Medical Laboratory Technology - Lab Assistant (C45420C)

The Medical Laboratory Technology - Lab Assistant certificate is designed to provide the student with a concentrated course of study in the field of medical laboratory technology and phlebotomy. Upon completion of the required courses, a certificate is awarded by the College. Courses for the certificate may be applied toward the Associate in Applied Science Degree – Medical Laboratory Technology and/or the Phlebotomy Certificate/Diploma. Once students complete the Associate in Applied Science – Medical Laboratory Technology degree they may be eligible to sit for the examination given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Once students complete the Phlebotomy Certificate/Diploma requirements they may be eligible for national certification as phlebotomy technicians. Students who complete the Medical Laboratory Technology - Lab Assistant certificate may qualify for employment in hospitals, clinics, medical offices, and other healthcare settings.

Admission to Program

Students are encouraged to begin the admissions process early so that there will be time to complete any required pre-admission courses before the start of the program.

SCC Requirements

• Complete and return the SCC Application for Admission. (Students applying for admission must have a current SCC application on file.)
• Submit a copy of your high school diploma or GED/HSE certificate.
• Submit official transcripts from any community college or university previously attended.
• 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.
• Meet with an SCC counselor.

Program Requirements

Students seeking entry into phlebotomy courses must meet current program requirements listed on the Student Readiness Checklist on the SCC Nursing and Healthcare Training webpage.

Applicants are selected on a “best-qualified” basis and ranked based on order of qualifications determined by specific criteria. Criteria considered include grades in college courses related directly to the phlebotomy program (Transition English or placement assessment scores) and previous health professional training or proof of current certifications (EMT, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Nursing Assistant I, Nursing Assistant II, EMT-Intermediate, EMT Advanced, High School Health Occupations, and Medical Assisting, etc.).

Continuation in Program

Coursework

Students seeking entry to the medical laboratory technology/phlebotomy program should take courses in the sequence specified in the curriculum master plan of their chosen pathway. Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all medical laboratory technology, chemistry, biology, and phlebotomy curriculum courses to continue in the program.

Submission of Required Documentation

Enrollment and continuation in the program is contingent upon the submission of the required documentation on or before the specified date communicated by the college. Admission requirements include, but are not limited, to:

• Completed SCC Health Form
• Two-step TB skin test
• Recorded compliance with immunization requirements (included on the SCC Health Form)
• Certification of ability to perform essential functions
• Malpractice insurance
• OSHA training
• Certification from student’s healthcare provider showing evidence the student meets the conditions of physical and mental health capabilities at a level acceptable to and in keeping with safe care to the public (included on the SCC Health Form)
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Completed Background Check
• Completed 12-Panel Drug Screen

All students must meet clinical requirements. Failure to meet clinical requirements on or before the deadline communicated by the program director/MLT/phlebotomy faculty or failure to meet subsequent updates will result in removal of current phlebotomy student status.

Students in the phlebotomy program with pre-existing physical, mental, 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.

MLT/phlebotomy faculty and/or program director reserves the right to deny admission to a student who has demonstrated past behaviors which conflict with safety essential to care for the public or phlebotomy practice.

Relationship with Clinical Agency

The contract between SCC and a clinical agency requires that the college abides by the existing rules and regulations of the agency. Clinical agencies may require acceptable criminal background checks and drug screens prior to allowing students in the clinical area. From a safety perspective, the users of alcohol and drugs may impair the well-being of themselves and the persons they serve in the clinical settings. The college follows agency protocol regarding drug screening and criminal background checks. The college agrees to not assign or to withdraw any students from the clinical agency when the students are unacceptable to the agency because of health, performance, a positive criminal background check, or other reasonable causes. Without access to the clinical facilities, students will be unable to satisfactorily complete work experiences.

Students may be required, at their own expense, to be tested for consumption of alcohol/drugs for cause at any time while in this program. Clinical sites control admittance of all persons to their facilities.

Dismissal of Students

Faculty in the medical laboratory technology/phlebotomy program follow published college and healthcare training division policies and practices that provide for identification and dismissal of students as follows:

• demonstrate physical or mental problems which conflict with the safety essential to medical laboratory technology/phlebotomy practice and do not respond to appropriate treatment and/or counseling within a reasonable period of time.
• demonstrate unsafe or unethical clinical practices or behavior which conflicts with safety essential to medical laboratory technology/phlebotomy practice.

Students who demonstrate behavior that conflicts with safety essential to medical laboratory technology/phlebotomy practice can be dismissed from the program regardless of whether treatment or counseling has occurred.

Readmission

Readmission of students who were dismissed from the program for drug use and/or for any other physical, mental, or behavioral problem which conflict with the safety essential to medical laboratory technology/phlebotomy practice is contingent on professional documentation that appropriate treatment and/or counseling has taken place and that the problem has been adequately accommodated.