Despite the enormous growth the medical technology profession has enjoyed since World War II, it is often difficult to fill vacant positions. Evidence has indicated that this labor shortage may be concentrated at the technologist level. To investigate the causes of attrition at this level, a descriptive study was designed in which 83 medical technologists who identified themselves as dissociated from the profession were surveyed to determine their reasons for leaving the profession. The data of the total sample were divided into two groups for analysis. Data from the Domestic group indicated that only factors related to home and family responsibilities influenced the professional attrition of this group. Data from the Nondomestic group indicated that the primary factors contributing to the attrition of this group were job related, in terms of deficiency of satisfaction of the need of self-actualization. The results of this study suggest that a clearer definition of the role of the medical technologist in health care is needed and that an evaluation of the educational standards for the preparation of the medical technologist should be undertaken.