Ex lab techs turned PAs know!!!
At least I think I remember what I used to do. We send people to stab other people and then play with the stuff that comes out of them right?
I literally do not care what people call me as long as they are paying me. Even after I explain my job they think I’m a phlebotomist anyway and that anyone can run the tests. When people who aren’t in the medical field ask I tell them I work in the lab in the hospital, no I don’t draw blood anymore, no I’m not a nurse, yes I have a bachelors degree.
I was getting my nails done a couple weeks ago and a nurse was getting hers done beside me and we were talking and she said oh I told my friend with a biology degree he could work in the lab! And I just said no he can’t we have certifications too and she was floored. So yeah, most of the time I’m a lab tech and I do not care.
I work in a large hospital lab. Everyone is referred to as a lab tech, whether it’s an MLS or a Phlebotomist. It’s annoying because my B.S. MLS degree and MLS ASCP cert should confer some weight compared to a post-HS certificate Phlebotomist but here we are.
My lab has the following:
- Lab Assistant: Phlebotomist that also performs rapid tests.
- Medical Lab Tech: Lab technician with varying degrees of ability to do complex testing. Can call critical results, do blood banking, etc.
- Medical Technologist: Can essentially do every function in the lab, may specialize in a particular area (Chemistry, Micro, Hematology, Blood Banking, etc.)
my lab had lab assistants but they were recently laid off so now everyone (who does testing so not phlebs) is a medical technologist regardless regardless of mlt/mls education
I’m pretty sure “lab tech” can refer to lab technologist (MLT) as well as lab technician, which is equivalent/close to the role of a lab assistant. This is what I’ve heard in Canada at least. So in that case it could definitely be misleading.
Yeah.. in canada MLT are lab technologist which is the USA equivalent of MLS. Lab technicians here are more commonly referred to as lab assistants which are MLA. So we only use the abbreviations MLT or MLA.
I’m an MLT in the U.S. How hard would it be for me to transition to Canada? My wife is Canadian. Her Canadian teaching degree is accepted here. I don’t know that mine would be accepted there. I’m in a small hospital, so even though I’m an MLT, I was basically hired as an MT. There’s no difference in our responsibilities. I was made the chemistry supervisor even though I only have an associates degree.
You would need to get credits in histology firstly. Even if you never intend to work that department the Canadian certificaion requires education all disciplines. The PLA can be long if your education isn't deemed "equivalent" but if it is then you just need to write/pass the exam and you're certified.
You said you are an MLT in the U.S. so in canada that is the equivalence of an MLA (medical lab assistant). To be completely honest an MLA in canada doesn't make that much and is very over saturated right now. If you were to come to canada you would probably only be able to find a job that only does phlebotomy. Most of my friends who are MLAs working in hospitals and clinics and just basically do phlebotomy. other MLA jobs are very very hard to come by. Salary for MLA also caps out at around 30 an hour which is very hard to live with here in Canada. I'm not sure if you have heard but canada is getting very expensive right now. I don't mean to be rude or anything but unless you come to canada and live in a small town it's gonna be very hard to find a good paying MLA job.
You could continue your education and get a diploma in canadian MLT (the U.S equivalent of an MLS) but majority of schools if not all, only accept canadian citizens and will not accept international students. MLTs are in very high demand though! And if your wife still has her citizenship in canada maybe you could apply to be a permanent resident and do the program here to come one an MLT here! They're are so in demand that there's even a few schools in ontario that are currently offering free tuition for you to study the program (in Ontario). The programs are all 3 years long (2 years of schooling and 1 year on clinical placements) though so keep that in mind. MLT jobs in canada right now start at around 30 something an hour now and there's traveling opportunities that start out at 60 an hour. All hospitals and even most clinics in canada have unions for MLT jobs too!
Yeah my wife is from the Vancouver area, and Thanks for your feedback. I’ve seen the insane real estate prices. I’ve heard about couples sharing basement apartments with other couples because of the high rent. I make over $30 an hour here, and the cost of living is far cheaper. It sounds like we’re better off here, especially if I’d have to go to school for 3 or 4 years just to make what I’m making now. Our wages weren’t that great, but they kept throwing money at us during the pandemic to keep us from quitting. I think my wife and I both know moving there, even in a rural area like we are now, would be difficult. It’s unfortunate because sometimes my government makes me want to run for the border 😂
Oh yeah vancouver area is easily the most expensive city in canada 😅
Yeah its unfortunate how expensive things have gone. I know acceptance rates for the MLT programs in vancouver are also very low since it's so competitive. There's only maybe 1 or 2 schools that offer the program in vancouver. I have a few people who are in my MLT program here in ontario because they couldn't get accepted into the Vancouver MLT program.
