mos.directory

Navy NEC · Medical

L31A Medical Laboratory Technician

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

Browse Navy

Overview

Medical Laboratory Technicians perform and supervise moderate and high complexity testing using manual and automated laboratory methods across disciplines such as bacteriology, hematology, chemistry, toxicology, and urinalysis. They independently operate, maintain, and validate laboratory equipment and results involved in patient care.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Core Skills

  • Moderate and high complexity clinical testing
  • Clinical bacteriology, mycology, and parasitology testing
  • Immunohematology, hematology, chemistry, and toxicology testing
  • Laboratory equipment maintenance and result validation

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Your manual and automated clinical testing, equipment maintenance, and result validation experience directly overlaps civilian laboratory technician work.

How to prepare: Compare your laboratory training transcripts, existing credentials, and documented testing experience with a target employer's technician qualifications; technicians sometimes qualify with an associate's degree.

What the civilian work involves
  • Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
  • Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
  • Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • MEDITECH software
  • Microsoft Excel

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Your performance and supervision of moderate and high complexity testing, including chemistry and validation of patient-care results, overlaps technologist duties.

How to prepare: Have a target employer review your existing education, credentials, and laboratory experience against its technologist qualifications, identifying only unmet requirements; technologists typically need a bachelor's degree.

What the civilian work involves
  • Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results.
  • Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components.
  • Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • MEDITECH software
  • Commercial plate reader software

Notes & Sources

  • Some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed or registered, with requirements varying by state and specialty. Check your existing licenses and credentials with the intended state's health department or licensing board.
  • Employers may prefer certification, and some states require it for licensure. Certification exams typically require completion of an accredited education program.
Evidence for this guidance (4 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC L31A

    [1] NEC entry "L31A - Medical Laboratory Technician"; cached text line 8063; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Moderate and high complexity clinical testing, Clinical bacteriology, mycology, and parasitology testing, Immunohematology, hematology, chemistry, and toxicology testing, Laboratory equipment maintenance and result validation, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians (O*NET 29-2012.00), Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (O*NET 29-2011.00)

  2. O*NET: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians (O*NET 29-2012.00)

  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians

    [3] How to Become One; retrieved 23 September 2026

    Supports: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians (O*NET 29-2012.00), Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (O*NET 29-2011.00)

  4. O*NET: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (O*NET 29-2011.00)

Defense contractor jobs for L31A

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

Report an error on this page