Program Overview

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Medical Laboratory Technician

Advancing Cures from Behind the Scenes

Program Duration: 18 Months

Degree Type: Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Total Credit Hours: 63

About This Program

Our Medical Laboratory Technician program will prepare you with the skills you need to test blood and other bodily fluids for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. You will learn how to use laboratory instruments and computers, collect and process specimens, and work as part of a health care team. As you progress through the program, you will receive lab training and classroom study, supervised time in hospitals and health care settings, and preparation to take a national exam for certification accepted throughout the United States. By graduating with this degree, you will be eligible to take the MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician) ASCP Board of Certification Exam.

Program Application and Requirements

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Join us for an online information session to learn more about the Medical Laboratory Technician program, how to apply to the program, and what careers you can pursue with a Medical Laboratory Technician degree.

Quick Information

• General Contact

Transfer Opportunities

• Public university in central Pennsylvania offering diverse programs.
• A private research university offering nearly 200 programs, featuring a diverse array of majors for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Requirements

What You'll Learn

• Collect biological samples safely and according to standard operating procedures
• Analyze biological samples safely and according to standard operating procedures
• Demonstrate a broad knowledge of basic laboratory tests for all lab departments in preparation for a certification exam
• Apply professional and ethical behaviors in the clinical laboratory setting
• Use problem solving skills to integrate laboratory data for patient diagnosis.

Course Sequence

Program Entry Requirements

• Admission is selective and requires that potential students fulfill all College admission requirements.
• Applicants for the program must have:
  • High school diploma or general education diploma (GED).
  • A minimum of one year of high school biology and chemistry or their applicable equivalents within the last 10 years with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Applicants must demonstrate readiness for ENGL101 and FMNT 118 as determined by the College's placement or by successfully completing identified developmental course work.
  • Minimum grade point average of 2.25
• Applicants must be 18 years of age on or before the first day of the semester in which they begin the program.

Conditions for Acceptance

• All applicants are notified in writing regarding the admissions decision.
• All offers of acceptance are contingent upon successful completion of the following:
  • Acknowledgement of Core Performance Standards for Health Care Career Programs and physical demand analysis
  • Clinical education requires the following:
    • Activity Tolerance: Move quickly and/or tolerate long periods of standing and/or sitting. Perform tasks accurately under time constraints.
    • Mobility: Ability to ambulate without assistive devices in confined areas, reach laboratory bench tops and equipment.
    • Motor Skills: Reach, manipulate, and operate equipment, instruments, and supplies to include VP needles and micropipettes.
    • Students who are registered with the Center on Disability must inform the Program Director if accommodations are required.
  • Completion of criminal background check, child abuse clearance, and drug screening:
    • Criminal Background Checks:
      • Any felony conviction within the past 10 years will result in denial of admission to the MLT program.
      • Any felony conviction more than 10 years old will be evaluated based on the nature of the offense, length of time since the offense and any explanatory letters/materials submitted by the applicant or student.
      • Any misdemeanor will be evaluated based on the nature of the offense, length of time since the offense and explanatory letter/materials submitted by the applicant or student.
    • Drug Screening Clearance:
      • The MLT program requires participation in clinical education. Clinical affiliates of the MLT program require evidence of a negative drug screening test in order for a student to participate in the clinical education part of the MLT program at their facility. Therefore, any student with a positive drug screening test cannot be admitted into the MLT program.
    • Additional conditions for acceptance into the program include:
      • Documentation of a complete physical examination (health form), including required laboratory tests (TB test, proof of immunity).
      • Documentation of up to date immunizations prior to clinical assignment. Additional immunizations (e.g., influenza) and antibody titers may be necessary.
      • Documentation of current health insurance coverage, which must be maintained throughout the Program.
      • Attendance at scheduled Program orientation prior to entry.
      • Purchase of MLT student uniform

Additional Expenses

• Additional expenses for students in the program include travel to clinical facilities, purchase of uniforms, shoes, laboratory coats, required textbooks, a physical examination and inoculations.

Reconsideration

• An applicant who believes that an error of fact has been made in terms of the information provided to the decision making committee can request reconsideration by the committee.
• This request must be made in writing within ten days from the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the decision.
• The reconsideration should address what the applicant considers to be errors of fact.

Disciplinary Action

• Involvement in any incident which resulted in a disciplinary action against a student at Community College of Philadelphia or any post-secondary institution is considered in the admissions process.
• The MLT program reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who has a history of violating College rules and regulations or who has been previously suspended or expelled from the College or any other post-secondary educational institution.

Dismissal from the Program

• The MLT Program reserves the right to dismiss any student:
  • who fails to observe the regulations of College and its clinical affiliates,
  • whose skills, attitude and behavior are viewed as inconsistent with professional standards,
  • whose general conduct is detrimental to the College and its clinical affiliates,
  • who does not meet the scholastic requirements of the MLT Program. A student who earns a grade of "D" or lower in any MLT course will be dismissed from the program.

Readmission Policy

• The MLT program is intended to be completed in 18 months beginning in September of each year.
• In order to progress through the program, students must complete all curriculum courses with a grade of "C" or better and maintain a GPA of 2.25 or higher.
• Eligible students seeking program readmission must do so within twelve (12) months of program separation.
• Program readmission is not guaranteed and is dependent upon program capacity and availability.
• A student must be eligible for readmission according to the College standards.
• Students who request to be considered for program readmission must meet the current admissions criteria and requirements at the time the request for readmission is placed.
• Readmitted students must follow the curriculum requirements at the time of their return to the program.

