Associate in Medical Laboratory Technology (A45420)
Program Title
Medical Laboratory Technology (AAS)
Program Description
The Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program prepares students to perform clinical laboratory procedures used in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Instruction includes both theoretical and practical applications in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunohematology.
Coursework emphasizes specimen collection, laboratory testing procedures, quality assurance, and the reporting and interpretation of laboratory findings involving blood, tissues, and body fluids. Students develop competencies in pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes.
Graduates are prepared for employment in hospitals, physician offices, reference laboratories, research facilities, and related healthcare settings. Graduates may be eligible to sit for national certification examinations; however, completion of the program does not guarantee certification success.
Program Purpose
The purpose of the Medical Laboratory Technology program is to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors necessary to perform clinical laboratory procedures in a variety of healthcare settings.
Program Goals
Graduates of the MLT program will demonstrate entry-level competencies in the following areas of clinical laboratory practice:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Hematology
- Microbiology
- Immunohematology
- Serology
- Phlebotomy
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Collect, process, and analyze biological specimens accurately and safely.
- Perform laboratory testing procedures on body fluids, cells, and tissues.
- Recognize factors that affect test results and implement corrective actions within established guidelines.
- Apply quality control and quality assurance principles in laboratory operations.
- Perform routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting of laboratory equipment.
- Apply safety standards and regulatory guidelines in the laboratory environment.
- Demonstrate professional behavior, ethical practice, and effective communication skills.
- Collaborate effectively with healthcare professionals and members of the laboratory team.
- Correlate laboratory findings with common disease processes.
- Demonstrate readiness for continued professional development and lifelong learning.
Program Outcomes
Graduates will demonstrate entry-level competency in clinical laboratory science and be prepared for employment in a variety of healthcare settings.
Accreditation
The Medical Laboratory Technology program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
Admission Policy
Applicants seeking admission to the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Submit a completed application for admission to the college.
- Provide documentation of high school graduation or equivalency, along with any post-secondary transcripts for transfer credit evaluation.
- Complete a counseling interview with the MLT Program Director or Clinical Instructor.
- Submit a signed statement acknowledging understanding of the Essential Functions required for clinical laboratory practice.
- Provide documentation of satisfactory physical and emotional health, as evidenced by a completed physical examination form. This requirement must be met by the summer semester of the second year of the program.
- Science classes must have been completed within five (5) years before acceptance into the program (Bio 168, Bio 169, and Bio 175).
- Be at least 18 years of age prior to enrollment in MLT 110.
Admission requirements are designed to ensure students are prepared to meet the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective competencies designated by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
Readmission Policy
Students seeking readmission to the MLT program must submit a written request to the Program Director during the semester prior to the requested return and comply with all institutional policies.
Readmission is subject to the following conditions:
- Students dismissed from clinical practicum for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for readmission.
- Readmission requires approval by the Program Director and appropriate college administration.
- Students are limited to one readmission opportunity.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required.
- Readmission is contingent upon the availability of clinical placement.
- Coursework older than two (2) years may require repetition or successful completion of a proficiency examination with a minimum grade of 78%.
These policies ensure students maintain competency consistent with NAACLS standards for safe and effective clinical practice.
Selection Procedures
Due to limited laboratory and clinical capacity, admission to the MLT program is selective.
- Enrollment is limited to a maximum number of 10 qualified students per cohort
- Selection is based on a ranking system that may include:
- Academic performance (high school GPA or equivalent)
- Grades in related college coursework
- Transfer credits
- Completion of science and math courses
- Extra points for relevant healthcare experience
Selection procedures occur during the summer, and students are notified by email of their acceptance into the MLT program.
Essential Functions
To meet program requirements and perform safely in a clinical laboratory environment, students must be able to:
- Operate laboratory equipment and perform technical procedures with precision.
- Manipulate specimens and assist patients as required for specimen collection.
- Visually evaluate laboratory results, including microscopic and color-based reactions.
- Communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with patients and healthcare professionals.
- Demonstrate emotional stability and psychological health in day-to-day interaction with patients, visitors, staff, and peers in routine and non-routine decision-making processes and on the daily execution of didactic and clinical assignments.
- See through a microscope clearly enough to differentiate microscopic components.
- Discriminate color reactions.
These essential functions align with NAACLS expectations for student performance in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains.
Health and Safety Requirements
Students must meet all health and safety requirements before participation in clinical experiences, including:
- Physical Examination Form – completed by a healthcare provider;
- Evidence of current immunizations
- Tetanus or Tdap (within 10 years)
- Influenza
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 immunizations or positive titers)
- Varicella (2 immunizations or positive titer)
- Hepatitis B (series of 3 immunizations or positive titer or a sign letter delineations)
- Results of two TB tests within the past 12 months, with the second one within 90 days prior to the student entering their Practicum, or negative chest X-ray results within the past five years for a history of positive TB test
- COVID Vaccine is required, or a waiver must be approved by the clinical site.
