a MLT with a Chemistry, BS major?

I wanted to ask: Why didn't you go for a 1-year MLS Certification Program? With a bachelors degree, starting as a MLT -> MLS route seems longer and more expensive. I also have a science bachelors degree, and I just started doing a career change towards becoming a MLS!

@@vp926 what program did you do?

@@vp926 because the MLS certification wasn't required for that job at the time. I don't have my MLS.

Nicee! I moved jobs now! I work in an embryology lab! Highly recommend 💕

Interesting . Thanks for the tip !

Thanks! So my hospital actually dropped the MLS certification requirement because they desperately needed workers lol so I don't have my MLS. I have a masters but it's not required. You can def find a job with just a science BS but it's 100x easier if you have your MLS. I'm actually currently looking at other jobs out of state and a lot of jobs require MLS 🙃

@@heathergosse Would you mind me asking where are you living right now? Because there's a lot of vacancies here in Cincinnati.

@@Tessoh897 I'm in Rochester, MN!

@@heathergosse but you’re able to test out to get an MLS right?

Really?! What do you do as a generalist tech?? I'm so curious now. But yeah, my job is pretty specific to just FISH. Other cytogenetics lab techs in smaller labs are more involved throughout the whole process from accessioning to analysis.

@@heathergosse I am based in PNW and I routinely do Blood banking, hematology, microbiology, chemistry and Urinalysis. Its like I wanna try switching our work environment for a month or so cuz im burned out. Planning to be a traveller tech soon

@@charlesbagao8648 what?! That seems like so much work. At my hospital, we have a specific lab for each of those. Dang, sorry to bear your burnt out. I don't blame you. Good luck with travel tech!!

@@heathergosse I thinks thats the norm of a Generalist tech running 3 benches per shift. Traveling seems promising! I have worked with different people from other states like georgia and alaska and they became great friends to me. Ur pretty chill in life! Ur ARUBA trip was a blast 💥

@@charlesbagao8648 dang I never realized that. Thank you!! Maybe you can get a travel tech position in Aruba hehe 😆 but good luck on your endeavors! Traveling tech sounds like a vibe!!

Thanks!!!

@@heathergosse how stressful is this occupation, 1-10, 10 being the most stressful? I like that you’re not doing one single thing all day like a robot 🤖

@@JAY3S1N 2/10 on the stress scale but 6-8/10 on the burnout scale. In terms of stress, my lab is more about quality over quantity so we are encouraged to be diligent and if that means taking more time a on case then that's okay. Someone is always there to answer questions too. HOWEVER, unlike other labs, our lab is always behind because cancer is popular lol. So sometimes I'll work all day on a tough case, finally finish it and feel accomplished, but then there's always another case on the shelf to pick up. Other labs run where they have a set amount of work each day and when it's completed, the workers can take it easy. My lab, there's ALWAYS work so that's why I feel burnout along with the 10 hour days. I'm usually over work by 11:30, 12. And Thursday's are real slow haha. I wish I could just work 30 hours a week tbh. I'm definitely for a 30 hour work week. But yes, the days I do wash like I showed in the video, I don't feel like a robot as much, but I do feel like a robot somedays when I only am on the microscope. I think you are going to see that in a lot of lab jobs unless it's a super small lab where you're doing a lot of different tests and whatnot. But okay, thanks for coming to my ted talk. Hope this helps!

@@heathergosse your ted talk is super necessary. I hope it’s more than just a part one if I’m being quite honest lol. I’m the type of person that likes to get into the details of things you know? Bc it’s going to be part of my life. So everything you have mentioned is super appreciated. I asked about stress bc well you know stress takes a toll on the mental and physical being, and I want to be able to do this for a good period of time. Plus there’s definitely always something to learn in this field, hence the reason why I’m looking to move into a more of a “generalist” route. Is the lab staff pretty cool or are they normally conservative and you don’t have too much interaction with one another?

@@heathergosse oh yeah and 4x10 doesn’t seem too too bad. I used to work 4-5 12 hr shifts per week on average lol. Plus I hear some states are trying to amend a law where 32 hours is considered full time. Quite interesting.

Hi. I actually do not have my MLT/MLS certification. I just have a BS and MS in biology. But some of my coworkers got their certification through the MLS program at North Dakota State University and Mayo Clinic MLS program. Not every school has a MLS program but I am sure there are some in each state.

It's from Columbia, I got it from one of their outlet stores.

You'll get breaks with whatever job you get. Nursing is super hard and I've heard they're all overworked plus dealing with patients is not always fun. If you go that route look into OR Nursing. MLS is great. But whatever you decide there will be options for both

@@heathergosse I’ve applied for nursing and MLT through community college. Is community college good for MLT? I was also gonna do that already, it was my first choice but I’m bad at math. I’ve heard they have hard math classes like chem.

You don’t need a masters to do MLT/MLS unless you want to be a lab supervisor which in that case in most labs, you need a PhD. I think any human medicine related PhD would be fine.

What!??! I can't tell if you are serious or not 😂

@@yaminisharma1231 I'm sorry I thought you were trolling me. I'm not a doctor but I know soap is good enough for after you use the bathroom. Since you have OCD, could you get toilet paper to help with it?? Or do you have a buday? Budays are not common in the US but i know they work wonders for cleanliness. Apologies, didn't mean to be rude earlier!!