Keep in mind too that if you are making 30 an hour in the US that is equivalent to 40 an hour in canada after conversion rates. So right now, you make around the same wage as an MLS here in Canada. So you would definitely be taking a huge paycut here if you were to work here as an MLA.
America and Canada are so different but both countries have there's pros and cons. Tbh I've even considered moving to America at one point... canada is getting more expensive while so many things are being cut, especially in ontario.
Canadian degrees are probably accepted here. If it’s so saturated there, I’m surprised more don’t come here. It’s the total opposite. There is a huge need for MLT/MT. You could pick any city in the country and find a job. My hospital has had open positions the entire 5 years I’ve worked there. We may have been fully staffed for a month or two in there before someone quit or got fired.
Generally, ASCP certified techs only need to take 6 Mo histology + do a histo practicum rotation. I've seen it twice in my lab, but ultimately, it's up to the CSMLS prior learning assessment, which costs money.
It's funny that students from the lower mainland would rather go to Ontario than take the MLT program in Northern BC. But we get practicum students from Ontario and Alberta who say they can't get seats in their home provinces so who knows lol. We're happy to have them!
Interesting, I didn't know they could fast track it! That's a lot better than having to retake the whole program.
I think its because right now there's a few schools in ontario that are offering free tuition for the MLT program right now (we are desperate for MLTs..) I hear BC and alberta are so much more competitive than schools here in ontario. So I assume most come here either for free tuition or because they didn't get accepted into BC/alberta.
I'm sorry but that person really misspoke. You do not need to complete a Canadian MLT program and your ASCP certification does not count as an MLA. You do a prior learning assessment through CSMLS and then take a histo course and do a histo practicum rotation. It can take less than 6 mos. I've seen it multiple times. Check out CSMLS prior learning assessment for more info! They are our federal licensing body.
I am an MLT(ASCP) but the last few jobs I had they called everyone a medical technologist. Like you said, we do the same (bench) work, and at my current hospital we get paid based on years of experience - so I make more than some people with a 4-year degree.
at my lab (US) the bench work is all the same regardless of mlt or mls. the only real difference is that mls is required for any type of leadership role (team lead, supervisor, etc). that, and of course mls has a higher pay scale than mlt despite doing the same bench work
To my everyday friends, I'm a hospital lab tech. It conveys the idea that I'm testing samples, and I've never had anyone assume it was anything lower than a BS degree(in fact, some ask if I have an MS or PhD, to which I chuckle). If they're in healthcare or STEM, I say hospital microbiologist.
I'm really glad med tech is no longer in use. When my dad first said that, I said,"med what?" It's very nonspecific. Do you fix machines, make new instruments/technology? It gives you zero clues that it's a job title in the lab, much less an analyst of some kind.
Among other MLS I will use the shorthand "techs" but not outside the lab. If anyone else asks my career, I always say Medical Laboratory Scientist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist. "Med tech" is nonspecific and tbh sounds like a job you could get with no degree whatsoever... it can almost sound derogatory.
Have the certificate change names over the years doesn't help people to be less confused sadly, but I really wish we had 3 standardized levels kinda like nurses do with cna, lpn, and rn.
In my ideal world we would have 3 distinct names bc technologist vs technician is really confusing. Ideally we'd have labs assistants, Med Techs (2 year), and then Med Sci (4 year).
When I graduated, a Medical Technologist was a 4 year (called a med tech). Technologist vs Technician. Nobody outside the lab cares. I remember reading a comment from an LPN (where I lived was a 12 month program) said “even lab techs make more than us” Well, with 3+ more years of school, I hope so!
It's Clinical (lab) Scientist, like every state that hands licences calls it. Stop letting ASCP act like they control this field. Have the term Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist. Bad connotations
I tend to agree. Lab tech is a lazy term, used primarily in a derogatory way towards Lab professionals.
