Army 68K MOS Overview: Medical Laboratory Specialist

In today’s post, I’d like to provide an overview of the Army 68K MOS, the Medical Laboratory Specialist.

Whenever you have medical operations, there needs to be technicians who test various fluids that come from the human body. A doctor can assume some things, but laboratory tests will show the complete truth.

That is what the Army 68K MOS is for. They are a medical laboratory specialist who provides the data the physician needs to properly treat a patient.

In the paragraphs below, I will take a closer look at the Army 68K MOS. I will provide a description of this job, the responsibilities and duties of the 68K, what requirements there are to attain this MOS, and the training needed to be an Army Medical Laboratory Specialist.

Army 68K Basic Job Description

The Army 68K tests blood, body fluids, and tissue of patients to support both doctors and nurses. Their job is critical so that medical staff can properly diagnose and treat patients in Army medical care faculties.

In the U.S. Army, medical laboratory technicians, also known as medical laboratory specialists, are integral members of the medical laboratory technician team, who conduct tests on the tissue, blood, and bodily fluids of patients. Their work is crucial to the medical staff, as it aids doctors and nurses in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease and other medical disorders, as well as war wounds and injuries of Army personnel. ~ Monster

Army 68K MOS Duties & Responsibilities

While I could never tell you all of the responsibilities and duties of the 68K, I will mention the primary ones.

Perform elementary blood banking and clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, clinical chemistry, serology, bacteriology, parasitology and urinalysis.
Collect blood specimens by venipuncture and capillary puncture.
Pack, inspect and distribute blood and blood products (such as donated plasma).
Performs and monitors Quality Control and Assurance.
Train lower skill levels in all elementary laboratory procedures and contributes to process improvement.

Requirements To Become an Army 68K

Here are the requirements to become an Army Medical Laboratory Specialist:

No security clearance required
Does not have to be a United States citizen
PULHES of 323222
Physical demands rating of moderately heavy
ASVAB score of 106 in Skilled Technical (ST)
Normal color vision
Must have a minimum of 1-year of chemistry, high school or college credit and 1-year algebra, high school or college credit with a “C” grade or higher in both subjects.
No felony convictions
No record of various other convictions in civil or military court
And must meet all training and certification requirements

Army Medical Laboratory Specialists (MOS 68K) must have a score of Skilled Technical (ST): 106 or higher. It is also worth mentioning that having an associate or bachelor’s degree in medical technology (or a related degree) can go a long way in helping you earn the position of an Army Medical Laboratory Specialist. ~ Operation Military Kids

Training For The Army 68K

As with all soldiers, the first step is the completion of Basic Combat Training. Because you are a soldier first and a lab specialist second.

After you graduate basic training, you will then travel to Fort Sam Houston for approximately 26-weeks where you will learn in the classroom and in a lab what your job consists of. Once you graduate AIT, you will transition to your duty station. More than likely, you will be assigned to an Army lab or hospital. In that position, you will get hands on experience, plus mentorship from someone with more experience than you.

Career Opportunities

Within the Army, you have numerous career opportunities. This includes:

Recruiter
Drill Sergeant
Instructor
NCOIC
Senior Lab Specialist

You could also get a second MOS, transition to Warrant Officer, or become a commissioned officer.

In the civilian world, you have many opportunities to work as a Lab Specialist at a lab, hospital or clinic.

As of Oct 28, 2022, the average annual pay for a Medical Laboratory Specialist in the United States is $30,924 a year. ~ Zip Recruiter

Final Thoughts

This is an excellent MOS to enlist in because it can set you up for a great position after Army service. There will always be a need for Lab technicians in hospitals and other medical facilities. Do keep in mind that if you have an issue with blood, this may not be the position for you.

We would love to hear from any former or currents 68Ks. Please tell us more about this Army MOS. What has your experience been like? If you have questions or comments, you can post them below.

2 thoughts on “Army 68K MOS Overview: Medical Laboratory Specialist”

Tony
September 4, 2018 at 07:42

I am currently an 74D and signed for 29 months active duty. I am thinking about reclassifying and re-enlisting to a 68Kmos once my 2 1/2 year contract is completed. I have a master’s degree in microbiology and have fulfilled the ASVAB requirements for such MOS. But here’s the main question…I have a felony assault case on my record from 2002 (plead no contest, deferred adjudication,16 years ago) which the Army is well aware of, and which a waiver was successfully processed, otherwise I wouldn’t have been eligible to join the Army. I know the requirements for the 68K MOS states that no prior felony convictions are allowed. So I was told by many recruiters that once I have served my full 74D contract with no problems, upon possible reclassification I was to avoid all thorough background checks and be able to reclassify. All this attributed to me being already “in the Army system” as to me proving once again that I am of no hazard to the Army. So would I be eligible to reclass into 68K MOS? Some insight would truly be helpful, thanks again!
1. Greg Boudonck
  September 4, 2018 at 12:25
  
  Wow Tony, that is a difficult question. Now this is just my opinion but, you have already received 1 waiver, I don’t see why you would not receive another. We are not talking about an Army job that would carry top secret clearance.
  I am hoping someone else will pop in on this question, but my opinion is “Go for it” because the time is so distant, I doubt it will have much play in this situation.
  We all made some mistakes when we were young.