Medical Laboratory Technology, A.A.S.

Associate of Applied Science
151

Purpose: The curriculum is designed to prepare selected students as clinical laboratory professionals who are responsible for the collecting, processing, and analyzing of biological specimens, performing laboratory procedures, maintaining instruments, and relating findings to common diseases or conditions. Medical Laboratory Technicians often work under the supervision of Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS), who hold a Bachelor of Science or higher degree.

Program Objectives: The VWCC Associate Degree Medical Laboratory Technology Program mission is to prepare professional clinical laboratory scientists hospital laboratories, physician’s office laboratories, private sector clinical laboratories, blood services (transfusion) laboratories, and health department laboratories.

Developmental Requirements: Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to credit-level coursework established by the college.

Applicants must receive an ENG 111 placement recommendation or have successfully completed all developmental English requirements.

Applicants who do not demonstrate proficiency in MTE 1 , MTE 2 , MTE 3 , MTE 4 , MTE 5 , MTE 6 , MTE 7 , MTE 8 and MTE 9 must have successfully completed all developmental Mathematics requirements.

Clinical Requirement: Medical laboratory personnel frequently work with blood and body fluids which may harbor infectious diseases such as bacteria and viruses. Students may likewise be exposed to potentially infectious blood borne disease as well as bacterial and viral cultures in the clinical microbiology laboratory.

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION: The Medical Laboratory Technology program is accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018 (773-714-8880 and NAACLSinfo@naacls.org).

Although this program is not designed for transfer, agreements with specific institutions may exist. Contact the Medical Laboratory Technology program head as listed on program webpage.

Prior to First Semester^

^{^See Admission Requirements}

BIO 141 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 CR ^{*, 2}
CHM 111 - General Chemistry I 4 CR *
ENG 111 - College Composition I 3 CR *

First Semester

SDV 101 - Orientation to Health Professions 2 CR ³
BIO 142 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 CR *,²
HLT 105 - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 1 CR ¹
PHI 220 - Ethics 3 CR
PSY 230 - Developmental Psychology 3 CR *

Second Semester

MDL 125 - Clinical Hematology I 3 CR
MDL 126 - Clinical Immunohematology/Immunology I 4 CR
MDL 215 - Immunology 2 CR
MTH 155 - Statistical Reasoning 3 CR *

Third Semester

Fourth Semester

Fifth Semester (Summer)

MDL 290 - Coordinated Internship in Medical Laboratory Technology 5 CR

Total Minimum Credits for Degree: 66

¹ CPR certification can be used to satisfy this requirement.

² Must be completed within five years of beginning the program.

³The two credit SDV 108 will satisfy the SDV 101 requirement. SDV 108 is for developmental English students.

* This course has a requisite.

Admissions Requirements: Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to credit-level coursework established by the college. Applicants to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program must hold a high school diploma or GED and meet the developmental requirements listed above prior to applying for admission to the AAS Medical Laboratory Technology Program.

Applicants must complete the prerequisites listed below with a grade of “C” or higher by the end of the spring semester prior to the beginning of the program:

The applicant’s cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) must be at least 2.0. If the applicant has completed college coursework, the applicant’s cumulative college GPA must be at least 2.0 based on at least 12 credit hours of college credit in a 12 month time frame. The GPA is determined at the end of the fall semester prior to admission. High school graduates and GED holders who earned less than a 2.0 GPA during high school will be considered for admission if they have earned a college GPA of 2.0 or above based on at least 12-semester college credit hours within a 12-month period.

Admission Procedures: Admission to the program is competitive and is based on cumulative GPA, strength of science courses, performance on TEAS for Allied Health at student’s expense, and interview. The Medical Laboratory Technology Program accepts new students each fall. Deadline for submitting completed application materials is May 1 for the upcoming academic year. Applicants are responsible for making certain that the following have been submitted to the Health Careers Information Specialist in addition to a current college application: official transcripts from all colleges attended (transcripts from VWCC or other Virginia Community Colleges are not required), official transcripts showing completion of a high school diploma or records showing completion of GED with scores, and a current Medical Laboratory Technology application form. MLT Application forms are available on our website. Early admission is encouraged for advising purposes. Meeting curriculum standards does not guarantee program admission. Applicants will be notified of their program admission status in Summer.

Program Requirements: Upon admission to the program students must complete a medical examination including a 2-step tuberculin skin test, and proof of immunizations including documentation of HBV status. Cost for medical examination and testing will be the responsibility of the student. Admitted students must also undergo criminal background checks for criminal history and a urine drug screen prior to beginning the clinical rotation component of the program. Students with convictions or positive drug tests may be prohibited from clinical rotations and may not complete the program. The student is responsible for all costs of drug and criminal background screening. A felony offense may prevent a student from completing a hospital clinical rotation.

Clinical experience will be provided in the final semester of the program in affiliated hospitals or laboratories. Students must purchase required apparel before the start of clinical rotations.

All students in the program must earn a grade of “C” or better in BIO 142 , MTH 155 and all MDL courses in order to graduate from the program. A student receiving a final grade lower than “C” in any program course will be ineligible to continue in the program.

Upon graduating from the program, students will be eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology MLT(ASCP) certification exam.