Program Overview

Background

The Medical Laboratory Technology Program is designed to prepare students for successful careers as Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs).

Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) are vital to the healthcare team as they are often the first to produce patient test results. MLT’s use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation, as well as manual procedures, to perform testing and provide results that are essential in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. It is estimated that over 70% of all medical decisions are based in part on laboratory results.

The MLT Program at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) offers a diverse and multi-level education in the areas of collecting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances, principles and methodologies, performance of assays, problem solving, troubleshooting techniques, correlation of clinical procedures and results, principles and practices of quality assessment, for all major areas: clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology practiced in the contemporary clinical laboratory.

Mission Statement

The Medical Laboratory Technology Program sponsored by Mercer County Community College strives to provide a foundational clinical laboratory science curriculum and offer experiences that prepare students for success as entry level medical laboratory technicians. The program provides the education and technical training to equip students to function competently and transition into an essential member of the healthcare community while encouraging life-long learning.


Employment Opportunities

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment of medical laboratory technologists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster the average for all occupations.” Medical laboratory technicians are in demand. Salaries are competitive, with averages ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 (Mean, $41,250). Most companies hiring our graduates offer sign-on bonuses as well.

Positions for Medical Laboratory Technicians can range from:
Hospital Laboratories
Physicians' Office Laboratories
Public Health Clinics
Blood Collection Facilities
Reference Laboratories
Pharmaceutical Firms
Research Institutions
Manufacturing Companies
And more

Accreditation

The MCCC Medical Laboratory Technology Program is accredited by:

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119.
Telephone: 847.939.3597
773.714.8880
773.714.8886 (FAX)
info@naacls.org
http://www.naacls.org
The Standards of Accredited Programs for the Clinical laboratory Technician/Medical Laboratory Technician are available from the program coordinator’s office.

Certification

Certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) may be required by some employers hiring Medical Laboratory Technicians in the clinical laboratory setting. While completion of the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Certification Exam is not a mandatory part of the MLT program, MCCC’s MLT curriculum instruction is centralized around preparing students to pass this national certification exam. MCCC encourages all graduates to apply for ASCP Certification.

Graduates of this program are immediately eligible for certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOR)

https://www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification