MHPC Medical Laboratory Technician Program

In keeping with the mission of the Missouri Health Professions Consortium (MHPC), the Medical Laboratory Technician program has been developed to meet the increasing demand for highly competent medical laboratory technicians in rural and underserved areas of Missouri. The purpose of this associate degree program is to prepare selected individuals to provide accurate and reliable diagnostic testing results to the citizens of Missouri. We educate and prepare laboratory generalists, to have the knowledge, skills and professional behaviors that are necessary to be eligible to apply for the national certification examination as well as meet employer expectations in the community service area.

Upon completion of the MHPC Medical Laboratory Technician Program, the graduate will be eligible to sit for the ASCP-BOC certification exam. Upon passing the exam, graduates will be recognized nationally as Medical Laboratory Technicians.

Graduates of the program will have experience in and be qualified to provide laboratory services to patients in many different healthcare settings, including, but not limited to, hospitals, clinics and physician offices.

Below are the program outcomes expected of every graduate:

• Demonstrate knowledge of laboratory professional practice by providing safe, effective and accurate laboratory test results while maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Utilize established laboratory procedures taking into consideration the application of scientific principles, technical skills for operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment, and relationship of laboratory findings to disease states to ensure appropriate patient diagnosis and treatment.
• Employs professional conduct and communication skills with patients, families, laboratory personnel, healthcare team members, and the community as a medical laboratory technician.
• Participate in professional development activities valuing the importance of continuous learning in laboratory medicine.
• Comply with Federal, OSHA, and laboratory safety procedures for the well-being of the patient, healthcare team, self, and community.

Program Outcomes
When students complete an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) degree at MACC they will be able to: MLT-program-outcomes. This is our program promise.

Listed below is the current three-year historical data for Graduation Rate, ASCP-BOC Certification Rates and Employment Placement Rates.

The MHPC MLT program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science is is committed to being the premier agency for international accreditation of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health care disciplines. 5600 N. River Rd. Suite 720 Rosemont, IL 60018-5119. ph: 773-714-8880. fx: 773-714-8886. email: info@naacls.org

Per accreditation standards, in the event of program closure, the MLT program will notify enrolled students of arrangements to complete all required program courses. In addition, all clinical sites have a contingency plan to allow for clinical rotations and practicums to be completed before terminating any agreement. In case of natural disaster, the Consortium colleges would determine how the program would be able to continue, using resources available after emergency situation has been cleared. In the event the student laboratory building was damaged, there are other College locations that could house the program to allow for students to complete the student laboratory portion of the program. Due to the program being virtual in nature, the learning management system houses program curriculum online. In the event the learning management system is no longer in operation, the program curriculum, records and documents are stored separately on a network server accessible to the faculty and staff within the program.

Lastly, clinical rotations are non-compulsory outside of class hours. Students will be supervised at all times and will not replace qualified staff.

MHPC MLT Handbook

Pre-MLT Advisement

Prior to applying for admission to the MLT Program, students are encouraged to meet with a pre-MLT advisor at the community college to make sure they are on track to complete the required general education classes.

For more information on the MHPC MLT Program, please contact:

By email: mlt@macc.edu

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Missouri Health Professions Consortium and its member institutions do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, disability, veteran status, and marital or parental status in admissions, programs and activities, and employment. Inquiries concerning nondiscrimination should be directed to the following respective college representatives:

East Central College:
Vice President of Student Development, 131 Buescher Hall, telephone number 636-584-6565 or stnotice@eastcentral.edu , 1964 Prairie Dell Road, Union, Missouri 63084.

Mineral Area College:
Human Resources Director and/or ADA Coordinator, PO Box 1000 Park Hills, MO  63601-1000, (573) 518-2378

Moberly Area Community College:
Office of Student Affairs, 101 College Avenue, Moberly, Missouri 65270, 660-263-4110, ext. 11239

North Central Missouri College:
Dr. Lenny Klaver, President, Frey Administrative Center, 1301 Main Street, (660)359-3948 x1200 lklaver@mail.ncmissouri.edu

State Fair Community College (SFCC Regulation 1210):
Director of Human Resources, Hopkins Student Services Center, (660) 596-7484, or Dean of Student and Academic Support Services, Hopkins Student Services Center, (660) 596-7393.The Hopkins Center is located on SFCC’s Sedalia campus at 3201 W. 16th St., Sedalia, MO 65301. Inquiries also may be directed to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights at OCR.KansasCity.ed.gov.

