What’s the Difference? 
      Clinical Microbiology                       Public Health Microbiology
      Investigates microorganisms                                Photo Credit: iStock, User: ronstik
      that cause infectious diseases.              Investigates microorganisms that pose 
                                                   threats to the public’s health. 
      Clinical Microbiologists
      What do clinical microbiologists do?
      Utilize digital technology to interpret clinical 
      cultures, perform identification of microorganisms 
      and initiate appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility 
      testing. Develop/validate complex laboratory assays 
      to complement public health goals in an outbreak 
      setting like COVID-19.
      Where do clinical microbiologists work?
      Hospital and commercial diagnostic reference 
      laboratories; private industry (e.g., pharmaceutical, 
      etc.); and academia.
     Photo Credits (top to bottom): www.istockphoto.com/dr_microbe; www.bls.gov; www.bls.gov; www.bls.gov.
   Careers & Educational Requirements 
   for Clinical Microbiologists
     Position                                        Education                                        Certification
     Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)             •  Associate Degree                              ASCP certifies scientists who have at least an 
                                                     •  Completion of an accredited MLT program       Associate degree or 60 semester hours (90 quarter 
                                                                                                      hours) of academic credit from a college/university 
                                                                                                      accredited by a recognized regional or national 
                                                                                                      accreditation agency, AND successful completion of a 
                                                                                                      NAACLS or ABHES accredited MLT within the last five 
                                                                                                      years.  
                                                                                                      Certifications include: 
                                                                                                      •  Medical Laboratory Technician,  MLT(ASCP)
     Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS               •  Bachelor’s Degree in the biology/health-      ASCP certifies scientists who have at least a 
                                                        related sciences                              Bachelor’s Degree and have completed MT training. 
                                                     •  Completion of an accredited MT program        Certifications include: 
                                                                                                      •  Medical Laboratory Scientist, (MLS)ASCP
                                                                                                      •  Specialist in Microbiology, (SM)ASCP
                                                                                                      •  Technologist in Microbiology, (M)ASCP
                                                                                                      •  Technologist in Molecular Biology, (MB)ASCP
     Director Level Clinical Microbiologist          •  Advanced Degree (Ph.D., M.D., DPH, D.O. or    American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM)  
                                                        Sc.D.) in Microbiology/Molecular Biology      certifies doctoral-level microbiologists who have 
                                                     •  Post Doc through                              completed post-doctoral training through a CPEP 
                                                        ASM’s Committee on Postgraduate Education     fellowship or acceptable alternate route. 
                                                         Programs (CPEP)                              Certification is for diplomate of the ABMM. 
                                                        training (optional but desirable)
   Clinical Microbiology Roles
                                                                                      Director
                                                                                      Director
                                                                        Required Education: Doctorate
                                                                        Required Education: Doctorate
                                                                               Manager (MLS)
                                                                               Manager (MLS)
                                                                 Required Education: Masters/Bachelors*
                                                                 Required Education: Masters/Bachelors*
            Supervisor (MLS)
            Supervisor (MLS)
                Required Education: 
                Required Education: 
                Masters/Bachelors*
                Masters/Bachelors*
                                                                                                                     Other
                                                               MLS                          MLT                      Other
                                                               MLS                          MLT
                                                                                                                Required Education: 
                                                        Required Education:          Required Education:        Required Education: 
     MLS – Medical Laboratory Scientist                 Required Education:          Required Education: 
                                                             Bachelors*                  Associates*                   Varies
     MLT – Medical Laboratory Technician                     Bachelors*                  Associates*                   Varies
                                                                                  *Clinical laboratory training also required. 
    Public Health Microbiologists
                          What do public health microbiologists  do?
                          Develop and perform diagnostic, outbreak and 
                          surveillance testing for infectious diseases in 
                          humans. Provide lab testing for a range of 
                          environmental & animal samples for pathogens of 
                          public health importance. 
                          Where do public health microbiologists work?
                          Local, state or national public health laboratories 
                          (e.g., CDC, NIH); academia; genetic diseases or 
                          environmental laboratories.
  Photo Credit: CDC Public Health Image Library