Information Provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Job opportunities will be good. Employers prefer medical transcriptionists who have completed a postsecondary training program at a vocational school or community college. Many medical transcriptionists telecommute from home-based offices as employees or subcontractors for hospitals and transcription services or as self-employed, independent contractors. About 4 out of 10 worked in hospitals and another 3 out of 10 worked in offices of physicians.
On average, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians earn $ 15.79 per hour.
Job Opportunities for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians are expected to:
Increase faster than average.
When patients require a medical device to help them see clearly, chew and speak well, or walk, their health care providers send requests to medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians. These technicians produce a variety of implements to help patients.
High school students interested in becoming medical appliance technicians should take mathematics, metal and wood shop, and drafting. Medical appliance technicians usually begin as helpers and gradually learn new skills as they gain experience. Formal training is also available. In 2006, there were four orthotic and prosthetic technician programs accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE).
Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians held about 95,000 jobs in 2006. About 55 percent of salaried jobs were in medical equipment and supply manufacturing laboratories, which usually are small, privately owned businesses with fewer than 5 employees