Three Rivers College:
Student Services Specialist/Coordinator of Disability Services (573)840-9605 located in the Welcome Center in the Westover Building, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

MLT Degree Map

*Required Pre-Entry Courses (Prior to beginning the MLT Program in August, students must successfully complete the required, 25 credit hours of general education courses with a “C” or better and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA or higher in the required general education coursework.)

To successfully complete MLT Professional Coursework, students must achieve a minimum score of 78% or “C” in both the didactic and clinical components.

Additional Graduation Requirement
Missouri law, included in Senate Bill 807, requires every college student pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at a public institution to pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination with at least a 70 percent to graduate. The rule will apply to the incoming class of first-time college students in the fall of 2019 and all students thereafter.

This academic map is not a contract, either expressed or implied, between MACC and the student, but represents a flexible program of the current curriculum which may be altered from time to time to meet the academic objectives of the college. MACC specifically reserves the right to modify, delete, or add to any academic map at any time within the student’s period of study at the college.

Curriculum

The MHPC MLT Program curriculum includes:

• virtual classroom instruction (recorded, asynchronous lectures)
  • Taught by MACC faculty, with an average instructor to student ratio of 1:18, and is broadcast to the MLT virtual classroom that can be accessed through a high-speed internet connection using web-based instructional formats.
• on-campus laboratory instruction in Mexico as designated (maximum three separate times)
  • Face-to-face centralized laboratory sessions, with an average instructor to student ratio of 1:7, that requires travel to MACC Mexico campus during designated times to participate in group lab sessions. These visits may require overnight stays in lodging at the student’s expense.
• off-campus clinical rotation component (3-5 days/week, fall, spring, and summer)
  • Takes place in a clinical setting, with an average instructor to student ratio of 1:1, in the “home campus” area of each student. Students should be prepared to drive a minimum of one hour each way to their clinical affiliate location.

After all classes and clinical requirements are completed within the MHPC MLT Program, students graduate from their home campus. The MHPC MLT Program is full-time only, with courses offered in a specific sequence. Each summer, an average of thirty students are selected to begin the program in the fall. The professional year of the program (MLT coursework) is designed to be completed within 11 months beginning in August and ending the following July.

MLT courses must be completed with at least a >78% or “C” while also maintaining an overall 2.5 GPA or higher in order to progress to the MLT coursework of the next semester. The program may involve student study groups as a required and critical element, and students in the class move through the entire degree sequence as a cohesive group or cohort. Once admitted into the professional year of the program, withdrawal from a course is equal to withdrawal from the program.

The curriculum includes the following:

• Orientation
• Training in phlebotomy
• Lecture (didactic) in various disciplines of laboratory science
• Practical training in the student laboratory
• Individual rotations through clinical departments of our affiliates
• Written and practical examinations throughout the curriculum

Competencies

In developing the MHPC Medical Laboratory Technician program, the curriculum was designed with specific goals in mind. Upon successful completion of the program and initial employment, graduates should be able to demonstrate entrance-level competencies in the following major areas of professional practice:

• Collection, handling, preparation, and storage of biological specimens for laboratory analysis;

• Performance of technical analyses on body fluids, cells, products, and organisms;

• Recognition of factors that affect procedures and results and take appropriate action within predetermined limits;

• Ability to operate basic laboratory instrumentation;

• Performance of quality control measures on instrumentation and technical analyses;

• Recognition of and adherence to clinical laboratory safety policies;

• Ability to troubleshoot instrumentation and technical analyses;

• Ability to perform preventative and corrective maintenance on basic laboratory equipment and instrumentation;

• Ability to recognize when to refer instrumentation problems to the appropriate sources;

• Demonstration of professional conduct with patients and health care workers both within and outside the laboratory;

• Demonstration of effective interpersonal communication skills;

• Demonstration of knowledge of the relationship of laboratory findings with common diseases processes;

• Demonstration of knowledge of reporting patient results using a laboratory computer information system;

• Recognition of the need for continuing education in professional practice and action on that recognition.

Entrance-level competencies will be acquired in the following coursework through didactic presentation and laboratory or clinical experience. The program coursework is designed to show student progression of knowledge and skill.

