Medical Laboratory Technology

The Medical Laboratory Technology curriculum prepares individuals to perform clinical laboratory procedures in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunohematology that may be used in the maintenance of health and diagnosis/treatment of disease.

Course work emphasizes mathematical and scientific concepts related to specimen collection, laboratory testing and procedures, quality assurance and reporting/recording and interpreting findings involving tissues, blood, and body fluids.

Graduates may be eligible to take the examination given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Employment opportunities include laboratories in hospitals, medical offices, industry, and research facilities.

Progression in Program

Students are encouraged to begin preparation for the sequences of major courses early so that there will be time for them to complete pre-requisite courses, including MLT 110, and other requirements before they begin in the fall semester. As many as three semesters may be required to complete these pre-prerequisite courses depending upon the student’s placement. Program acceptance is dependent upon completion of pre-requisite courses.

Current Status in Program

SCC Requirements

  • Completion and return of the SCC Admissions Application.
  • Submission of a copy of high school diploma or GED/HSE certificate.
  • Complete all Southeastern requirements to be admitted as a degree seeking student.
  • Meet with the program advisor to discuss requirements, connected careers, and possible transfer opportunities.
  • Reassessment may be done only once, but no earlier than three months after the first assessment.
  • Meeting with an SCC counselor.

Submission of Required Documentation

Continuation in the medical laboratory technology program is contingent upon the submission of the required documentation on or before the first fall semester. These requirements include, but are not limited to:

  • Completed SCC Health Form
  • Recorded compliance with all immunization requirements (included in the SCC HealthForm)
  • Certification of ability to perform essential functions
  • Malpractice insurance
  • OSHA training
  • Physical exam and statement certifying the student’s physical and emotional health 
  • Completed Background Check
  • Completed 12-Panel Drug Screen.

All students must meet clinical requirements. Failure to meet clinical requirements by the first fall semester or subsequent updates will result in removal of current MLT student status. Students in the medical laboratory technology program with pre-existing physical, emotional, or behavioral problems which conflict with safe practice must provide professional certification that appropriate treatment and/or counseling has taken place and that the problem has been adequately accommodated to continue in the program.

Coursework

Students in the medical laboratory technology program should take courses in the sequence specified in the curriculum master plan. They must achieve a grade of C or better in all medical laboratory technology, chemistry, and biology curriculum courses in order to continue in the program. Students must have completed Anatomy and Physiology not more than ten years before starting MLT courses. Registration priority will be given to students in their first attempt of MLT courses but students may re-register for a course in a subsequent semester if space is available.

Relationship with Clinical Agency

Use of alcohol and drugs may impair the well-being of healthcare workers and the persons they serve in the clinical setting. In addition, the contract between SCC and a clinical agency requires that the college abide by the existing rules and regulations of the agency. Clinical agencies require acceptable criminal background checks and drug screens prior to participating in clinical. Clinical agencies control and can refuse to allow individuals to practice at their facility. Therefore, the college agrees to not assign a student to a clinical agency if the agency denies the student because of health, performance, a positive criminal background check, or other reasonable cause. Without access to the clinical facilities, students will be unable to satisfactorily complete the medical laboratory technology program courses. Students may be required, at their own expense, to be tested for consumption of alcohol/drugs for cause at any time while in the program.

Dismissal of Students

Faculty in the medical laboratory technology program follow published college and health technologies division policies and practices that provide for identification and dismissal of students who do the following:

  1. demonstrate physical or emotional problems which conflict with the safety essential to medical laboratory technology practice and do not respond to appropriate treatmentand/or counseling within a reasonable period of time.
  2. demonstrate unsafe or unethical clinical practices or behavior which conflicts with safety essential to medical laboratory technology practice. Students who demonstrate behaviorthat conflicts with safety essential to medical laboratory technology practice can be dismissed from the program regardless of whether treatment or counseling has occurred.

Transfer

Students desiring to transfer into the Medical Laboratory Technology program at SCC must meet the following criteria:

  • meet with the director of medical laboratory technology to verify that appropriate program pre- requisites have been met.
  • have been enrolled in a NAACLS accredited medical laboratory technology program within the past twelve months.
  • have written verification of good academic standing and good laboratory technique from the former institution's medical technology program director.

All transfer medical laboratory technology courses will be evaluated by SCC’s MLT Program Director. To be eligible to transfer, courses must be equivalent to courses offered at SCC in both theory and laboratory and clinical experience. The director of student services will determine the transferability of general education courses (Credits for Courses Not Completed at SCC, p. 68).

Readmission

Readmission students must meet current admission requirements. There can be no more than two admissions into the medical laboratory technology program. Readmission of students who were dismissed from the program for drug use and/or for any other physical, emotional, or behavioral problem which conflict with the safety essential to phlebotomy practice is contingent on professional documentation that appropriate treatment and/or counseling has taken place and that the problem has been adequately accommodated.

Degrees and Certificates