Court reporters, Quality Control lab technicians (employers, job, career, pay)

[bluebelt1234]

Are court reporters becoming obsolete? I am curious. I am trying to choose a career path. I don't want to pick something where I am going to have to retrain a few years from now.

What is the job market like for quality control lab technicians?

[MSchemist80]

Originally Posted by bluebelt1234

What is the job market like for quality control lab technicians?

Pretty good considering employers want intelligent science majors with a BSc. that will work for $15/hour and without benefits because they only hire via temp agencies. Don't bother.

[bluebelt1234]

Actually $15 an hour sounds great to me now, but then again, I am so desperate for a job that I am not exactly thinking clearly.

[ReturningWest]

Originally Posted by bluebelt1234

Actually $15 an hour sounds great to me now, but then again, I am so desperate for a job that I am not exactly thinking clearly.

I hear you, it's so hard to find work and even IF you go back for re-training it's no guarentee.

Instead of a control lab tech, shoot for an MLT it's an associate and then you can get a job and work towards an MT part time. I don't know what your home situation is like and if you can move but there is a REAL shortage of MT's because many of the schools over the last several years have closed. However, I will add a caveat that some areas are saturated.

Just make sure you pick a certified school
A few places to start your search is:
American Society for Clinical Pathology - laboratory professionals (http://www.ascp.org/MainMenu/laboratoryprofessionals.aspx - broken link)
AMT - American Medical Technologists - Medical Lab Assistant
NAACLS - Links - CLT/MLT

DM me if you want more info, this is something I've really looked into and would love to do but I just don't have the $$$.

[MSchemist80]

Originally Posted by ReturningWest

I hear you, it's so hard to find work and even IF you go back for re-training it's no guarentee.

Instead of a control lab tech, shoot for an MLT it's an associate and then you can get a job and work towards an MT part time. I don't know what your home situation is like and if you can move but there is a REAL shortage of MT's because many of the schools over the last several years have closed. However, I will add a caveat that some areas are saturated.

Just make sure you pick a certified school
A few places to start your search is:
American Society for Clinical Pathology - laboratory professionals (http://www.ascp.org/MainMenu/laboratoryprofessionals.aspx - broken link)
AMT - American Medical Technologists - Medical Lab Assistant
NAACLS - Links - CLT/MLT

DM me if you want more info, this is something I've really looked into and would love to do but I just don't have the $$$.

There are very few MLT's and MT's because the training requirements are about equal to that of a nurse yet the pay is 30 to 50% less. Most people just figure F that and go for nursing. It is also a very background and dead-end job. Hospitals like to make cuts in the lab because patients don't see them. Also, unless you possibly become a supervisor there is little advancement. MT's have a BSc and 1 year clinical training/residency. They get paid ~45 to 55k however their pay usually plateaus after that and many times a MT even with 20 years exp earns the same 50k that one with 1 year of exp does.

American Employers in general don't value scientific staff very well and then whine all the time about how they have trouble recruiting. It is the same for hospitals.