Students Eligible for Readmission

• Students who withdraw from the MLT program in good academic standing (grade "C" or better in all completed curriculum courses and GPA of 2.25 or higher)
• Students who are dismissed from the MLT program due to a grade "D" or lower in any MLT academic course, with a GPA at time of readmission request of 2.25 or higher

Students Ineligible for Readmission

• Students who are dismissed from the MLT program due to a grade "D" or lower in any clinical MLT course (MLT 102 and MLT 295)
• Students who are dismissed from the MLT program due to inappropriate conduct and/or violations of the College's academic integrity policy, clinical code of conduct, moral/ethical standards, professional standards or performance standards.

Process for Readmission Consideration

• In order to be considered for Program readmission, the applicant must:
  • Successfully complete all MLT Program prerequisite requirements.
  • Submit a letter to the Program Director requesting a readmission to the Program.
  • Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 for all college classes
  • Successfully complete a comprehensive written exam. The exam content will include current material from courses which the student previously completed.
  • Repeat previously completed courses as recommended by Program faculty. Curriculum analysis is conducted annually, and course content may change to ensure Program alignment with the ASCP exam Content.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements

• To qualify for the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree as a medical laboratory technician, a student must complete 63 credit hours as prescribed, attain a grade point average of 2.0 or better, and earn no grade below "C" in each MLT course and in each science course.

General Education Requirements

• All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above.
• Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form.

Overview

• The Medical Laboratory Technician curriculum prepares students for positions as technicians in hospital laboratories, physician offices, pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories or other types of clinical laboratory facilities.
• Technicians perform clinical laboratory procedures in chemistry, blood banking, microbiology, immunology, hematology, coagulation and other areas of the clinical laboratory, developing data used by a physician to determine the presence and extent of disease, as well as monitoring the patient's treatment.
• The student will spend time in clinical laboratories during their course of study to become familiar with the instrumentation, workload and day-to-day operations of the clinical laboratory.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:
  • Collect biological samples safely and according to standard operating procedures
  • Analyze biological samples safely and according to standard operating procedures
  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of basic laboratory tests for all lab departments in preparation for a certification exam
  • Apply professional and ethical behaviors in the clinical laboratory setting
  • Use problem solving skills to integrate laboratory data for patient diagnosis.

Semester 1

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)	3 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better to register for ENGL 102	Writing, Research, Info Lit 1
CHEM 110 - Introductory Chemistry or CHEM 121 - College Chemistry I	4 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better. CHEM 121 is recommended for students planning to transfer into a bachelor's degree program.	Scientific Reasoning
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra		Meet with an advisor to determine if you should take a higher level math course	Quantitative Reasoning
BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology or BIOL 109 and BIOL 110 Anatomy and Physiology		Students in this program must take either BIOL 108 or both BIOL 109 & BIOL 110. Students who choose the two-semester 109 & 110 sequence should take BIOL 241 in the summer between the second and third semester.	Major Course
MLT 102 - Phlebotomy		Must earn a grade of "C" or better. Math placement of FNMT 017. Co-requisite for MLT 155.

Semester 2

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)	3 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better. Prerequisite: ENGL 101 with grade of "C" or better.	Writing, Research, Info Lit 2
CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology	3 credits	Students must earn a grade of "C" or better demonstrating they have met minimum requirements of course.	Technology Competency
MLT 155 - Clinical Hematology	4 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better. Prerequisite for MLT 205.
BIOL 241 - Principles of Microbiology	4 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better in the course. Prerequisite for MLT 205	Major Course
CHEM 118 - Introduction to Biochemistry or CHEM 122 - College Chemistry II	4 credits	Prerequisites for CHEM 118: CHEM 101, CHEM 110 or CHEM 121 with a grade of "C" or better.	Major Course

Summer 1

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
MLT 205 - Immunohematology and Immunology	4 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better. Prerequisite for MLT 225 and MLT 245.	Major Course

Semester 3

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors)	3 credits	Most transfer institutions require a sociology course.	Cultural Analysis & Interpretation
MLT 225 - Clinical Chemistry	4 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better. Prerequisite course for MLT 265 and MLT 295.	Major Course
MLT 245 - Clinical Microbiology	4 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better. Prerequisite course for MLT 265 and MLT 295.	Major Course

Semester 4

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
ENGL 115 - Public Speaking or ENGL 116 - Interpersonal Communication or ENGL 117 - Group and Team Communication or ENGL 118 - Intercultural Communication or AH 116 - Therapeutic Communication	3 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better for transfer. Use academic advisors to direct students to the appropriate course based on transfer requirements.
MLT 265 - Current Topics in Medical Laboratory Sciences	3 credits	Must earn a grade of "C" or better. Prerequisites: MLT 225 and MLT 245	Major Course
MLT 295 - Clinical Practice	6 credits	Prerequisites: MLT 225 and MLT 245. MLT 265 may be taken concurrently.	Major Course

Launch Your Career as a Medical Laboratory Technician

• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician – est. salary $68,589*
• Medical Equipment Preparers – est. salary $45,802
• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians – est. salary $41,933

Career Outlook

• Median Salary of a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician: $68,589
• Number of Jobs in the Region: 2,396
• 10-year Job Outlook in the Region for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician: +11.5%

Featured Career

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician

• Perform routine and urgent medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
• The Medical Laboratory Technician can work as technicians in hospital laboratories, Red Cross laboratories, physician offices, pharmaceutical companies, veterinary laboratories or other types of clinical laboratory facilities.

Typical Tasks

• 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.
• Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.

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