The most common training for Medical Lab Technicians is a two-year Associate Degree program in medical laboratory technology. The accredited Medical Laboratory Technology program at El Centro College prepares the student to perform tests and related duties in a medical laboratory as a medical laboratory technician.

• Is El Centro College an accredited institution?
• Is the El Centro Medical Laboratory Technology Program accredited?
• How long is the program?
• How many students do you accept each year?
• What are the courses like?
• Where may I take support courses besides El Centro College?
• May I transfer credit from a college or university outside the United States?
• What if I have coursework more than 10 years old?
• Is there a time limit on Science and Math coursework?
• Is there any provision for credit by examination or other alternatives to repeating a course?
• What if I plan to transfer to a four-year institution?
• Are any courses taken off-campus?
  
• How do I get to the clinical sites?
• Do I need liability insurance?
• Does El Centro College have on-campus housing?
• Do I need a physical examination prior to entering the program?
• What about drug testing and criminal background checks?
• What are the physical demands and skills of the medical lab technician?
• What activities are medical lab technicians involved in?
• What are the working conditions for a medical laboratory technician?
• What other educational opportunities are available?
• What linkages does El Centro College have with other colleges and universities?
• What activities are a medical lab technologist involved in compare to a technician?
• Are there any areas of specialization?
• Are there any Board examinations after graduation?
• Do I need to be licensed or registered after graduation?
• Are there any courses I should take in high school to help me prepare?
• Whom do I contact for more information?

The MLT program at El Centro College began in 1969 and is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). This is the only accredited program within the six county areas of Tarrant, Parker, Dallas, Rockwall, Hunt, and Denton counties. NAACLS fully accredits 288 and approves 249 programs providing education for medical and clinical laboratory technologists, histologic technicians, and medical and clinical laboratory technicians.

Other recognized accrediting agencies in clinical laboratory science include the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The ABHES accredits training programs for medical and clinical laboratory technicians.
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The program is a balanced curriculum of science, liberal arts, and technical courses, including didactic and clinical education. The courses prepare the student to perform tests and related duties in the medical laboratory. The program is a balanced curriculum of science, liberal arts, and technical courses, including didactic and clinical education. Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate is awarded an Associate of Applied Science Degree, and is qualified to take the Board of Registry for the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).

If the student works while in school has significant family responsibilities, he or she is encouraged to take the general education "support" courses (Biology, English, etc.) prior to entrance into the Medical Laboratory Technology Program. The program is rigorous, and many students find that taking the support courses first enables them to complete the program successfully while maintaining other responsibilities as well.

The Medical Laboratory Technology Program courses are offered at the El Centro College campus on a full-time basis during the daytime only. Many support courses (including Health Occupations Core Curriculum classes) are available for day or evening schedules.

The MLT courses must be completed in the semester in which they are scheduled in the curriculum. In order to continue in the MLT program, each course must be passed with a grade of "C" or better.

The curriculum of the Medical Laboratory Technology program may be viewed online.
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Support courses completed at colleges and universities outside the DCCCD must be approved for transfer credit prior to the semester in which the course is required as stipulated in curriculum outline.

BIOL 2420 must be completed at El Centro College. If completed elsewhere, the student must present documentation of a "wet lab" experience (i.e., gram stains, streaking plates, identifying actual unknown given mixed cultures, performing biochemical analysis, reading hemolysis, etc.) for transfer credit to be awarded. Microbiology courses utilizing computerized or simulated labs will not be accepted in substitution.
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Consideration of courses for transfer credit from colleges and universities outside the United States will be limited to science and math coursework completed less than five years prior to program admission.

Before foreign credentials will be considered for transfer credit, the student must arrange the evaluation of transcripts and related documentation by a professional evaluation agency. After the professional evaluation is complete, the student must then submit the original documentation and a certified English translation to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. The student is responsible for all costs of the evaluation and translation of foreign credentials.

Applicants with coursework more than ten years old who wish to have that transcripted work ignored under the "Academic Fresh Start" provision should petition the Registrar in writing for that consideration. If approved, the transcript need not be submitted, however, a copy of the Registrar's letter granting the "Academic Fresh Start" consideration should be submitted with the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program application.

All science and math, and courses submitted for program credit must be completed no more than five years prior to program admission to the program. In certain circumstances a waiver of the time limit may be considered.

