Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in Colorado Springs, CO
Medical laboratory technicians in Colorado Springs run the tests behind every diagnosis at Penrose, Memorial and the VA clinics, with hospital postings ranging from about $22 to $38 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires MLTs locally and how to get certified.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in Colorado Springs, CO
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Medical Laboratory Technician Work in Colorado Springs
MLT jobs in the Springs sit inside the hospital labs and the federal clinics. CommonSpirit's Penrose Hospital on North Nevada Avenue runs a full clinical lab, UCHealth's Memorial hospitals, including Memorial Hospital North on Briargate Parkway, run their own labs, and the VA's PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom clinic on Centennial Boulevard has hired MLTs on the GS scale. It is a smaller field than nursing, so openings come a few at a time, often as PRN or night shifts.
What makes the Springs different is the Army. Penrose accepts completion of an official military medical laboratory course and the Medical Laboratory Specialist occupational specialty in place of an associate degree, which gives lab soldiers leaving Fort Carson a direct route into civilian hospital work.
Top Colorado Springs Employers for Medical Laboratory Technicians
These employers run labs in the Colorado Springs metro and hire MLTs:
- CommonSpirit Penrose-St. Francis - Penrose Hospital hires MLTs for its lab, with ASCP certification preferred and a military route accepted.
- UCHealth Southern Colorado - Memorial Hospital North has hired full-time day-shift MLTs, requiring ASCP or AMT certification within 90 days.
- VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System - the PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom VA Clinic has posted Medical Technician MLT jobs at GS-5 and GS-6 on USAJOBS.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in Colorado Springs
- Entry level: about $22 to $26 an hour for newly certified MLTs, or about $41,800 a year at federal GS-5.
- Experienced: roughly $26 to $32 an hour with a few years at the bench.
- Senior: $32 to $38 an hour at the top of hospital ranges, or up to about $60,600 a year at GS-6.
These are estimates from local postings. Recent ranges were $22.74 to $38.31 at Penrose and $24.11 to $36.17 at Memorial North. National certification, night and PRN shifts, and experience across chemistry, hematology and microbiology move pay up.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in Colorado Springs
Colorado does not license medical laboratory technicians, so employers rely on national certification instead: MLT from the ASCP Board of Certification or from American Medical Technologists. Most postings ask for an associate degree in medical laboratory technology or a laboratory science. Locally, Pima Medical Institute's Colorado Springs campus offers a Medical Laboratory Technician associate degree of about 19 months that prepares graduates for the ASCP MLT exam. Veterans with Army lab training can use the military route Penrose accepts.
What the Job Involves
MLTs process blood, urine, tissue and other specimens and run tests in chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, blood bank and microbiology. They operate and calibrate analyzers, run quality control, check results for errors, report critical values to nurses and physicians, and document everything for lab accreditation. Most work happens at the bench, with some specimen collection in smaller labs.
Skills Employers Look For
- ASCP or AMT MLT certification, or eligibility to sit for it
- Experience across chemistry, hematology and blood bank
- Quality control and analyzer troubleshooting
- Accuracy and attention to detail under time pressure
- Laboratory information system and EHR skills
- Willingness to work nights, weekends and PRN
Career Path and Advancement
The local ladder runs from phlebotomist or specimen processor to MLT, then to Medical Laboratory Scientist with a bachelor's degree. CommonSpirit's Mountain Region runs a NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Scientist internship with clinical rotations in its Colorado Springs labs, and MLS roles such as Children's Hospital Colorado's Medical Technologist I in Colorado Springs pay noticeably more. From there the path leads to lead tech, lab supervisor or a specialty such as blood bank or microbiology.
Related Careers in Colorado Springs
If lab work interests you, these Colorado Springs roles are close matches:
- Phlebotomist Jobs
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs
- Pharmacy Technician Jobs
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a medical lab technician in Colorado Springs?
No. Colorado does not license medical laboratory technicians. Employers expect national certification instead, usually MLT from ASCP or AMT, and UCHealth requires it within 90 days of hire.
How much do MLTs make in Colorado Springs?
Recent hospital postings ranged from about $22 to $38 an hour, with most new MLTs starting in the low to mid $20s. Federal VA jobs at GS-5 and GS-6 have posted about $41,800 to $60,600 a year.
Where can I study to become an MLT in Colorado Springs?
Pima Medical Institute's Colorado Springs campus offers a Medical Laboratory Technician associate degree that takes about 19 months and prepares you for the ASCP MLT exam.
Can Army lab experience count toward an MLT job in Colorado Springs?
Yes, at least at Penrose. CommonSpirit accepts a high school diploma plus an official military medical laboratory course and the Medical Laboratory Specialist occupational specialty in place of an associate degree.
What is the difference between an MLT and an MLS?
An MLT usually holds an associate degree and performs routine and moderately complex testing. A Medical Laboratory Scientist holds a bachelor's degree, handles more complex testing and quality work, and earns more. Children's Hospital Colorado's lab in Colorado Springs, for example, hires at the MLS level.
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