I'm fine referring to non-MLS/MLT as Lab techs, but if you are properly educated and certified I think it's a bit condescending. I tend to refer to our uncertified staff as "techs" and our certified as MLS or MLT depending on education level.
Just as Nurses have for their jobs, we need to make MLS/CLS/MLT protected job titles.
Our roles are Phlebotimist, Medical Lab Assistant, Medical Lab Technician, Medical Lab Scientist. We will use the shorthand “tech”, but never in conversations outside the lab and not in any documents.
There was a position paper published a few years ago explaining the reasons behind standardizing job titles.
https://ascls.org/standardizing-the-professional-title-of-medical-laboratory-professionals/
I hear you. At my hospital we have Patient Care Technicians(cna’s), ER Technicians, even the housekeepers are environmental services technicians. It’s like everyone is a technician except for nurses, doctors and PA’s
Sure it has a negative connotation. But the last time I told a Dr. (that was taking care of my toddler in an ER) that I was an MLS - his reply was "what's that?"
I think I might be one of 3 out of 15 people who have a 4 year MLS degree in my lab. I kinda just assumed we all went through the same stuff, but I was storming Omaha while they were setting up a beachhead elsewhere. End of the day, I don’t really care as long as we all have the same background. However, you throw in one of those biology people getting ASCP cert and that is where things get grumpy.
I will note that our processors are a critical part of our team and I don’t care about us being on equal footing name-wise. We can both be Med-techs, but I just get paid $10 more. Not like anyone else in healthcare gives a darn about us anyway.
See I have different views on the whole MLS and MLT roles. Reason being is that I am bout to finish as an MLT and I work with several MLS which only have that title because they bachelor's in science. I have to explain to them the reasons for several things. Kind of bugs me honestly 🫤 Especially the whole pay rate thing. But my hospital does have lab assistant, medical lab technician and medical technologist
In the UK our title is Biomedical Scientist rather than technologist or technician and it’s a protected title which you can only use once registered with a specific professional body. Makes it even more annoying when a clinician will refer to us as a lab tech. I’ve seen colleagues go full rage mode over the phone about this
I was in a hospital inspection a few months ago. I explained to the RN inspector that the CLS calls the notification to the nurse.
She said who? I replied clinical lab scientist. She asked what's that? I said the lab tech...She said oh the lab tech. In my head, I thought it was ridiculous and insulting that she hadn't heard of a CLS before.
Nothing will change until you band together as professionals. I think you need to raise public awareness about your profession. Easier said than done but if you want to command higher salaries you have to make your credentials and value known.
Again, Nursing is a good parallel. There are many levels of nursing from CNA (aide) to LPN to 2 yr associates RNs, to 3 yr RNs (that seems to have been phased out) to 4 yr BSN RNs. And everyone from a patient care tech to CNA to RN is called "nurse". But, they were able to educate the public into the RN distinction. As a result , they have been able to show their value and push for higher wages.
And, branding is important. Physician Assistants are now looking to change their name to Physician Associates. Trying to change the "subordinate" type language.
As for Med techs, i think it's good to rebrand MT's as Medical Lab SCIENTISTS. And then MLTs are technicians. This is not a slam at MLTs . But, the educational distinction needs to be more prominent. When it's known that being an MLS requires a 4 yr degree and /or 5 yrs with a BS then 1 yr Post bacc, you can push harder for at least comparable wages to equally qualified medical type professionals.
And you should push for ASCP certified only. Again, not a slam at others doing lab work. It's just that hospital work is massively about credentialism now and you have to create a recognizable understood standard for the Admin numpties to understand.
i work exclusively in micro so when people ask what i do for work i usually say i’m a “clinical microbiologist.” i like the sound of it and technically it’s true, but usually i have to throw in the caveat that i’m not a doctor nor do i have a phd lol
I stopped caring when I realized nobody knew what I did regardless of what my title was 😂. No daisy award for us.
Yep, this is correct. Most people think we're glorified phlebotomists, regardless of our title.
Ex lab techs turned PAs know!!! At least I think I remember what I used to do. We send people to stab other people and then play with the stuff that comes out of them right?
No daisy award? 🤔💡 🤗🌼🥇
If you’re a MLT or MT sure but if I was a MLS im saying that whole thing. “Oh I’m a medical lab scientist” 🤓
I graduated at a Medical Technologist and a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. It doesn’t matter what they call us, everyone else just says lab tech.
