Biomedical Laboratory

Overview: Biomedical Laboratory officers serve as the Chief of Laboratory Services (or Chief of one or more areas of Laboratory Services) in hospitals or other health related facilities. Their job is a combination of supervision, management, research and teaching clinical laboratory science, an indispensable component of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of medical conditions.

Position: Officer

AFSC: 43TX

Specific Tasks:

• Direct and supervise laboratory services 
• Ensure that laboratory results are reported only when they conform to predetermined statistical limits and criteria 
• Conduct scientific analyses 
• Manage the development of new, modified and improved laboratory procedures 
• Perform teaching duties for medical and related personnel

Requirements:

• For entry into this specialty, it is mandatory to meet one of the following requirements:
• A bachelor’s degree in medical technology or equivalent and current, valid, and unrestricted certification as a Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• A baccalaureate degree from a United States Service Academy and certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician from the ASCP
• A bachelor’s degree and certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) from ASCP. MLT’s must also possess a Specialist Certification from the ASCP.
• For entry into 43T1/B (Microbiology), /C (Clinical Chemistry), /D (Environmental and Industrial Hygiene Chemistry), /E (Blood Bank), /F (Toxicologist), or /H (Hematology), a master's degree or higher or a current, valid, and active specialist certification from the ASCP in the corresponding discipline indicated by the suffix.

Training:

• For those without a prior military service commission, the first step is completion of Officer Training School Abbreviated. This five-week course at Maxwell AFB, AL will familiarize you with military life, your role as an officer and military healthcare.