Medical laboratory technology is a profession which combines the challenges and rewards of medicine and science. Billions of laboratory procedures are ordered by physicians and performed by certified laboratory technicians and technologists. They range from simple pregnancy testing to more complex procedures for detecting such diseases as diabetes, anemia, and cancer. Medical laboratory technology is concerned with the accurate performance of these tests to determine the absence, presence, extent, and causes of disease.

Graduates of this nationally accredited, two-year associate degree program are eligible to be certified by nationally-recognized certification agencies. They work under the supervision of a pathologist or technologist/laboratory scientist and are qualified to perform a wide array of analytical tests in the areas of hematology, microbiology, chemistry, blood banking, coagulation, serology, and urinalysis. MLTs may work in community hospital laboratories, as well as private, industrial, and reference laboratories. Physician’s office laboratories, state and federal agencies, and the military are also sources of employment for certified medical laboratory technicians.

The curriculum consists of five continuous semesters of general education, basic science, and clinical laboratory science coursework, including an extensive internship in an affiliated hospital.

Students completing requirements will be guaranteed placement in a clinical affiliation site based on their GPA for MLTC courses.

Certification

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates are awarded the associate of applied science degree and are eligible to become nationally certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).  If a student should choose, he/she can continue their education and with a bachelor’s degree and 2 years of working under the direction of a pathologist can sit for national certification as a medical laboratory scientist.

Accreditation

The MLT program is nationally accredited and recognized by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL  60018-5119 -  phone (847) 939-3597

Employment Opportunities

Health care continues to be one of the fastest growing service industries in the United States. Employment opportunities are generally available within our geographical area as well as throughout the United States.

Academic Requirements

Eligibility for clinical practicum, as well as continuation in the MLT program, requires that students:

• Achieve a grade of “C” or better in the lab and lecture portions of all MLTC courses.
• Achieve a passing grade in all non-MLTC courses.
• Maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or above in all MLT required courses.

Application to the Program

See the Associate Degree Admission Requirements on page 140. Students applying to the MLT program with math and English ACT scores less than 19 and 22 respectively must take the Shawnee State placement examination if they have not completed mathematics and English courses at the college level. Students are also required to make an appointment with the MLT chairperson (740.351.3388) for a conference once they are notified that application to the MLT program is complete. All application materials must reach the admission office by April 1 to be considered for the first round of admissions to the MLT program. After April 1 others will be considered on a space available basis.

Health and Physical Ability Requirements

There are specific health and physical ability requirements for the medical laboratory technology program. This information is provided at the time of application to the program.

Please Note

Registration for courses with the MLTC prefix requires admission to the MLT program and the approval of the MLT chairperson. Only those students who have been officially accepted or named as an alternate in the program may register for courses beginning with the MLTC prefix.