Students who wish to petition for the five-year waiver must present official transcripts, course descriptions as necessary, and a letter of petition documenting how they have updated or refreshed their knowledge in the particular science or math course in question (i.e., working in a healthcare field with specific duties indicated utilizing algebra in their current employment arena, etc.).

The letter should also cite specific experiences and indicate individuals for references as needed (i.e., employers, instructors, etc.). Students petitioning for a five-year waiver for college algebra must also provide current assessment test scores with the petition. Please refer to assessment test details on the Admission Requirements webpage.

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CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination may also be completed in lieu of repeating a course. CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination are available to a student enrolled at a DCCCD campus, but may not be requested for courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

Credit for a CLEP, DANTES, or Credit by Examination will be considered only if a documented letter grade or numerical score is presented for evaluation. For more information regarding the acceptance of CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination, please contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office.

Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

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Students are responsible for providing their own transportation. It is necessary to consider transportation costs to the college, as well as hospitals throughout the city. Students are responsible for any parking fees.

All Health Occupations students pay liability insurance fees. The cost to the student is less than enrolling in an individual professional liability policy with comparable coverage.

The student blanket professional liability policy covers students while they are participating in clinical activities that are a part of, and a requirement of, the student's curriculum. The student professional liability insurance does not cover students when employed in the hospital. The student liability insurance policy expires upon date of graduation. Students are not allowed in the clinical setting if their tuition and fees have not been paid.
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No, El Centro College is located in the heart of downtown Dallas. Students are responsible for providing their own housing.
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A pre-entrance physical examination and immunization record form will be sent with acceptance letters. Results of the medical examination must be reported on the designated program medical examination form which is submitted at the registration seminar for that accepted class.

The form documents a medical history, physical examination, and current record of the following immunizations:

• Tuberculin skin test within the last 6 months (if positive, chest x-ray required within last 2 years)
• Tetanus/diphtheria current within 10 years
• Measles/mumps/rubella ("MMR") including 2 doses of measles vaccine required either separately or in combination (MMR)
• Hepatitis B series
• Varicella disclaimer

Students must have completed the first injection of the Hepatitis B series prior to registration for the Medical Laboratory Technology program and are responsible for submitting documentation verifying subsequent completion of the second and third injection to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. Health situations (i.e., pregnancy, allergies, and nursing mothers) that may prohibit the use of the hepatitis B vaccine must be documented by a physician, and a waiver signed by the student.

You may visit a private physician, clinic, health maintenance organization, or medical center for the medical examination. The immunizations are available for students through the El Centro College Health Center for a reduced cost. Please call 214.860.2113 to make an appointment. Chest x-rays and physical exams are not provided at the El Centro College Health Center.
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All clinical facilities require all students attending their facility have a current Drug and Background Screen. The prescreening requirements are the same as those required of employees. All screens must be conducted after admission to the clinical program, but within 30 days prior to the start of the agency rotation. Verification of the satisfactory results must be received by the participating hospital prior to the student's rotation start date, and will be honored by all hospitals for the duration of the student's enrollment in the clinical program if the participating student has not had a break in the enrollment at the college.

The student is solely responsible for payment of all fees at the time of the screens (approximately $80). All reports and findings from the Background and Drugs screens will be reported directly to El Centro College Health Occupations Administration. The results of the screening can prevent clinical placement.

The rationale for the screening is that of due diligence and competency assessment of all individuals whose assignments bring them in contact with patients or employees. Competency extends beyond technical skills to an individual's criminal and substance abuse history. This approach ensures uniform compliance with Joint Commission standards pertaining to human resource management.

The drug screen follows National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) guidelines and screens for ten substances as designated in the Substance Abuse Panel 10 ("SAP 10"). These substances are:

SAP 10 test results which fall outside of any of the acceptable ranges are considered positive test results and are automatically sent for a separate confirmatory test by a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) method. If these results remain positive, the test results are sent to a Medical Review Officer ("MRO") which will entail an additional cost of $25 - $75 to the student. The MRO will then contact the student to determine if there is a valid prescription for the drug in question. If a valid prescription exists and is verified, the test result will be deemed to be negative and acceptable.

