Medical Lab Technician (MLT) Schools
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While no one can deny the importance of physicians, surgeons, and nurses, several other healthcare professionals work behind the scenes, often unnoticed, making significant contributions to healthcare. Not the least of these is the medical laboratory technician, or MLT, who conducts various lab tests to help diagnose, treat, and monitor conditions as varied as AIDS, cancer, and diabetes.
Entry-level MLTs perform routine clinical lab tests, including hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, serology/immunology, and other diagnostic tests.
Once medical lab technicians have the skills needed for employment, one of the exciting aspects of their job is the ability to work in a wide variety of environments. These can range from hospital labs to research labs, veterinary labs, and public health facilities.
To become eligible for an entry-level position, prospective MLTs typically must complete a minimum of a two-year associate’s degree program. Keep reading for details on MLT programs in the U.S., including online options for working professionals.
Medical Lab Technician fast facts | |
---|---|
Projected Jobs Created | 21,800 |
Projected Job Growth | 7 percent |
Average Salary | $56,130 |
Low Salary | $35,220 |
High Salary | $84,670 |
Entry-Level EDU | Associate's Degree (Technician) or Bachelor's Degree (Technologist) |
Sourced from BLS 2022 |
Medical Lab Technician (MLT) Degree & Certification Programs
Medical lab technicians typically need an associate’s degree to obtain entry-level work in the field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Most associate degree programs can be completed in about two years, but some fast-track programs are also available to students, particularly those who already have training in a related healthcare field, such as nursing. There are many different programs available in the U.S.
Below are listed just four of the medical lab technician schools offering programs, although there are many more to choose from:
With campuses in Folsom, Placerville, and Rancho Cordova, the MLT program at this California-based school leads to an associate of science (AS) degree in medical technology and can take anywhere between 18 to 24 months to complete. The first two semesters consist of didactic coursework followed by a semester of rotations, but these rotations do not align with the school’s typical fall/spring calendar.
Ten med tech classes, including four practicums, are completed in the program. Sample courses include clinical microbiology; hematology; clinical chemistry; introduction to medical laboratory techniques and skin punctures; and urine and body fluid analysis. Folsom Lake’s MLT degree should help prepare students to sit for the national certifying exam available through the ASCP.
- Location: Folsom, CA; Placerville, CA; Rancho Cordova, CA
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Tuition: $46 per unit (residents); $395 per unit (non-residents)
Located in Dallas, Texas, Dallas College offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in MLT preparing students to perform related duties in a medical laboratory. The curriculum of the program includes liberal arts, science, and technical courses including clinical and didactic education.
Made up of 60 credits, the program’s curriculum includes courses such as hematology; coagulation; clinical chemistry; clinical microbiology; immunohematology; urinalysis and body fluids; immunology or serology; and anatomy and physiology, among others.
- Location: Dallas, TX
- Duration: Six semesters
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $79 per credit (Dallas County residents); $135 per credit (non-residents)
Allegany College of Maryland gives students the opportunity to complete an MLT program enabling them to seek clinical employment after completing the program. Students should be prepared to sit for certification through the ASCP upon completion of their medical laboratory technician school program, according to the school website. This two-year MLT degree transfers to four-year MLS programs.
Students in this program will complete general education courses as well as coursework with knowledge and hands-on training in the laboratory departments of clinical chemistry, hematology, blood banking, and microbiology. After completing the coursework, students will be placed in a semester-long practicum experience in the college’s regional healthcare laboratories.
Comprising 68 credits, the program includes courses such as microbiology; applied immunology; hematology; urinalysis and body fluids; blood banking; clinical microbiology; clinical biochemistry; basic phlebotomy skills; and human biology.
- Location: Cumberland, MD
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Middle States Commission on Higher Education(MSCHE)
- Tuition: $4,920 per year (in-county); $9,270 per year (out-of-county); $12,270 per year (out-of-state)
The associate degree program in MLT offered through Keiser University is available at its Fort Lauderdale and Orlando campuses. To obtain the school’s AS degree, students need to complete 63 credits in all, 26 of which are in general education (which all must be completed with a ‘C ‘or higher) and 37 of which are in the MLT major.
In the program, students learn about the lab tests and standard lab practices used in clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, immunohematology, hematology, serology/immunology, and urinalysis. Students in this program will be prepared to function collaboratively and effectively as members of a medical laboratory team. They will be provided with exposure to several laboratory tests in accordance with nationally standardized laboratory practices as defined within the scope of the profession.