- Criminal background checks/drug screening exams per clinical agency requirements (NOT required for HCC admission, must use our MLT HCC Form).
- Must have liability insurance purchased through the College. The fee will be paid at the Cashier’s Office at HCC (You must keep the receipt to show proof of purchase).
Immunizations may not be declined except by a written statement from the student’s healthcare provider for acceptable exemptions (example: allergy). Students who do not have access to previous immunization records may provide titer results demonstrating immunity as applicable.
Explanation of Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening
In the MLT program, students are assigned clinical rotations in several participating agencies. The clinical agencies may require that students, before or while practicing in the agency, have a criminal background check and/or drug screening performed. The drug screening may be done once before the student reports to the clinical agency or randomly at any time during the clinical experience. If the student has a criminal conviction, tests positive for illicit drugs, or drugs for which the student cannot produce a valid prescription, the agency may refuse to allow the student to participate in the clinical experience. Halifax Community College recognizes and is fully supportive of the clinical agencies that choose to perform drug tests and/or criminal background checks on MLT students.
If an MLT student is prohibited from participating in any clinical agency based on a criminal background or positive drug screening, the student will be dismissed from the MLT program due to the inability to complete the MLT curriculum. All costs associated with criminal background checks and drug screening in the clinical agency are the responsibility of the student.
Faculty
Lonnie Barker, MBA, MLS (ASCP) MLT/PBT Program Director, Instructor.
Wendy Barley, MBA, MLS (ASCP) MLT/PBT Instructor
Clinical Education and Affiliations
Students complete supervised clinical experiences at affiliated healthcare facilities. Clinical sites are selected to provide exposure to a wide range of laboratory procedures and patient populations.
ECU North, 250 Smith Church Road, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
UNC Nash General Hospital, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
ECU Heritage Hospital, 111 Hospital Drive, Tarboro, NC 27886
ECU Roanoke Chowan Hospital, 500 S. Academy Street, Ahoskie, NC 27910
VCU Community Memorial Hospital, 1755 N Mecklenburg Ave, South Hill, VA 23970
DLP Maria Parham Medical Center, 566 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, NC 27536
Bon Secours Southampton Memorial Hospital, 100 Fairview Dr, Franklin, VA 23851
DLP Wilson Medical Center, 1705 Tarboro St, Wilson, NC 27893
Boice-Willis Clinic, Rocky Mount Medical Park 901 N. Winstead Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Bon Secours Southside Medical Center, 200 Medical Park. Blvd, Petersburg, VA 2385
Bon Secours Southern Regional, 727 N Main St, Emporia, VA 23847
Students complete supervised clinical experiences at affiliated healthcare facilities. Clinical sites are selected to provide exposure to a wide range of laboratory procedures and patient populations.
Clinical placements are subject to availability and may change to meet program needs and accreditation requirements.
Program Compliance Statement (NAACLS Alignment)
The Medical Laboratory Technology program is designed to meet or exceed the Standards of Accredited Educational Programs for the Medical Laboratory Technician as established by NAACLS. Policies related to admission, progression, and clinical participation ensure that students achieve competency in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains required for entry-level practice.
The possible transfer or substitution of general education courses must be evaluated by the Registrar's Office. Call 252-536 7227 for information regarding transcript evaluation and credit transfer.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan
First Year
Fall Semester
Subtotal: 18
Spring Semester
|
BIO 169
|
Anatomy and Physiology II
|
4
|
|
BIO 175
|
General Microbiology
|
3
|
|
CHM 132
|
Organic and Biochemistry
|
4
|
|
ENG 112
|
Writing/Research in the Disciplines
|
3
|
|
MLT 120
|
Hematology/Hemostasis I
|
4
|
Subtotal: 18
Summer Semester
Subtotal: 6
Second Year
Fall Semester
|
MLT 125
|
Immunohematology I
|
5
|
|
MLT 141
|
General Clinical Microbiology
|
3
|
|
MLT 216
|
Professional Issues
|
1
|
|
MLT 251
|
MLT Practicum I
|
1
|
|
PSY 150
|
General Psychology
|
3
|
|
Elective
|
Humanities/Fine Arts
|
3
|
Subtotal: 16
Spring Semester
Subtotal: 12
Subtotal: 70
First Year
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
| BIO 169 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIO 175 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| CHM 132 | Organic and Biochemistry | 4 |
| ENG 114 | Professional Research & Reporting | 3 |
| MLT 120 | Hematology/Hemostasis I | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Summer Semester
| MLT 111 | Urinalysis & Body Fluids | 2 |
| MLT 130 | Clinical Chemistry I | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Second Year
Fall Semester
| MLT 125 | Immunohematology I | 5 |
| MLT 141 | General Clinical Microbiology | 3 |
| MLT 216 | Professional Issues | 1 |
| MLT 251 | MLT Practicum I | 1 |
| PSY 118 | Interpersonal Psychology | 3 |
Elective
| Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
Total Credit Hours: 71
Requirements
Requirements
Humanities Electives
Humanities Electives