Note: A clinical agency reserves the right to remove a student from the facility for suspicion of substance use or abuse, including alcohol. The clinical agency will notify the El Centro College Health Occupations administration to facilitate immediate removal of the student and request that the student submit to a repeat drug screening procedure at the student's expense on the same day of removal from the clinical agency. Failure to comply will result in immediate expulsion from the clinical agency. Further, regardless of testing or test results, the agency reserves the right to expel any student form their facility. The agency will provide El Centro College Health Occupations administration with written documentation of the student's behavior(s) by tow or more agency representatives.

The criminal background check reviews a person's criminal history seven (7) years previous to the date of program application. The check will include all cities and counties of the person's residency during that time period. The following histories will disqualify an individual from consideration for a clinical rotation:

• Felony convictions
• Misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudication involving crimes against persons (physical or sexual abuse)
• Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, etc.)
• Felony deferred adjudication for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances
• Registered sex offenders

Exceptions:

• If a licensing/registry body approves the individual to take the licensing/credential exam, the individual may participate in the clinical rotation
• The college may request an exception form the first clinical agency for a student with a felony deferred adjudication and no alternate recourse through a licensing/registry Updated and Maintained byity. Following approval from the first clinical agency, the student may progress as stated above.

Note: Should a student accepted to a health occupations program be prohibited from attending a clinical rotation experience due to findings of a criminal background check and/or drug screening, the student may be dismissed form the health occupations program.

For more information regarding the criminal background check and drug testing requirements, please contact Ms. LaCheeta McPherson, Associate Dean of Allied Health by phone at 214.860.2271 or TOP

Clinical laboratory personnel need to have an aptitude for science coursework. They need good analytical judgment and the ability to work under pressure with precision and accuracy. Close attention to detail is essential, because small differences or changes in test substances or numerical readouts can be crucial for patient care. Manual dexterity and normal color vision to distinguish between fine color graduations are highly desirable. With the widespread use of automated laboratory equipment, computer skills are important. In addition, technologists in particular are expected to be good at problem solving.

The American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science (1998) and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (1995) Preamble of Essentials of Accredited Education Programs for the Clinical Laboratory Technician/Medical Laboratory Technician have defined essential functions/skills and professional responsibilities.

Skills/essential functions required include:

• Communicate effectively in written and spoken English
• Comprehend and respond to both formal and colloquial English, person-to person, by telephone and/or in writing
• Appropriately assess nonverbal and verbal communication
• Follow written and verbal directions
• Move freely from one location to another in physical settings, such as the clinical laboratory, patient care areas, corridors, and elevators
• Possess sufficient eye-motion coordination and manual dexterity to allow delicate manipulations of specimens, instruments, and tools
• Grasp and release small objects (e.g., test tubes, pipette tips, microscope slides and coverslips); twist and turn dials/knobs (e.g., on microscopes, balances, centrifuges, spectrophotometers)
• Manipulate other laboratory materials (e.g., reagents, manual and automated pipettes)
• Good or corrected vision to identify and distinguish objects macroscopically and microscopically
• Read charts, graphs and instrument scales/readout devices
• Lift and move objects of at least 20 pounds
• Possess a sense of touch and temperature discrimination
• Possess and apply mathematical skills
• Work under time constraints
• Prioritize requests and work concurrently on the least two difficult tasks
• Maintain alertness and concentration during a normal work period
• Apply knowledge, skills, and values learned from coursework and life experiences to new situations
• Work safely with potential chemical, radiologic, and biologic hazards using universal precautions
• Show respect for self and others
• Project an image of professionalism, including appearance, dress, and confidence
• Recognize emergency situations and take appropriate actions

Professional Responsibilities include:

• Collect, process, and analyze biological and other substances
• Perform analytical tests of body fluids, cells and other substances
• Recognize factors that affect procedures and results, and take appropriate actions within predetermined limits when corrections are indicated
• Perform and monitor quality control within predetermined limits
• Perform preventative and corrective maintenance of equipment and instruments, or refer to appropriate sources for repair
• Apply principles of safety
• Demonstrate professional conduct and interpersonal communication skills with patients, laboratory personnel, other health care professionals, and with the public
• Recognize the responsibilities of other laboratory and health care personnel, and interact with them with respect for their job and patient care
• Apply basic scientific principles in learning new techniques and procedures
• Relate laboratory finding to common disease processes
• Establish and maintain continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence

Latex Advisory: Latex products are used in health care professions. They occur with universal precautions and in environments such as, but not limited to, Health Occupations classrooms and labs, hospitals, nursing care facilities, laboratories, clinical areas, and medical/dental offices. Individuals with latex allergies should seek expert advice from their health care provider to receive information necessary for an informed decision regarding their exposure to latex in the health care professions.
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Medical laboratory technicians perform less complex tests and laboratory procedures than technologists. Technicians may prepare specimens and operate automatic analyzers, for example, or they may perform manual tests following detailed instructions. Like technologists, they may work in several areas of the clinical laboratory or specialize in just one.

