Medical Laboratory Technician Associate in Science

A medical laboratory technician performs routine clinical laboratory testing procedures to provide scientific information needed in diagnosis, prognosis, 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.

Enrollment Completer Projections are projections of number of students to earn certificate or degree annually: 10-15

• To produce graduates eligible to take nationally recognized certification examination.
• To facilitate and foster the values necessary to practice laboratory medicine within the ethical and legal framework of the profession and the community.
• To produce students who exhibit professional behavior consistent with current academic and professional standards.
• To develop students who can analyze, interpret and perform laboratory tests proficiently.
• To help students acquire and strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• To provide graduates with the skills necessary to secure entry-level employment as a medical laboratory technician.
•  To assist students in performing all necessary duties in a safe environment utilizing all the latest techniques in the laboratory arena.
• To produce students who have the knowledge and respect needed to safely deal with hazardous materials.
•  To develop positive student attitudes for the pursuit of lifelong professional growth and development.

The Southwestern College (SWC) Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program prepares students to perform routine, moderate level complexity testing on human blood and body fluids. The results generated provide scientific information needed in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of diseases. MLT's utilize sophisticated instrumentation to perform testing, which includes qualitative and quantitative chemical and biological analyses of human body specimens. MLT's are mid-level practitioners that are supervised by Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS).

The MLT program requires a specific program application different from obtaining a SWC student ID. The application period is open every year from April 1 through June 25. The program application is posted online on the MLT website along with the MLT Student Handbook. The handbook explains all facets of the MLT program from the program mission statement, goals, course descriptions, prerequisite requirements, program policies, program course track, textbooks, etc. to listing the clinical sites affiliated with the program.

The MLT program requires students to complete five specific science prerequisite courses and all general education coursework. The *science prerequisites include Biology 260 (Human Anatomy), Biology 261 (Principles of Human Physiology), Biology 265 (General Microbiology), Chemistry 100 (Introduction to General Chemistry), and Chemistry 110 (Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry). To meet admission criteria for the program, the student's GPA for the five science courses must be 2.7 or higher. Students must demonstrate college level reading and math proficiency by completing English 115 (Reading Composition: Exposition and Argumentation) or other equivalent course,  and Math 60 (Intermediate Algebra I) or another equivalent course. Completion of a communications course (Oral or Interpersonal or Intercultural) is also required. All general education courses necessary for an associate degree must be completed before applying to the MLT program. Courses in progress or not completed will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and left to the Program Director’s discretion of acceptance.

In addition, students must possess a CA Phlebotomy Technician I or II (CPT I or CPT II) license and American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS)certification. License and certification MUST be current and kept current during MLT program enrollment. Students must meet with a counselor no more than six months prior to applying to develop a Student Education Plan (SEP). All coursework must be completed with a "C" grade or better. *The science prerequisite courses require a minimum of 3 units of lecture and 1 unit of lab.

Once admitted to the Medical Laboratory Technician Program, the student must provide verification of the following: Hepatitis B Immunity Verification, Tuberculosis Screening,       FLU Vaccine, H1N1 Vaccine(may not apply to all clinical affiliates), Diphtheria (Option Tdap- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis), Rubeola and Rubella Immunity Verification or MMR(Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Varicella (Chicken pox) vaccine or titer, Physical Health Examination , Malpractice Insurance (Purchased by student each Fall semester), and **Background check/drug screen. Students will be unable to attend clinical facilities for specified reasons, including the following convictions:

Murder, Felony assault, Sexual offenses/sexual assault, abuse, Felony drug and alcohol offenses (without certificate of rehabilitation), other felonies involving weapons and/or violent crimes, Felony theft, Fraud.  Final placement status based on background check information is the clinical sites determination. No Dilute Urine- the urine sample must have yellow color to it or may be rejected as dilute and the facility will not accept the student for clinical placement.  The MLT program may not be able to accommodate (keep) a student if the facility will not accept them due to background issues or urine drug screen issues. Misdemeanor convictions will be reviewed by the program director.

**A prescription card for medical marijuana will not be permitted as reason for positive drug screen.

Students are required to attend a mandatory orientation in July before the August start.

The MLT program students complete three semesters plus a summer session in the program. First is fall semester one, spring semester 2, summer session, and fall semester 3. All courses must be completed with a "C" grade or better to continue to the next block of courses. Courses cannot be taken out of sequence and are offered one time per year. The first fall semester includes MLT 80 ( Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Profession), MLT 90 (Clinical Urinalysis and Body Fluids), MLT 90L (Clinical Urinalysis and Body Fluids Lab),MLT 100 (Clinical Hematology/Coagulation), MLT 100L (Clinical Hematology/Coagulation Lab), MLT 110 (Clinical Chemistry I    ), MLT 110L (Clinical Chemistry I Lab), MLT132 (Clinical Immunology), and MLT 132L (Clinical Immunology Laboratory). In the spring semester students complete MLT 102 (Clinical Hematology/Coagulation/Urinalysis and Body Fluids/ Practicum), MLT 111 (Clinical Chemistry II), MLT 111L(Clinical Chemistry II Lab), MLT 120 (Clinical Microbiology), and MLT 120L(Clinical Microbiology Lab). During summer session, MLT 112 (Clinical Chemistry Practicum), MLT 130 (Clinical Immunohematology), and MLT 130L (Clinical Immunohematology Lab) are completed. The second fall and final semester, students complete MLT 79 (MLT Certification/Licensure Examination Preparation),MLT 121 (Clinical Microbiology Practicum), and MLT 131 (Clinical Immunology/Immunohematology Practicum).