Medical Laboratory Technician - Associate of Applied Technology Degree
Medical laboratory technicians (MLT) are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing laboratory information from laboratory analyses of blood, body fluids and other biological specimens which assist physicians in patient diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease. These professionals use applied science and critical thinking skills to test, analyze and interpret laboratory results.
Clover Park Technical College offers a two-year Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program leading to an Associate of Applied Technology degree (AAT). The MLT program includes both theoretical and practical experience in blood collection and processing, hematology, hemostasis, clinical chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, immunology/serology, and immunohematology. The curriculum includes collecting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances, principles and methodologies, performance of assays, problem‐solving, troubleshooting techniques, significance of clinical procedures and results, principles and practices of quality assessment, for all major areas practiced in the contemporary clinical laboratory.
Clinical courses provide students with real life, hands-on experience performing laboratory tests in local affiliated hospital and laboratories in the surrounding area where students achieve competency in all skills required for entry-level positions into the profession.
Enrollment is limited to fourteen on-campus students. A distance learning option is available for students who have a guaranteed sponsorship at a clinical laboratory. This requires a legal agreement between the college and the laboratory. Contact the program director or MLT student advisor, Kevin Kildun, for additional information. Students must complete all general education requirements to be eligible to register for MLT courses. Registration is “first come, first served”.
Clinical Requirements
Students may be required to perform rotations on evening shift. Potential students must have the ability to discern colors. Students will be screened for color blindness. Individuals with complete color blindness will not be allowed into the program.
To participate in the clinical aspect of the program students must have
- dependable transportation to travel to clinical sites.
- a “No Record On File” Report related to crimes against persons on a criminal background check.
- CPR certification which must be valid through completion of clinical courses.
- proof of current immunizations or laboratory verification of immune status , which includes, but is not limited to, Hepatitis B series, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Tuberculosis Test, Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Varicella and Covid, as required by contracts with clinical facilities. Proof of immunizations is required by the first day of the quarter you start the program.
- proof of personal health/medical insurance that will be active throughout the clinical rotations.
Physical Requirements
Move freely and safely about the laboratory. Have full, stable use of hands and fingers with the ability to manipulate blood collection equipment, pipette minute amounts of liquid, and operate equipment. Read and comprehend technical and professional materials, texts, numbers and graphs displayed in print or monitor. Use electronic keyboard, computer and calculator with ease. Use clinical grade binocular microscope to evaluate clinical samples. Characterize color and odor. Reach laboratory bench tops and shelves. Be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time, up to 6-7 hours. Be able to safely lift and carry objects up to 25 lbs. and stand for long periods of time
Program Length
The program is approximately seven quarter, two quarters of general education requirements and five quarters of MLT specific courses. The student may wish to spread out the general education courses into more quarters. The general education courses must be completed prior to registering for the first MLT course. The MLT program is a combination of on-line, classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences which is completed in five quarters. Once the student enrolls in the MLT program it is full time for the five quarters.
Admission Date
Summer Quarter.
Employability Requirements
Graduates may be required to pass a national certification exam prior to employment.
Most MLTs work in a hospital laboratory, doctor’s office laboratory, or clinic, although there are many opportunities available to work in public health, research, or reference laboratory.
Many clinical laboratories function 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Employers staff the laboratory for three different shifts, days, evenings and nights. Other types of clinical labs, such as doctor's offices, offer traditional schedules, Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Program Outcomes
• Evaluate pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of clinical laboratory testing to ensure accurate laboratory results.
• Analyze appropriate samples in accordance with standard clinical laboratory operating procedures.
• Evaluate the results of clinical laboratory tests to determine clinical significance.
• Apply systematized problem-solving techniques to identify the appropriate course of action to correct procedural errors.
• Identify situations which require assistance when a problem exceeds capabilities.
• Integrate new techniques and procedures into modern laboratory practices.
• Apply laboratory infection control protocols to prevent the spread of infectious agents.
• Model effective communication with colleagues, health care professionals, and patients.
Completion Requirements
All courses must be completed with a "C" (2.0) or higher.
Program Course List
| COLL 102 | College Success for All | 3 |
| CAH 110 | Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology | 2 |
| BIOL& 160 | General Biology w/Lab | 5 |
| MATH& 146 | Introduction to Statistics | 5 |
| | Or | |
| | 100-level math class | 5 |
| PSYC& 100DIV | General Psychology | 5 |
| | Or | |
| | Any college-level Social Science or Humanities course that meets the diversity requirement | 5 |
| | Computer Literacy Requirement | 3 |
| ENGL& 101 | English Composition I | 5 |
| | Or | |
| CMST& 220 | Public Speaking | 5 |
| CHEM& 110 | Chemical Concepts w/Lab | 5 |
| | Or | |
| | Any college-level lab-based chemistry class | 5 |
| MLT 206 | Immunology | 6 |
| MLT 209 | Phlebotomy/Processing | 4 |
| MLT 230 | Urinalysis & Body Fluids | 6 |
| MLT 225 | Hematology & Coagulation | 8 |
| MLT 219 | Immunohematology | 8 |
| MLT 223 | Clinical Chemistry | 6 |
| MLT 226 | Clinical Microbiology | 6 |
| MLT 231 | Clinical Immunohematology | 5 |
| MLT 238 | Clinical Experience I | 11 |
| MLT 242 | Clinical Experience II | 6 |
| MLT 246 | Clinical Experience III | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 105 |
- Computer Literacy Requirements: Complete an approved computer literacy course or successfully pass the computer literacy exam.
- Before starting the MLT classes, students must complete all the general education courses required for the degree with a “C” (2.0) or better.
National Certification
Upon successful completion of the program graduates are eligible to take a national certification examination. Successful completion of the program is NOT contingent upon passing a national certification examination.
Program Accreditation
The MLT program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS):
5600 N. River Road Suite 720
Rosemont IL 60018
773-714-8880
http://www.naacls.org