MLT 150 Introduction to Laboratory Methods
MLT 210 Immunology
MLT 220 Clinical Chemistry and Urinalysis 
MLT 250 Hematology and Coagulation 
MLT 260 Phlebotomy 
MLT 270 Immunohematology 
MLT 280 Clinical Microbiology
MLT 290 Parasitology, Mycology, Virology
MLT 291 Clinical Hematology and Coagulation Practicum
MLT 292 Clinical Chemistry and Urinalysis Practicum
MLT 293 Clinical Microbiology Practicum
MLT 294 Immunohematology Practicum

Most of the Medical Laboratory Technician coursework includes lecture and student laboratory or clinical components. For MLT 210 Immunology, MLT 220 Clinical Chemistry & Urinalysis, MLT 250 Hematology, MLT 260 Phlebotomy, MLT 270 Immunohematology, and MLT 280 Clinical Microbiology, students are scheduled for clinical experience in hospital or private laboratories.

For a list of cooperating Affiliate Clinical Training Sites refer to the MHPC MLT Handbook.  Refer to section “Affiliate/Clinical Training Sites.”

The program is grateful for the support of area medical facilities that have elected to affiliate with the Program as partners in this venture. Each laboratory uses up-to-date equipment and offers a wide range of tests. Their experienced staff donates employee time, supplies, and patient specimens to help educate new laboratory professionals. No site is identical, but each offers comparable experiences. Both the program and its affiliates expect students to reach entry-level competency of analytical testing and maintain proficiency by periodic repetition. Clinical rotations are non-compulsory outside of class hours. Students will be supervised at all times and will not replace qualified staff.

MLT program officials monitor student activities and progress at the clinical sites. They will talk to students on site and consult with supervisors and preceptors throughout the students’ experience. The clinical training period should be a positive and enriching experience for both students and instructors.

Placement
The MHPC MLT program anticipates having enough clinical sites in which to place students for training. That said, program officials admit that unforeseen situations such as a shortage of clinical sites could occur. In this circumstance, students will be ranked according to GPA in their MLT courses and assigned to clinical sites. Students who were not placed will be assigned to a clinical site as soon as one becomes available. The program will make every attempt to avoid this kind of situation as it may delay graduation and eligibility to take the ASCP registry examination.

Student assignment to clinical sites will be determined by a variety of factors such as student and affiliate needs; previous laboratory experience; and student knowledge (GPA) and skills. Program officials will make every attempt to place students where they will be successful and at the proper times in their academic semesters.

The clinical faculty of the program’s affiliates have the right to review student academic records and professional attitudes evaluations. They have the right to refuse a student’s placement in their clinical facility based on these records.

Clinical Policies and Procedures
Students must comply with all the policies and procedures of the facilities where they are training, and it is their responsibility to become familiar with them. The MLT program and the affiliate will coordinate efforts to provide this information. Failure to comply with the policies and procedures of the affiliates or failure to respect the authority of the staff will result in removal of the student.

Transportation
Students provide their own transportation to the clinical sites. The MLT Program Coordinator or instructors may arrange for transportation to scheduled continuing education programs, special lectures, field trips, workshops, or seminars.

Attendance
For all MLT clinical rotations, daily starting and ending times will vary according to the arrangements made by the program officials and the affiliates. The student is allowed two 15-minute breaks and a ½ hour lunch break. No weekend shifts or night shifts are required for any clinical rotations. Hours for the clinical component of the MLT coursework will be arranged, and students will be given adequate notice.

Both program officials and affiliates stress that acquiring technical skills and knowledge depend on student attendance. Every hour at the clinical site is important. Students have a great deal to learn in the relatively small amount of time spent at the clinical site. Staff on-site will have activities planned and must fit in teaching with their patient work. Having to schedule make-up hours for students who missed clinical time applies undue pressure on clinical instructors. Additionally, an absent student will miss seeing rarely performed laboratory tests. For these reasons, clinical rotation attendance is mandatory and absences will not be acceptable, unless extenuating circumstances exist.

Under no circumstances is a student granted time off during the clinical rotations. Students should schedule personal business, holidays, job interviews, and medical or dental appointments during time when they are not in lecture or expected at clinical sites. That said, program officials recognize that unavoidable situations arise; therefore, students should make arrangements with the instructors involved and notify the MLT Program Coordinator. If a student is ill or will be late, he or she should notify the clinical instructor. The student is responsible for making up missed work. It is up to the clinical instructor to schedule any make up work

I want to apply to the program. How do I get an admission packet?
Admissions packets are available at the Application Packet link on this page.

How many students do you accept?
30 students a year

What is the required GPA for admission?
Minimum GPA of 2.5 for MLT Program pre-requisite courses.

Are there required pre-requisite courses that must be taken in order to be eligible to apply?
Yes, you must meet all requirements of the pre-requisite courses in order to be eligible for the program. Please visit Academic Map above to find a list of the courses necessary prior to entry into the program. You will have until the end of the Summer semester prior to program start to finish any required pre-requisite courses. You may be accepted into the program prior to having pre-requisite courses completed, but continued enrollment in the program is contingent on passing grades from any pre-requisite courses prior to program start.

General education classes may be completed at colleges other than the MHPC partner community colleges. Transfer credit is determined by each MHPC partner community college and students should not presume that all general education courses taken at another college will transfer as the equivalent to MHPC partner college coursework.

When is the application deadline?
May 15

How do the required laboratory sessions work?
All MLT students will be required to travel to the MACC Mexico Campus at designated consecutive days during the fall and spring semesters to participate in “centralized lab” sessions that bring the students from all campuses together for group lab activities and testing. Any required lodging and transportation will be at the student’s expense.

Are my classes virtual?
The classroom lecture component is taught and recorded by MACC faculty and is available to the MLT students located at the East Central College, Mineral Area College, MACC, North Central Missouri College, Three Rivers College, and State Fair Community College campuses using online learning management system technology. Weekly office hours are available virtually with all the instructors in the program.

What type of technology requirements must I have for virtual classes?
Students are NOT required to have a personally owned computer or home-based high-speed internet access as these materials and services are made readily available at all “home” campuses. However, it is strongly recommended that students have their own computer and high-speed internet access for use throughout the program.

If I already have a bachelor’s degree, what are my options after completing the MLT Program?
Students may sit for their Medical Laboratory Scientist certification examination (the 4 year version of the laboratory degree) if they already have a bachelor’s degree that meets eligibility requirements listed below, after at least one full time year working in the laboratory field after obtaining MLT certification. The programmatic year of our NAACLS Accredited MLT Program is the equivalent of one-year work experience for eligibility, according to ASCP.

According to the ASCP Board of Certification, to sit for the MLS exam using Route 2 entry, a student must:

• Valid MLT(ASCP) certification,
• AND a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in chemistry including one semester in organic or biochemistry, which may be obtained within, or in addition to, the baccalaureate degree,
• AND two years of full time acceptable clinical experience*** in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and urinalysis/body fluids in an acceptable laboratory with in the last five years.
  ***Successful completion of a NAACLS accredited MLT program within the last five years can be used in lieu of one year of full time acceptable clinical experience. In addition, this will count as completion of one semester of organic or biochemistry.

Is Financial Aid available?
Financial aid is available for students who qualify. It is the student’s responsibility to apply at their college’s Financial Aid Office. Students should not wait until the last minute to apply for financial aid.

Please check with your “home campus” for scholarship opportunities.

How long is the MLT program?
The MLT program can be completed within two (2) years if starting with no pre-requisite courses completed. Students take the general education coursework the first year. MLT Program courses begin in the fall semester. The MLT portion of the program lasts three semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer) and is intensive.

How much time outside of class is required to be successful?
Because a great deal of material is covered in a short period of time, students must be focused and dedicated. To be successful, students should study two (2) hours for every one hour of class. We urge students to be organized and plan around work and home schedules in order to maximize your success in the program.

How do clinical placements work?
The MLT Program will make every attempt to match a student with a clinical site that is conveniently located near their home (within an hours’ drive) or one that the student prefers if alternative living arrangements are available. Students are responsible for transportation to and from their clinical sites. Clinical rotations are not guaranteed in your area each year for the amount of students we have apply, so competition for clinical space is probable.

If accepted, what are the additional requirements are needed before the student begins the program?

Refer to the MHPC MLT Handbook for additional requirements.  Refer to section Qualification Requirements for MHPC MLT Program.

*Please note enrollment in the clinical requirements for the program is contingent on providing the necessary information to our office after acceptance. Lack of documentation may jeopardize enrollment into the practicum.

MLT Application Process
Admission to the MHPC MLT Program is competitive and applications are assigned points in each required category in order to determine campus ranking and student selection. The application procedure and selection process are the same for all campuses participating in the MHPC MLT Program.  

Applicants may wish to review the MLT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Advising Form, MLT Student Handbook and other informational documents posted on the MHPC MLT website https://www.macc.edu/mhpc-mlt/ prior to submitting application materials (click on the “medical laboratory technician” program link). The information posted on the website will give a better understanding of program requirements and student expectations. Refer to the MHPC MLT Application packet for additional information required of the student.  

Contact the MHPC MLT Program office in Mexico at (573) 582-0817 ext 13656 if you have questions about the MLT application or admissions process. 

Submit all MLT application materials before the May 15^th deadline to: 

mlt@macc.edu  

OR Mail to:

Missouri Health Professions Consortium
MLT Admissions Office
Attn: Tanna Whitworth
2900 Doreli Lane
Mexico, MO 65265 

Tuition and Fees for the MHPC MLT Program professional year (MLT coursework) will be higher than general education costs at the home campus. An estimate of student costs associated with the program, including tuition, books, supplies, immunizations, training/certifications can be found in the MHPC MLT Handbook (refer to section: Estimated Student Program Costs for Professional Year).

Estimated Student Program Cost for Professional Year (as outlined in the handbook) are current and paid directly to the home campus with the exception of the background screen, drug screen testing and other physical assessment charges.  These charges may be subject to change each year.  Additionally costs for health assessment will vary depending on healthcare/provider insurance coverage by the student. Specific tuition and fee rates may vary by campus but the total cost to the student remains the same regardless of home campus assignment.  Total tuition and fee rates include tuition, professional program/course fees, student activity fees, technology fees and support services fees and do not vary based on student designation of in/out of district. Program costs above do not include ordinary costs of daily transportation and health insurance coverage of the student. Transportation costs are not included in the cost estimate sheet located in the handbook. Clinical rotation costs will vary throughout the professional coursework depending on location. If a student chooses a distant clinical/practicum site, he/she is responsible for related living expenses, including transportation, room and board.

Students in the MHPC MLT Program register for all MLT courses through the “home campus” at which they have applied and been selected for MLT program admission. For non-MACC students, please contact your “home campus” for specific graduation requirements.

Students seeking any Associate’s degree must also meet the following requirements:

• pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Exam as specified in Senate Bill 807 with a score of 70% or higher (beginning Fall 2019);
• complete the state Constitution requirements as specified in Section 170.011 RSMo (Supp. 1987). This requirement is met by taking HST105, HST106, PSC103, or PSC105 or transferring an equivalent MOTR course. Students transferring an appropriate government or political science course from another institution may take an example to satisfy this requirement.

Medical Laboratory Technician graduates must also meet the following requirement:

• Earn a grade of “C” or above (78%) in all required courses that are part of the MLT curriculum.

Across the nation, the Medical Laboratory Profession is seeing a staffing shortage which makes our career a very lucrative field to go into.

The majority of our students, upon completion of the program, sit for the American Society of Clinical Pathology’s Board of Certification exam to become a nationally certified MLT and obtain salaries standard to the https://www.alliedhealthschools.com/medical-technician/med-tech-salary/.

Working in the laboratory field, there are a variety of career opportunities which require different levels of education and training. Upon successful completion of our AAS in MLT degree, as a medical laboratory professional, you may expect to work in any of the following settings:

Hospitals
Clinics
Doctor’s offices
Blood donation centers and blood banks
Governmental and non-governmental regulatory agencies
State and federal public health laboratories
Research laboratories
Pharmaceutical or health care equipment sales
Laboratory/health care equipment technical support
Academia

Please visit ASCLS and Laboratory Science Careers to learn more about career opportunities.

Job skills in someone who is a good fit for the medical laboratory profession: 

Enjoys problem solving
Can accomplish tasks quickly while maintaining precision and accuracy
Strong ability to multitask and stay organized
Aptitude for science and math
Excellent attention to detail and manual dexterity
Ability to follow directions and procedures closely
Is a team player and enjoys helping others

American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

A graduate of the MHPC MLT program is expected to assume responsibility for continuing competency and to maintain a commitment to the professional organization. A student’s involvement and membership in the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) is mandatory. In addition to professional accountability, membership is required as students will utilize member resources available on the ASCLS website.

ASCP Board of Certification
Once practicums are complete and graduation is ensured you will be ready to prepare and sit for the National Certification Exam to become a Certified Medical Laboratory Technician.  All information can be found on the ASCP BOC website.