Histology technicians cut and stain tissue specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists, and phlebotomists collect blood samples. They usually work under the supervision of medical and clinical laboratory technologists or laboratory managers.

The medical lab technician is involved in the following activities:

• collect blood specimens
• monitor quality control of tests and procedures
• report results to medical technologists, pathologists or physicians
• use microscope, a variety of chemicals, complex precision instruments to perform tests on body fluids and tissues
• work under supervision of medical technologist, pathologist, or other physician

Hours and other working conditions vary according to the size and type of employment setting. In large hospitals or in independent laboratories that operate continuously, personnel usually work the day, evening, or night shift and may work weekends and holidays. Laboratory personnel in small facilities may work on rotating shifts, rather than on a regular shift. In some facilities, laboratory personnel are on call several nights a week or on weekends, available in case of emergency.

Clinical laboratory personnel are trained to work with infectious specimens. When proper methods of infection control and sterilization are followed, few hazards exist. Laboratories usually are well lighted and clean; however, specimens, solutions, and reagents used in the laboratory sometimes produce odors. They may also need to be able to stand for long periods of time.
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After graduation from El Centro's Medical Laboratory Technology Program, the medical lab technician may further his or her education to become a medical lab technologist. The minimum educational requirements for the Medical Technologist is the completion of a Bachelor's Degree program, which includes three to four years of course work plus a twelve month clinical experience in an accredited hospital laboratory educational program in medical technology.
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They perform complex chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological tests. Technologists in small laboratories perform many types of tests, whereas those in large laboratories generally specialize.

Activities may include the following:

• perform supervisory and administrative duties
• supervise medical and clinical laboratory technicians
• use microscope, a variety of chemicals, computers and precision instruments to perform complex analyses
• microscopically examine blood, tissue, and other body substances
• make cultures of body fluid and tissue samples, to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms
• develop laboratory techniques and procedures
• conduct research
• take blood samples
• type and cross match blood samples for transfusions
• analyze samples for chemical content or reaction and determine blood glucose and cholesterol levels
• evaluate test results
• develop and modify procedures
• establish and monitor programs to insure the accuracy of tests
• work with pathologists or physicians

Specialties in the medical laboratory technology field include:

• microbiology technologist - examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms
• histologic technologist
• chemistry technologist - prepare specimens and analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids
• immunology technologist - examine elements and responses of the human immune system to foreign bodies
• hematology technologist
• blood bank technologist - collect, type, and prepare blood and its components for transfusions
• cytotechnologist - prepare slides of body cells and microscopically examine these cells for abnormalities that may signal the beginning of a cancerous growth

With additional training, other fields include:

• specialist in blood bank technology
• specialist in chemistry
• specialist in immunology
• specialist in microbiology.

Widely accepted by employers in the health industry, certification is a prerequisite for most jobs and often is necessary for advancement. After graduation from the El Centro program, Medical Lab Technicians must pass an exam given by one or two agencies - the Board of Registry of Medical Technologists of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), or the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel. These agencies have different requirements for certification and different organizational sponsors.

After graduation from an accredited bachelor's degree program , which includes the twelve month hospital course in medical technology (medical laboratory technologist), the candidate may take the registry examinations and become certified as a Medical Technologist - MT ASCP - by the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists; or as a Medical Technologist, MT, by the American Medical Technologist Association.
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To help you prepare for college courses leading to the Medical Laboratory Technology degree, helpful high school courses include:

We have a list of contacts available at El Centro College. Program guidelines are subject to change and students are advised to obtain the latest program information from the Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A140).

You may also download an information packet. The file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader software, downloadable free from www.adobe.com.

NOTE: The El Centro College Health/Legal and Continuing/Workforce Education Division reserves the right to make changes in program enrollment capacity. Program guidelines are subject to change. Students are advised to obtain the latest program information from the Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A-140).