Health Careers
Clinical Assistant/Lab Assistant
Professional Activities
Clinical Assistants perform basic laboratory testing in medical laboratories, working under the supervision of a medical laboratory scientist, medical laboratory technician, or pathologist. A Clinical Assistant collects and processes blood specimens and performs waived testing in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and urinalysis. Clinical Assistants may also perform and record vital signs. In rural Alaska, Clinical Assistants often are employed in regional hospitals or subregional clinics.
With the changes in laboratory medicine and the economy, there is a need for a one-year assistant program to meet the needs of the future. This program may be taken by other allied health professionals to increase their repertoire of skills, or by individuals who want a career ladder. Individuals who complete this program may articulate into the two-year Medical Laboratory Technology program.
Educational Requirements
- High school diploma or GED equivalency.
- High school biology and chemistry courses highly recommended.
- Post-secondary training in clinical laboratory assisting.
Academic Programs
University of Alaska Anchorage
Dr. Heidi Mannion, Professor
Allied Health Science Building, Room 169
Phone: (907) 786-4930
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/alliedhealth/academics/medlab/clinicalassist.cfm
UAA offers an Occupational Endorsement Certificate for Clinical Assistants. Currently no national certification exam is available for clinical assistants.
Contacts
State Contact:
Clinical Laboratory Scientists of Alaska (CLSA)
Shannon Billings, President
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.clsaonline.org
National Contacts:
American Society for Clinical Pathology
33 West Monroe, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 541-4999
Toll Free: (800) 267-2727
Fax: (312) 541-4998
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.ascp.org
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
1861 International Dr., Suite 200
Tysons Corner, VA 22102
Phone: (571) 748-3770
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.ascls.org/
American Medical Technologists
10700 West Higgins Road, Suite 150
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
Phone: (847) 823-5169
Toll free: (800) 275-1268
Fax: (847) 823-0458
Web site: http://www.americanmedtech.org/default.aspx
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on November 05, 2012