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Duration: 20 months
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $22,048 total
Applicants to any MLT program should be advised that they may need to meet different eligibility requirements to be accepted into or to stay enrolled in one of the medical lab technician schools. For example, a ‘C’ average in all MLT classes might be necessary. Students might also need to supply certain items themselves, such as lab fees, a lab coat, and malpractice insurance. Students applying to programs may also be required to undergo a background clearance, a drug screening, and a physical exam to even be considered.
List of Medical Lab Technician Schools
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
George Washington University | Washington | District of Columbia | www.gwu.edu | 494 |
West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Kentucky | westkentucky.kctcs.edu | 63 |
Tulsa Community College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | www.tulsacc.edu | 57 |
Jefferson State Community College | Birmingham | Alabama | www.jeffersonstate.edu | 55 |
Southwest University at El Paso | El Paso | Texas | southwestuniversity.edu | 46 |
Laredo College | Laredo | Texas | www.laredo.edu | 42 |
Weatherford College | Weatherford | Texas | www.wc.edu | 40 |
Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Virginia | virginiawestern.edu | 37 |
Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.ivytech.edu | 36 |
Miami Dade College | Miami | Florida | www.mdc.edu | 35 |
Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Kentucky | jefferson.kctcs.edu | 34 |
Phoenix College | Phoenix | Arizona | www.phoenixcollege.edu | 32 |
Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Virginia | www.tcc.edu | 31 |
Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville | Kentucky | hopkinsville.kctcs.edu | 30 |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.keiseruniversity.edu | 29 |
San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | California | www.sdmiramar.edu | 29 |
Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Texas | www.tjc.edu | 28 |
Folsom Lake College | Folsom | California | www.flc.losrios.edu | 28 |
Henderson Community College | Henderson | Kentucky | henderson.kctcs.edu | 27 |
Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Virginia | www.nvcc.edu | 27 |
Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Virginia | www.mecc.edu | 26 |
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College | Miami | Oklahoma | www.neo.edu | 26 |
Somerset Community College | Somerset | Kentucky | somerset.kctcs.edu | 26 |
Vista College | El Paso | Texas | vistacollege.edu | 26 |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Virginia | www.reynolds.edu | 24 |
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | Rochester | Minnesota | college.mayo.edu | 24 |
Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Michigan | www.nmu.edu | 24 |
Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | California | www.saddleback.edu | 24 |
Tarleton State University | Stephenville | Texas | www.tarleton.edu | 24 |
Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Virginia | www.wcc.vccs.edu | 24 |
Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville | Kentucky | maysville.kctcs.edu | 23 |
Quest College | San Antonio | Texas | www.questcollege.edu | 22 |
San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Texas | www.sanjac.edu | 22 |
South College | Knoxville | Tennessee | www.south.edu | 22 |
South Louisiana Community College | Lafayette | Louisiana | www.solacc.edu | 22 |
University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.unm.edu | 22 |
CUNY Bronx Community College | Bronx | New York | www.bcc.cuny.edu | 21 |
Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Wisconsin | madisoncollege.edu | 21 |
Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Kentucky | madisonville.kctcs.edu | 21 |
Allen College | Waterloo | Iowa | www.allencollege.edu | 20 |
Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold | Maryland | www.aacc.edu | 20 |
Boston University | Boston | Massachusetts | www.bu.edu | 20 |
Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Kentucky | hazard.kctcs.edu | 20 |
Portland Community College | Portland | Oregon | www.pcc.edu | 20 |
Shoreline Community College | Shoreline | Washington | www.shoreline.edu | 20 |
Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | www.sinclair.edu | 20 |
Alamance Community College | Graham | North Carolina | www.alamancecc.edu | 19 |
Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | www.ccp.edu | 19 |
Rose State College | Midwest City | Oklahoma | www.rose.edu | 19 |
Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Colorado | www.arapahoe.edu | 18 |
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati | Ohio | www.cincinnatistate.edu | 18 |
Eastern Florida State College | Cocoa | Florida | www.easternflorida.edu | 18 |
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Hanceville | Alabama | www.wallacestate.edu | 18 |
Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | www.hccs.edu | 18 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | matc.edu | 18 |
Quincy College | Quincy | Massachusetts | www.quincycollege.edu | 18 |
SUNY Broome Community College | Binghamton | New York | www.sunybroome.edu | 18 |
Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | North Carolina | www.waketech.edu | 18 |
Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Iowa | www.dmacc.edu | 17 |
Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | California | www.mtsac.edu | 17 |