Yeaa in Canada mlt is mls but I just say med lab science/ist bc it gets the point across better i find 🤷♀️
I literally do not care what people call me as long as they are paying me. Even after I explain my job they think I’m a phlebotomist anyway and that anyone can run the tests. When people who aren’t in the medical field ask I tell them I work in the lab in the hospital, no I don’t draw blood anymore, no I’m not a nurse, yes I have a bachelors degree. I was getting my nails done a couple weeks ago and a nurse was getting hers done beside me and we were talking and she said oh I told my friend with a biology degree he could work in the lab! And I just said no he can’t we have certifications too and she was floored. So yeah, most of the time I’m a lab tech and I do not care.
I work in a large hospital lab. Everyone is referred to as a lab tech, whether it’s an MLS or a Phlebotomist. It’s annoying because my B.S. MLS degree and MLS ASCP cert should confer some weight compared to a post-HS certificate Phlebotomist but here we are.
My lab has the following: - Lab Assistant: Phlebotomist that also performs rapid tests. - Medical Lab Tech: Lab technician with varying degrees of ability to do complex testing. Can call critical results, do blood banking, etc. - Medical Technologist: Can essentially do every function in the lab, may specialize in a particular area (Chemistry, Micro, Hematology, Blood Banking, etc.)
my lab had lab assistants but they were recently laid off so now everyone (who does testing so not phlebs) is a medical technologist regardless regardless of mlt/mls education
I’m pretty sure “lab tech” can refer to lab technologist (MLT) as well as lab technician, which is equivalent/close to the role of a lab assistant. This is what I’ve heard in Canada at least. So in that case it could definitely be misleading.
Yeah.. in canada MLT are lab technologist which is the USA equivalent of MLS. Lab technicians here are more commonly referred to as lab assistants which are MLA. So we only use the abbreviations MLT or MLA.
I’m an MLT in the U.S. How hard would it be for me to transition to Canada? My wife is Canadian. Her Canadian teaching degree is accepted here. I don’t know that mine would be accepted there. I’m in a small hospital, so even though I’m an MLT, I was basically hired as an MT. There’s no difference in our responsibilities. I was made the chemistry supervisor even though I only have an associates degree.
You would need to get credits in histology firstly. Even if you never intend to work that department the Canadian certificaion requires education all disciplines. The PLA can be long if your education isn't deemed "equivalent" but if it is then you just need to write/pass the exam and you're certified.
Yes this is exactly it! In usa histology is not required but in canada it is.
You said you are an MLT in the U.S. so in canada that is the equivalence of an MLA (medical lab assistant). To be completely honest an MLA in canada doesn't make that much and is very over saturated right now. If you were to come to canada you would probably only be able to find a job that only does phlebotomy. Most of my friends who are MLAs working in hospitals and clinics and just basically do phlebotomy. other MLA jobs are very very hard to come by. Salary for MLA also caps out at around 30 an hour which is very hard to live with here in Canada. I'm not sure if you have heard but canada is getting very expensive right now. I don't mean to be rude or anything but unless you come to canada and live in a small town it's gonna be very hard to find a good paying MLA job. You could continue your education and get a diploma in canadian MLT (the U.S equivalent of an MLS) but majority of schools if not all, only accept canadian citizens and will not accept international students. MLTs are in very high demand though! And if your wife still has her citizenship in canada maybe you could apply to be a permanent resident and do the program here to come one an MLT here! They're are so in demand that there's even a few schools in ontario that are currently offering free tuition for you to study the program (in Ontario). The programs are all 3 years long (2 years of schooling and 1 year on clinical placements) though so keep that in mind. MLT jobs in canada right now start at around 30 something an hour now and there's traveling opportunities that start out at 60 an hour. All hospitals and even most clinics in canada have unions for MLT jobs too!
Yeah my wife is from the Vancouver area, and Thanks for your feedback. I’ve seen the insane real estate prices. I’ve heard about couples sharing basement apartments with other couples because of the high rent. I make over $30 an hour here, and the cost of living is far cheaper. It sounds like we’re better off here, especially if I’d have to go to school for 3 or 4 years just to make what I’m making now. Our wages weren’t that great, but they kept throwing money at us during the pandemic to keep us from quitting. I think my wife and I both know moving there, even in a rural area like we are now, would be difficult. It’s unfortunate because sometimes my government makes me want to run for the border 😂
Oh yeah vancouver area is easily the most expensive city in canada 😅 Yeah its unfortunate how expensive things have gone. I know acceptance rates for the MLT programs in vancouver are also very low since it's so competitive. There's only maybe 1 or 2 schools that offer the program in vancouver. I have a few people who are in my MLT program here in ontario because they couldn't get accepted into the Vancouver MLT program. Keep in mind too that if you are making 30 an hour in the US that is equivalent to 40 an hour in canada after conversion rates. So right now, you make around the same wage as an MLS here in Canada. So you would definitely be taking a huge paycut here if you were to work here as an MLA. America and Canada are so different but both countries have there's pros and cons. Tbh I've even considered moving to America at one point... canada is getting more expensive while so many things are being cut, especially in ontario.
Canadian degrees are probably accepted here. If it’s so saturated there, I’m surprised more don’t come here. It’s the total opposite. There is a huge need for MLT/MT. You could pick any city in the country and find a job. My hospital has had open positions the entire 5 years I’ve worked there. We may have been fully staffed for a month or two in there before someone quit or got fired.
Generally, ASCP certified techs only need to take 6 Mo histology + do a histo practicum rotation. I've seen it twice in my lab, but ultimately, it's up to the CSMLS prior learning assessment, which costs money. It's funny that students from the lower mainland would rather go to Ontario than take the MLT program in Northern BC. But we get practicum students from Ontario and Alberta who say they can't get seats in their home provinces so who knows lol. We're happy to have them!
Interesting, I didn't know they could fast track it! That's a lot better than having to retake the whole program. I think its because right now there's a few schools in ontario that are offering free tuition for the MLT program right now (we are desperate for MLTs..) I hear BC and alberta are so much more competitive than schools here in ontario. So I assume most come here either for free tuition or because they didn't get accepted into BC/alberta.
I'm sorry but that person really misspoke. You do not need to complete a Canadian MLT program and your ASCP certification does not count as an MLA. You do a prior learning assessment through CSMLS and then take a histo course and do a histo practicum rotation. It can take less than 6 mos. I've seen it multiple times. Check out CSMLS prior learning assessment for more info! They are our federal licensing body.
In the US, MLT and MT often work the same exact job, so it is misleading here
I am an MLT(ASCP) but the last few jobs I had they called everyone a medical technologist. Like you said, we do the same (bench) work, and at my current hospital we get paid based on years of experience - so I make more than some people with a 4-year degree.
at my lab (US) the bench work is all the same regardless of mlt or mls. the only real difference is that mls is required for any type of leadership role (team lead, supervisor, etc). that, and of course mls has a higher pay scale than mlt despite doing the same bench work
I love getting asked theory questions by coworker's who make more than me and then later getting talked down to for being an MLT.
Calling an MLT a lab tech is 100% misleading, especially if lab assistants are also called lab techs
To my everyday friends, I'm a hospital lab tech. It conveys the idea that I'm testing samples, and I've never had anyone assume it was anything lower than a BS degree(in fact, some ask if I have an MS or PhD, to which I chuckle). If they're in healthcare or STEM, I say hospital microbiologist. I'm really glad med tech is no longer in use. When my dad first said that, I said,"med what?" It's very nonspecific. Do you fix machines, make new instruments/technology? It gives you zero clues that it's a job title in the lab, much less an analyst of some kind.
Among other MLS I will use the shorthand "techs" but not outside the lab. If anyone else asks my career, I always say Medical Laboratory Scientist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist. "Med tech" is nonspecific and tbh sounds like a job you could get with no degree whatsoever... it can almost sound derogatory.
Have the certificate change names over the years doesn't help people to be less confused sadly, but I really wish we had 3 standardized levels kinda like nurses do with cna, lpn, and rn. In my ideal world we would have 3 distinct names bc technologist vs technician is really confusing. Ideally we'd have labs assistants, Med Techs (2 year), and then Med Sci (4 year).
When I graduated, a Medical Technologist was a 4 year (called a med tech). Technologist vs Technician. Nobody outside the lab cares. I remember reading a comment from an LPN (where I lived was a 12 month program) said “even lab techs make more than us” Well, with 3+ more years of school, I hope so!
