The Medical Technologist certification examination offered
by American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers candidates an opportunity to
have their skills and knowledge verified by a third party. Certification
exhibits your dedication to maintaining the quality and competency of your
work.
Eligibility requirements
Before applying to AMT to take the Medical Technologist certification, verify that you meet the eligibility requirements. There are four routes to meeting requirements that include military experience and training, work experience, and college education. Detail about the eligibility routes can be found on the AMT website.
How do I register for the exam?
Before you can register for the actual exam, you need to
apply to take the Medical Technologist exam through the AMT website. Complete
the online application, upload the required documentation, and pay the $180.00
fee by credit or debit card. Your registration fee includes the application
fee, the exam fee, and your first year’s annual fee.
After AMT has processed and approved your application, AMT emails your authorization to test letter. Follow the directions in the letter to schedule your examination at a Pearson VUE testing center near you. Testing centers are located nationwide, and appointments are offered Monday through Saturday, on a space-available basis.
How is the exam structured?
You are given three and a half hours to complete the computer-delivered certification examination. The test contains 200 to 230 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four possible answers with only one correct answer. Questions test your skills and knowledge applying information in a theoretical or procedural method within the medical laboratory.
The exam assesses your understanding of the following nine
content areas:
General Laboratory – 12% of questions
The questions in this content area evaluate
your understanding of a functioning laboratory including laws and regulations,
safety, instruments, methods, laboratory mathematics, specimen collection,
patient identification, quality control, and laboratory laws and regulations.
Clinical Chemistry – 19% of questions
This content area assesses your knowledge
of clinical chemistry terminology, instrumentation, analysis, metabolism,
enzymology, endocrinology, lipids, electrolytes, cerebrospinal fluid, acid-base
balance, and function tests.
Hematology – 13% of questions
This content area assesses your knowledge
of hematology terminology, procedures, and automated instrumentation.
Coagulation and Hemostasis – 7% of questions
This content area assesses your knowledge
of coagulation terminology and coagulation procedures.
Immunology and Serology – 9% of questions
In this content area, you are asked to
demonstrate your knowledge of immunology and serology terminology,
understanding of serological tests for Syphilis, analytical procedures, and
knowledge of specialized procedures.
Immunohematology – 10% of questions
This content area asks you to demonstrate
your knowledge of immunohematology terminology, blood typing, immune response,
compatibility testing, Rh Immune Globulin, and special tests is examined.
Blood Banking and Transfusion Services – 6% of questions
Your knowledge of blood banking terminology
and procedures are evaluated.
Microbiology – 15% of questions
Media control, techniques, cultures,
identification, virology, parasitology, mycology, and terminology are subjects
reviewed in this content area.
Urinalysis and Body Fluids – 9% of questions
Your knowledge of renal function, urinalysis
procedures, special tests, and urinalysis terminology is assessed in this
content area.
Test day
On the day of your exam, arrive at the testing center 30
minutes before your appointment time. At check-in, present two forms of
identification, one of which contains your photograph. You are not allowed to
bring anything in with you at the testing center; testing materials are
provided by the test administrator, and calculators are not allowed.
When you have finished your exam, and if time remains,
review your answers. Try to answer all of the questions, even if you have to
guess.
Certification results
Shortly after you submit your work for scoring, your results
are displayed on the screen, and a print-out of your results is provided. Your
score is sent to AMT within 48 hours of completing your exam. If your
documentation is received and approved, and if you received a passing score, an
official certificate is mailed to you within 14 days. A digital copy of your
certificate is available in your account on the AMT website. You are not
considered a Certified Medical Technologist until you receive the official
documents from AMT.
The score range is 0 to 100 with 70 required to pass. It is important to note that the scores are a scaled scores and are not a percentage. If you did not pass the exam, you must wait 45 days before reapplying to take the test again. The retest fee is $110.00.
How Can I Prepare for the Medical Technologist Exam?
That’s a great question. We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.
- Do yourself a favor and study. Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try. Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping. All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance. If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
- Get a study guide or set of flashcards. Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them. We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam. Below you’ll see links to both!