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Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental)
What they do?
Medical laboratory technologists conduct experiments/analyses of medical specimens and samples.
Medical laboratory technicians conduct supervised routine tests and maintain medical laboratory equipment.
Pathologists' assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens and perform autopsies under supervision.
Respiratory and radiation therapists; medical sonographers and radiological technologists; and nuclear medicine, cardiology, electromyography and electroencephalographic technologists perform diagnostic tests, X-rays, and treatments.
Clinical perfusionists operate and monitor circulation and other technical devices during open-heart surgery.
Dietary technicians assist food service professionals.
Prosthetists and orthotists design, build, fit, and repair artificial limbs, braces, and other prosthetics and orthotics.
Where they find work?
1. Health care and social assistance - 78.0%
2. Other professional scientific and technical services - 8.0%
3. Educational services - 3.0%
4. Scientific research and development services - 2.0%
5. Miscellaneous manufacturing - 1.0%
6. Public administration - 1.0%
What education do I need?
1. To be a medical technologist or technician, you must have a high school diploma and specialized training.
2. You usually need a college program or a bachelor's degree and supervised practical or clinical training.
3. You may need registration or certification within a professional association.
4. You may need a licence in the province/territory where you'll work.
5. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma and almost 3 in 10 have an undergraduate university degree.
High School Subject that will help:
1. Math
2. Physics
3. Chemistry
4. Biology
What can you expect to make:
The average hourly wages for Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental) is $21.87/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the health sector and above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Average Wage
Expected Wage by Age
Unemployment:
2% of Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental) are unemployed. This rate is below the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.
Unemployment
Trends in Unemployment
Current Job Outlook:
The job outlook for Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental) is considered Above Average because:
1. Employment grew at an above-average rate.
2. Hourly wages ($21.87) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average.
3. The unemployment rate (2%) is below the 2004 average (7%).
Future Job Prospects:
Your job outlook will continue to be Above Average because:
1. The employment growth rate will likely be above average because of ongoing trends--a growing and aging population that requires more health services, new technologies that improve the ability to diagnose disease, increased government funding for health care, and Canadians with health care insurance that covers more services.
2. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.
3. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.
Highest Concetration:
The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health) are found in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan while the lowest concentrations are in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
Unionization Rate:
The unionization rate (59%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations.
Useful Experience:
1. Business procedures
2. Interpersonal skills
Part Time Workers
Part time workers:
20% of Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental) are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 82,300 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 23% since 1997.
Age Demographics
Age Demographics:
The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average influenced by a similar-to-average age of workers (40).