@@heathergosse alright , that's completely fine. No issue. I kind of watched many videos regarding 20 secs hand washing protocol. So i was wondering that works for e coli and not just COVID viruses. Thank you for ur time and reply.

Not that you should take a complete internet stranger's advice on your career path, BUT I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN about the MLS certification aka Medical Laboratory Science certification. Some schools offer it as a BS, so after 4 years, you're graduated with a BS and MLS. Other programs are separate, so you'd have to get your biotechnology (or any hard science major as long as you get all the pre-reqs in) BS degree, and then a separate MLS certification which is usually 1 year. Depending on the school, there's programs/paths you can take to go that way. I "only" have a BS and MS. Luckily my first lab tech job I found didn't require an MLS certification (it depends on the state, I was in Minnesota), but most states require an MLS for you to work in a lab. There's loopholes around it but again, if I would have known about the MLS program when I was your age, I would have done that track. Because, idk about you, but I LOVE to travel. You can be a travel MLS and make BANK, take short assignments, travel the country and live it up!! But to answer your question, get a Biotech degree AND an MLS!! Good luck :)

So there's a difference between technician and technologist. Technician is an associates degree and technologist is bachelor's. I'm a technologist and my starting pay was like ~$27/hour. I work evenings so get shift differential with raises every year. I just hit my 3rd year mark and make ~$32/hour. Saying that, my work pays high to keep people here working (I work at Mayo Clinic) and I'm in Minnesota which also pays higher than national average. I can't speak for how much Technicians start at but if I had to guess I'd say like $18-22 but I've also seen technologist jobs in like Alabama pay that which I think is bullshit.

@@heathergosse I get 33$/hour + 2.25$ swing shift differential as an MLS with zero experience, straight out of school. This is in Oregon.

I can, yes because we are always behind on work and overtime has been on since covid. So we can stay later or come in on the weekends whenever works for our schedule.

My starting salary at this job was $55k, after working for 3 years, with annual raises and working overtime, my ending salary was about $68k. I started at about $26 per hour and ended at about $30-32 per our. Overtime pay kinda makes it more confusing. But with this specific job, the cap pay was about $45/hour depending on how long you work there

Hey! Yeah, I actually have a really nice schedule. I work Mon-Thurs 3pm-1:30, so 4 10 hour shifts. I always have Fri, Sat and Sun off but do have to work one weekend every 6 weeks. Then would have mon and tues off for my days off. But yeah, my company has great PTO and we are allowed to roll it over into the next year. I earn 8 hours of PTO every pay period. Over covid I built that up and always have around 100 hours aka 10 work days for me. It's super easy for me to take a Thursday off for a long weekend, only using 10 hours of PTO. It definitely depends on the hospital but I feel like a lot of bigger hospitals have generous PTO options that make it easy for travel. I work at Mayo Clinic btw, if you can get in there, you're set!

@@heathergosse so as a traveler you get PTO? Also, once you finish an assignment can’t you take a couple weeks off before accepting another assignment?

@@BishimDeja I would assume you'd get some kind of PTO as a travel MLS but I'm sure it depends what company you're with. But yes you're right. You could do an assignment for 13 weeks (that's the average time frame I'm seeing), make you're money and take a time off between assignments.

@@heathergosse thanks Heather!

Depends on the state. I started at about $58k but was in Minnesota. States like Alabama might only pay about $19-23/hour which is around $40-45k. Just avoid California and the southern states and you’ll be good 😆

Assuming you’re in the US. Outside the Us I have absolutely no idea on the pay range

I think radiologist tech is a separate program. But I think that's just a 2 year degree. If you have a 4 year degree plus a MLS certification, I think you could get hired on as a radiologist tech. Saying that, the pay might not be as good but I am not exactly sure.

@@heathergosse thank you for the details, but how can i register or to have a MLS certification?

@@heathergosse what is the web for the registration to have a certification just to know, im planning to work in europe as a medical imaging technologist

@@Rain-cr2ef I'm not exactly sure. I think you have to do the full program and then the certification after? If just Google as MLS program and inquire to see if you can take the test online

@@heathergosse thank you so much

Yes it is! With an MLS certification you'll always have the upper hand with jobs. There's lots of opportunities :)

Go to Mayo Clinic’s career page and apply

@@heathergosse thanks and do you have LinkedIn ID ?

@@o.t.b.p. yeah it’s just my name

@@heathergosse I sent you connection request, please accept.

It's a fluorescence microscope. Uses lasers. Maybe it's not quite $250k but I know it's super expensive.

$65k UDS/year :) My job was in Minnesota, USA but I have since moved jobs and locations.

Not my lab but I’m sure there’s one somewhere that does !

If I makes you feel better, I have anxiety lol 🥲

@@heathergosse I also have anxiety. I'm struggling to get good grades and I'm in the second semester of my second year. It's tough

@@Hey.405 I promise you it gets better after graduation. School was the worst for me. Test anxiety was awful but I promise you getting a job and making that money and living life without having to study is sooooo worth it 😊 keep on keeping on!!

@@heathergosse thank you pretty

You should read it!! It had a HUGE twist at the end!! It's not too scary at all, you should read it for sure!!

@@heathergosse Thanks 💜, but do you have any other recommendations for books?

Hey I just make youtube videos about my job, I'm not a sponsor. Good look in your endeavors (: