QUALIFICATIONS

Persons interested in the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program should be ranked in the upper half of their graduating class; and it is recommended that keyboarding, chemistry, algebra, and biology be included in past experiences.  A Pre-Tech Workshop (GSDV0345, Introductory Chemistry) is available at the college prior to the school year for students who need a chemistry update.  Information regarding Hepatitis B vaccine is given to each accepted student prior to admission.  Due to a Minnesota legislative mandate, students will be subjected to a criminal background check prior to placement in any clinical facility.  If the student is found to have a criminal background, he/she would be ineligible to participate in clinical rotations and, thus, not eligible for graduation.  The functional expectations document outlines traits necessary for successful completion of the program.  This will be sent to interested persons. 

PROGRAM FOCUS

The Medical Laboratory Technician program offered by the Alexandria Technical College is a 72-credit program.  While at the college, the students will learn the techniques and theories necessary to work in a medical or clinical laboratory.  These techniques emphasize skills in phlebotomy, body fluid analysis, hematology, chemistry, microbiology, immunology, and immunohematology.  Students also learn the theories and principles behind the tests they perform and learn to correlate the results with patients' conditions.  In addition, students earn credits in general education, including anatomy and physiology, psychology, ethics, communications, math, chemistry, and computer science, which leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree. 

Upon satisfactory completion of the classroom training at the college, each student is assigned to an affiliating hospital for 27 credits of clinical experience.  During this period the student is under direct supervision of a registered medical technologist and receives periodic supervision from the college's Medical Laboratory Technician training staff.  Graduates of this two-year Medical Laboratory Technician program are eligible to take the examinations given by the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel and the Board of Registry Examination of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Those MLT graduates who pass the NCA and/or ASCP Board of Registry exam may have up to 52 semester credits applied to a major in Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology) at the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks.  Other universities also accept MELT credits toward a baccalaureate degree in clinical lab science. 

The MLT program is accredited by NAACLS (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences), the accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, and the Commission on Recognition of Post-Secondary Accreditation (CORPA). Questions regarding program accreditation may be directed to NAACLS, 8410 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670, Chicago, IL  60631-3415 or by calling 773-714-8880.  Program applications should be sent to the Admissions Office at Alexandria Technical College. 

EMPLOYMENT

Graduates of the Medical Laboratory Technician program are qualified to work in a clinical laboratory in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, or reference laboratory.