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Medical lab technician programs in Iowa

10 medical lab programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

9 schools offer these medical lab programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians run the medical lab tests used to diagnose, treat and prevent disease. Most need a bachelor's degree, though technicians sometimes qualify with an associate degree and some vocational and technical schools offer technician certificates; some states require a license, and employers may prefer certification.1

In Iowa, 5 of the 10 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and 5 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 10 programs here are medical lab technician (associate degree, 7 programs), medical lab assistant course (2 programs) and medical lab scientist certificate (for graduates, 1 program).

See the 10 programs

How much do medical lab technician programs cost in Iowa?

Two-year degrees (7 programs)
$10,844 to $16,650most of them, usually 76 to 92 weeks long
Other medical lab programs (3 programs)
$4,000 to $9,318all 3 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program
60%
Working 6 months later
92%
Earned a year, estimated
about $42,500
Length
38 to 86 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Iowa may also offer medical lab technician programs. How these figures are made

Are there free medical lab technician programs in Iowa?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 10 medical lab programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

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10 programs

  • Medical lab technician (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    Medical Laboratory Technology AAS

    Des Moines Area Community College

    Ankeny

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenyMedical lab technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$46,800
    Price if you pay yourself$13,135
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    Finished
    60%
    Working at 6 months
    97%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,693
    Length
    82 weeks, 23 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,873
    Students counted
    182
    Earned a year, estimated
    $46,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,135
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College

  • Medical lab technician (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    Medical Laboratory Technology Program

    Kirkwood Community College

    Cedar Rapids

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Kirkwood Community College, Cedar RapidsMedical lab technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$35,400
    Price if you pay yourself$16,492
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technology Program at Kirkwood Community College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Technology Program at Kirkwood Community College
    Finished
    32%
    Working at 6 months
    70%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,859
    Length
    96 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $5,856
    Students counted
    135
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,492
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technology Program at Kirkwood Community College

  • Medical lab technician (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Medical Laboratory Technician

    Hawkeye Community College

    Waterloo

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Hawkeye Community College, WaterlooMedical lab technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$41,400
    Price if you pay yourself$16,808
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician at Hawkeye Community College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Technician at Hawkeye Community College
    Finished
    52%
    Working at 6 months
    98%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,340
    Length
    78 weeks, 29 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,312
    Students counted
    105
    Earned a year, estimated
    $41,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,808
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician at Hawkeye Community College

  • Medical lab assistant courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    HI-6600: Medical Laboratory Assistant

    MedCerts

    Based in Livonia, MI

    High school diploma or equivalent

    MedCerts, based in Livonia, MIMedical lab assistant courseOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,000
    Program website, HI-6600: Medical Laboratory Assistant at MedCerts
    More details about HI-6600: Medical Laboratory Assistant at MedCerts
    Finished
    95%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    99
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,000
    Program website, HI-6600: Medical Laboratory Assistant at MedCerts

  • Medical lab technician (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Medical Laboratory Technician

    Iowa Central Community College

    Fort Dodge

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Central Community College, Fort DodgeMedical lab technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$45,700
    Price if you pay yourself$16,020
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician at Iowa Central Community College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Technician at Iowa Central Community College
    Finished
    43%
    Working at 6 months
    86%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,432
    Length
    75 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,350
    Students counted
    78
    Earned a year, estimated
    $45,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,020
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician at Iowa Central Community College

  • Medical lab technician (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Medical Laboratory Technician

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, OttumwaMedical lab technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$42,500
    Price if you pay yourself$26,557
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Technician at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    74%
    Working at 6 months
    97%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,616
    Length
    96 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    53
    Earned a year, estimated
    $42,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $26,557
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician at Indian Hills Community College

  • Medical lab scientist certificate (for graduates)HybridEducation and courses

    Medical Laboratory Science

    St. Luke's College

    Sioux City

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    St. Luke's College, Sioux CityMedical lab scientist certificate (for graduates) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$63,600
    Price if you pay yourself$7,500
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Science at St. Luke's College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Science at St. Luke's College
    Finished
    96%
    Working at 6 months
    92%
    Earned in a quarter
    $15,893
    Length
    44 weeks, 33 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    19
    Earned a year, estimated
    $63,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,500
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Science at St. Luke's College

  • Medical lab technician (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    Medical Laboratory Technician *MDLAB.AAS

    Northeast Iowa Community College

    Calmar

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Northeast Iowa Community College, CalmarMedical lab technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$27,400
    Price if you pay yourself$8,553
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician *MDLAB.AAS at Northeast Iowa Community College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Technician *MDLAB.AAS at Northeast Iowa Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    88%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,854
    Length
    88 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    12
    Earned a year, estimated
    $27,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,553
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician *MDLAB.AAS at Northeast Iowa Community College

  • Medical lab technician (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    Medical Laboratory Technician, A.A.S.

    North Iowa Area Community College

    Mason City

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    North Iowa Area Community College, Mason CityMedical lab technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,815
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician, A.A.S. at North Iowa Area Community College
    More details about Medical Laboratory Technician, A.A.S. at North Iowa Area Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    30 weeks, 19 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,334
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,815
    Program website, Medical Laboratory Technician, A.A.S. at North Iowa Area Community College

  • Medical lab assistant courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Clinical Laboratory Assistant

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, OttumwaMedical lab assistant course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$9,318
    Program website, Clinical Laboratory Assistant at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Clinical Laboratory Assistant at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    36 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $9,318
    Program website, Clinical Laboratory Assistant at Indian Hills Community College

How to pay for medical lab technician programs in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for medical lab technician programs in Iowa

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for medical lab technician programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for medical lab technician programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Medical lab technician programs in Iowa

programs with a price cost under $10,000
5 of 10
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
10th of 18
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
6 of 10
medical lab programs here, against the typical state's 4
10 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the medical lab technician programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Medical lab technician programs in Ottumwa, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 more program is in 1 other area, 1 in smaller cities and towns and 1 online.

Other training in Iowa

How medical lab technician programs compare with the rest of medical office and lab work: Medical certification programs in Iowa

Where the Iowa medical lab program numbers come from

Which Iowa medical lab programs are on this list?

These are the medical lab programs Iowa approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Iowa offers.

How the prices and results of Iowa medical lab programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about medical lab technician programs in Iowa

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List