Medical Laboratory Technology

The Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program prepares students for employment in clinical laboratories, industry and biotechnology as a Medical Laboratory Technician. The program curriculum integrates basic concepts, technical procedures, and laboratory exercises prior to clinical education at an affiliate site. This provides practical experience for students to master the competencies, skills, and knowledge required in this profession.

Projected annual enrollment: 70

Projected annual completion: 20

The MLT program is designed to produce trained employees to enter the medical laboratory workforce. As such, the program's primary learning outcome is to graduate competent, workplace-ready members of the health care team who

• Exhibit theoretical comprehension and competence in all MLT courses by passing comprehensive college and certification exams.
• Demonstrate entry-level MLT skills in the following clinical laboratory areas: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis and Coagulation, Immunology and Immunohematology, and Microbiology.
• Demonstrate professionalism and awareness of their role in the delivery of health care to patients, such as respecting the rights of patients, colleagues and other health professionals as they perform duties within the constraints of legal, moral and ethical conduct.
• Exhibit positive attitudes in the areas of professionalism and commitment to delivering excellent health care.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Medical Laboratory Technology program will be able to:

1. Effectively communicate orally and in writing.
2. Solve laboratory mathematics problems.
3. Properly collect, process, and analyze biological specimens.
4. Evaluate low to moderate complexity test results and correlate them to the health status of a patient.
5. Demonstrate and recommend currently approved laboratory safety procedures.
6. Make appropriate inferences and deductions from quality control data.
7. Safely and accurately perform analytical procedures, recognize factors that affect results, and take the appropriate action.
8. Use and maintain instruments of technology within the field.
9. Use experience and reasoning to identify problems in instrumentation.
10. Understand the role of the Medical Laboratory Technician in the delivery of health care and become professional members of the health care team.
11. Be eligible for California licensure and to sit for licensing examinations. 

Career Options:

The MLT program is designed to educate and prepare students to sit for a national exam, which when passed will allow for immediate entry into a clinical lab environment as a Medical Laboratory Technician or Chemical Technicians. The types of clinical labs include community-based hospital labs, teaching hospitals, private hospitals and clinics, and clinical research organization (CRO) support services.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to demonstrate skills and strategies to succeed in a clinical lab environment as a Medical Laboratory Technician.

The current workforce demand for students with academic experience in a clinical lab environment is well documented. Career opportunities are listed below.

Need for Proposal:

Faculty revised MLTT course numbers based on feedback from advisory board. Total certificate and degree major units increased from 26 to 28.