Medical Laboratory Technician
Associate in Science
Career/Technical (Major Code: 02385)
A medical laboratory technician performs routine clinical laboratory testing procedures to provide scientific information needed in diagnosis, management, and treatment of disease. Technicians use sophisticated instrumentation for these evaluations which encompass quantitative and qualitative chemical and biological analyses of body fluid specimens. Technicians function under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. The program prepares students for a career in Medical Laboratory Technology through the studies in humanities, social and natural sciences, and the field of Medical Laboratory Technology. Emphasis is placed on the clinical practice in the context of laboratory medicine. Graduates are eligible to take a nationally recognized certification examination.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Ability to articulate professionally and competently with all stakeholders in the healthcare setting regarding patient care.
- Analyze and evaluate medical laboratory science theory to achieve a minimum passing score of 400 on the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) board of certification exam.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites | ||
| BIOL 260 | HUMAN ANATOMY | 4 |
| BIOL 261 | PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| BIOL 265 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | 4 |
| CHEM 100 | INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| CHEM 110 | ELEMENTARY ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| ENGL 115 | COLLEGE COMPOSITION: READING AND WRITING ANALYTICALLY | 4 |
| COMM 103 | ORAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| or COMM 174 | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | |
| MATH 60 | INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA I (FOR LIBERAL ARTS MAJORS) | 4 |
| Total Units | 31 | |
Department Acceptance into the Medical Laboratory Technician Program
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| MLT 80 | INTRODUCTION TO THE CLINICAL LABORATORY PROFESSION | 2 |
| MLT 90 | CLINICAL URINALYSIS AND BODY FLUIDS | 1 |
| MLT 90L | CLINICAL URINALYSIS AND BODY FLUIDS LABORATORY | 0.5 |
| MLT 100 | CLINICAL HEMATOLOGY | 3 |
| MLT 100L | CLINICAL HEMATOLOGY LABORATORY | 1 |
| MLT 110 | CLINICAL CHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| MLT 110L | CLINICAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 1 |
| MLT 132 | CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY | 1 |
| MLT 132L | CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY | 0.5 |
| Units | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MLT 102 | CLINICAL HEMATOLOGY, COAGULATION, URINALYSIS AND BODY FLUIDS PRACTICUM | 3 |
| MLT 111 | CLINICAL CHEMISTRY II | 3 |
| MLT 111L | CLINICAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 1 |
| MLT 120 | CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
| MLT 120L | CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 1 |
| SUMMER | ||
| MLT 112 | CLINICAL CHEMISTRY PRACTICUM | 3 |
| MLT 130 | CLINICAL IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY | 3 |
| MLT 130L | CLINICAL IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY LAB | 1 |
| Units | 18 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| MLT 79 | MLT CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE EXAMINATION PREPARATION | 2 |
| MLT 121 | CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY PRACTICUM | 3 |
| MLT 131 | CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOG Y PRACTICUM | 3 |
| Units | 8 | |
| Total Units | 39 | |
To earn an associate degree, additional general education and graduation requirements must be completed.
How to Apply
Applicants must be eligible for admission to the College. In addition to the College application, a special application for the program is required. Program information and application forms are available on the Medical Laboratory Technology website. Applications will be accepted after prerequisite courses and other requirements are met. Students accepted into the medical laboratory technician program are subject to further screening to determine eligibility to be admitted into the program.
Special Instructions
Students enrolled in the medical laboratory technician program are required to provide their own transportation to off-campus clinical agencies. A fee for malpractice insurance is charged for each year of the program, as well as a minimal fee for supplies. Students are also responsible for purchasing certain equipment such as a laboratory coat. CPR certification: students are required to be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) prior to admission and to maintain certification throughout the program. Phlebotomy skills: students must be California licensed phlebotomists (CPT-I or II) prior to admission and maintain an active license throughout the program.
A grade of “C” or better is required in all medical laboratory technician courses for progression and satisfactory completion. Progress in the medical laboratory technician program is dependent upon completion of medical laboratory technician courses in the prescribed sequence as outlined for the program. Students will not be permitted to progress to the next semester until previous semester medical laboratory technician courses are successfully completed.
Medical Laboratory Technology—Associate in Science
In order to apply to the medical laboratory technician program, applicants must document completion of the following:
- Basic science prerequisites (see below) must be completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. Evaluated foreign transcripts not submitted at time of application may not be used to meet program or graduation requirements. Required science courses taken at Southwestern College have prerequisites including college-level biology, chemistry, and algebra courses.
Course List Code Title Units BIOL 260 HUMAN ANATOMY 4 BIOL 261 PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 4 BIOL 265 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY 4 CHEM 100 INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL CHEMISTRY 4 CHEM 110 ELEMENTARY ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 4 - Graduation from a U.S. high school or satisfactory score on the GED or evidence of other high school equivalency certificate or a degree from a U.S. accredited institution.
- College-level reading ability as evidenced by a satisfactory result on the Southwestern College Reading Assessment process, earning a “C” or better in RDG 158, ENGL 115, or equivalent reading course; equivalency documented by approved petition; or college transcript showing an earned associate or bachelor’s degree from a U.S. accredited institution.
- Math proficiency as evidenced by earning a “C” or better in MATH 60 or a higher-numbered math course with equivalent content, except MATH 100 or MATH 115 which do not meet the minimum program standards. Recommend MATH 119 for students planning to transfer
Students who are accepted into the program must meet the following conditions.
- Attend a scheduled class orientation
- Submit a completed physical examination form with evidence of required immunizations and tuberculosis screening
- CPR certification
- Provide evidence of payment of malpractice insurance premium
Students must verify completion of the series of vaccinations for Hepatitis B or immunity to Hepatitis B or sign a form declining to be vaccinated.
Accepted students are required to complete an online background check and drug screening. The background check and drug screening are mandated by the policies of the hospitals/clinical sites for all health occupation programs faculty and students. Anyone with background check issues (includes misdemeanors and felonies) may not be eligible for the program. Many of the hospital systems are now refusing to take students with any background check issues. Each student situation will be evaluated as they complete the background check. The student must provide a urine sample for drug testing per hospital request.