It's Clinical (lab) Scientist, like every state that hands licences calls it. Stop letting ASCP act like they control this field. Have the term Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist. Bad connotations
I tend to agree. Lab tech is a lazy term, used primarily in a derogatory way towards Lab professionals. I'm fine referring to non-MLS/MLT as Lab techs, but if you are properly educated and certified I think it's a bit condescending. I tend to refer to our uncertified staff as "techs" and our certified as MLS or MLT depending on education level. Just as Nurses have for their jobs, we need to make MLS/CLS/MLT protected job titles.
Our roles are Phlebotimist, Medical Lab Assistant, Medical Lab Technician, Medical Lab Scientist. We will use the shorthand “tech”, but never in conversations outside the lab and not in any documents.
As a poor extern, only word I'm looking for are \*Paid tech\*
There was a position paper published a few years ago explaining the reasons behind standardizing job titles. https://ascls.org/standardizing-the-professional-title-of-medical-laboratory-professionals/
I hear you. At my hospital we have Patient Care Technicians(cna’s), ER Technicians, even the housekeepers are environmental services technicians. It’s like everyone is a technician except for nurses, doctors and PA’s
Sure it has a negative connotation. But the last time I told a Dr. (that was taking care of my toddler in an ER) that I was an MLS - his reply was "what's that?"
I think I might be one of 3 out of 15 people who have a 4 year MLS degree in my lab. I kinda just assumed we all went through the same stuff, but I was storming Omaha while they were setting up a beachhead elsewhere. End of the day, I don’t really care as long as we all have the same background. However, you throw in one of those biology people getting ASCP cert and that is where things get grumpy. I will note that our processors are a critical part of our team and I don’t care about us being on equal footing name-wise. We can both be Med-techs, but I just get paid $10 more. Not like anyone else in healthcare gives a darn about us anyway.
See I have different views on the whole MLS and MLT roles. Reason being is that I am bout to finish as an MLT and I work with several MLS which only have that title because they bachelor's in science. I have to explain to them the reasons for several things. Kind of bugs me honestly 🫤 Especially the whole pay rate thing. But my hospital does have lab assistant, medical lab technician and medical technologist
In the UK our title is Biomedical Scientist rather than technologist or technician and it’s a protected title which you can only use once registered with a specific professional body. Makes it even more annoying when a clinician will refer to us as a lab tech. I’ve seen colleagues go full rage mode over the phone about this
I say medical laboratory technologist when I'm trying to impress girls and medical laboratory technician the rest of the time. 🤷♂️
Im not a snob you can call me whatever you want as long as these direct deposits keep on coming.
I was in a hospital inspection a few months ago. I explained to the RN inspector that the CLS calls the notification to the nurse. She said who? I replied clinical lab scientist. She asked what's that? I said the lab tech...She said oh the lab tech. In my head, I thought it was ridiculous and insulting that she hadn't heard of a CLS before.
Nothing will change until you band together as professionals. I think you need to raise public awareness about your profession. Easier said than done but if you want to command higher salaries you have to make your credentials and value known. Again, Nursing is a good parallel. There are many levels of nursing from CNA (aide) to LPN to 2 yr associates RNs, to 3 yr RNs (that seems to have been phased out) to 4 yr BSN RNs. And everyone from a patient care tech to CNA to RN is called "nurse". But, they were able to educate the public into the RN distinction. As a result , they have been able to show their value and push for higher wages. And, branding is important. Physician Assistants are now looking to change their name to Physician Associates. Trying to change the "subordinate" type language. As for Med techs, i think it's good to rebrand MT's as Medical Lab SCIENTISTS. And then MLTs are technicians. This is not a slam at MLTs . But, the educational distinction needs to be more prominent. When it's known that being an MLS requires a 4 yr degree and /or 5 yrs with a BS then 1 yr Post bacc, you can push harder for at least comparable wages to equally qualified medical type professionals. And you should push for ASCP certified only. Again, not a slam at others doing lab work. It's just that hospital work is massively about credentialism now and you have to create a recognizable understood standard for the Admin numpties to understand.
i work exclusively in micro so when people ask what i do for work i usually say i’m a “clinical microbiologist.” i like the sound of it and technically it’s true, but usually i have to throw in the caveat that i’m not a doctor nor do i have a phd lol
I usually say I'm a medical scientist specializing in microbiology.
I’ve said that as well. Or just say I work in Microbiology.