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 for employment in hospital laboratories, physician’s office laboratories, private sector clinical laboratories, blood services (transfusion) laboratories, and health department laboratories.

Admission Requirements: This is a restricted admissions program. Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to credit-level coursework established by the college. Please see the program-specific admission requirements at https://www.virginiawestern.edu/academics/health-professions/med-lab-technology/.

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*  and MTE 5*  must have successfully completed all developmental Mathematics requirements.

Program Notes: 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).

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. 

In order to graduate from the program, all students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all curricular courses. 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.

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.

AAS degrees prepare students for direct employment upon completion of the degree. However, many programs may also transfer to four-year institutions. Students interested in transferring should verify program requirements with specific four-year institutions and with the program head for Medical Laboratory Technology.