Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Medical Lab Technician Licensing Requirements by State

Medical Lab Technician licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Medical Lab Technician across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Medical Lab Technician: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Performs laboratory tests to diagnose diseases.

Medical Lab Technician: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Medical Lab Technician drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Medical Lab Technician states

51

Below median

Board gates for Medical Lab Technician: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Medical Lab Technician: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Medical Lab Technician boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Funeral Director / Embalmer · HVAC Technician
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Nail Technician
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Glazier
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Health Aide · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Nail Technician
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Locksmith · Notary Public
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacist · Process Server
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Nurse · Security Alarm Installer
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Land Surveyor · Massage Therapist
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Roofer · Sign Language Interpreter
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Casino/Gaming Dealer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Funeral Director / Embalmer · HVAC Technician
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor

What to do with this

Medical Lab Technician is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Medical Lab Technician's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #51 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Athletic Trainer →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Medical Lab Technician requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.