A day in this work
You run the tests and scans that doctors rely on: blood work, X-ray, CT, MRI, dialysis. Precise, steady work with quick routes into a job.
Ways in
- BSc in medical lab technology, radiology or another allied health field (3 to 4 years)
- Diploma courses (2 years) for technician roles
- Hospital apprenticeships
After Class 10
Science with Biology (PCB) or Science with Maths (PCM)
Entrance exams to know
- University and state entrance tests
- CUET-UG (some universities)
- NEET-UG (some states)
Years, cost and pay
- Years of study
- 2 to 4
- Whole-course cost, government or aided
- under ₹2 lakh
- Whole-course cost, private
- ₹2 to 8 lakh
- Typical starting pay
- under ₹3 lakh a year
Indicative bands from the pilot dataset (0.1 (pilot), 19 September 2026). Real fees and pay vary a lot by college, city and year. Check the official sites below.
No college, coaching institute, lender or study-abroad agent pays to appear on these pages. Pathways takes no money from them.
Outlook, and how AI is changing this work
Outlook: Growing. AI changes some of the daily work.
Machines automate more analysis. People who can run, check and maintain them are needed in every district.
Try this week
Ask a local diagnostic lab if you can visit for half an hour with a parent and see what a technologist does.
Check the facts yourself
These are official sites. Exam names, dates, fees and rules change every year, so confirm them there. Each link opens in a new tab.
Careers close to this one
See how well this fits you
Discovery in the app takes about eight minutes and gives each of these 52 careers a fit score from your own answers. It is free during the pilot, and nobody is asked for an email address or a phone number. Students under 18 need a parent or guardian to agree first, and children under 13 cannot join yet.