Austin Community College District | Austin | Texas | www.austincc.edu | 16 |
Casper College | Casper | Wyoming | www.caspercollege.edu | 16 |
Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.ccac.edu | 16 |
Danville Community College | Danville | Virginia | www.dcc.vccs.edu | 16 |
Erie Community College | Buffalo | New York | www.ecc.edu | 16 |
Mercer County Community College | West Windsor | New Jersey | www.mccc.edu | 16 |
North Georgia Technical College | Clarkesville | Georgia | northgatech.edu | 16 |
Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Minnesota | www.saintpaul.edu | 16 |
Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | North Carolina | www.sandhills.edu | 16 |
Columbus State Community College | Columbus | Ohio | www.cscc.edu | 15 |
Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Iowa | www.hawkeyecollege.edu | 15 |
Lakeland Community College | Kirtland | Ohio | www.lakelandcc.edu | 15 |
Marion Technical College | Ocala | Florida | www.mariontc.edu | 15 |
Middlesex Community College | Bedford | Massachusetts | www.middlesex.mass.edu | 15 |
Western Dakota Technical Institute | Rapid City | South Dakota | www.wdt.edu | 15 |
Central Texas College | Killeen | Texas | www.ctcd.edu | 14 |
Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Wisconsin | www.cvtc.edu | 14 |
El Centro College | Dallas | Texas | www.elcentrocollege.edu | 14 |
Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | Alabama | www.gadsdenstate.edu | 14 |
Kapiolani Community College | Honolulu | Hawaii | www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu | 14 |
Marion Technical College | Marion | Ohio | www.mtc.edu | 14 |
Panola College | Carthage | Texas | www.panola.edu | 14 |
Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia | Georgia | www.southeasterntech.edu | 14 |
Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | South Carolina | www.sccsc.edu | 14 |
West Georgia Technical College | Waco | Georgia | www.westgatech.edu | 14 |
Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland | Maryland | www.allegany.edu | 13 |
Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.cpcc.edu | 13 |
Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Maryland | www.ccbcmd.edu | 13 |
Community College of Rhode Island | Warwick | Rhode Island | www.ccri.edu | 13 |
Elgin Community College | Elgin | Illinois | www.elgin.edu | 13 |
Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.fscj.edu | 13 |
Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville | Tennessee | www.fortis.edu | 13 |
Kankakee Community College | Kankakee | Illinois | www.kcc.edu | 13 |
Pearl River Community College | Poplarville | Mississippi | www.prcc.edu | 13 |
Pima Community College | Tucson | Arizona | www.pima.edu | 13 |
Seminole State College | Seminole | Oklahoma | www.sscok.edu | 13 |
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Cumberland | Kentucky | southeast.kctcs.edu | 13 |
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Mount Gay | West Virginia | www.southernwv.edu | 13 |
Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Tennessee | www.southwest.tn.edu | 13 |
Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria | Minnesota | www.alextech.edu | 12 |
Amarillo College | Amarillo | Texas | www.actx.edu | 12 |
Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.cnm.edu | 12 |
Clark State Community College | Springfield | Ohio | www.clarkstate.edu | 12 |
College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | www.csn.edu | 12 |
Erwin Technical College | Tampa | Florida | www.erwin.edu | 12 |
John C Calhoun State Community College | Tanner | Alabama | calhoun.edu | 12 |
Platt College-McCann-Allentown | Allentown | Pennsylvania | www.mccann.edu | 12 |
Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | Ohio | www.shawnee.edu | 12 |
Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | www.starkstate.edu | 12 |
Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Tennessee | www.volstate.edu | 12 |
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | North Carolina | www.abtech.edu | 11 |
Baker College | Flint | Michigan | www.baker.edu | 11 |
BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston | West Virginia | www.bridgevalley.edu | 11 |
Carrington College-Phoenix East | Phoenix | Arizona | carrington.edu | 11 |
Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | North Carolina | www.coastalcarolina.edu | 11 |
Edison State Community College | Piqua | Ohio | www.edisonohio.edu | 11 |
Fortis Institute-Nashville | Nashville | Tennessee | www.fortis.edu | 11 |
Grayson College | Denison | Texas | grayson.edu | 11 |
Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | www.gvltec.edu | 11 |
Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | www.hacc.edu | 11 |
Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Illinois | icc.edu | 11 |
Mississippi Delta Community College | Moorhead | Mississippi | www.msdelta.edu | 11 |
Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | Kentucky | owensboro.kctcs.edu | 11 |
Rappahannock Community College | Glenns | Virginia | www.rappahannock.edu | 11 |
Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton | South Carolina | www.tctc.edu | 11 |
Trident Technical College | Charleston | South Carolina | www.tridenttech.edu | 11 |
Washington State Community College | Marietta | Ohio | www.wscc.edu | 11 |
Bristol Community College | Fall River | Massachusetts | www.bristolcc.edu | 10 |
Brookline College-Phoenix | Phoenix | Arizona | www.brooklinecollege.edu | 10 |
Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins | Georgia | www.centralgatech.edu | 10 |
Columbia State Community College | Columbia | Tennessee | www.columbiastate.edu | 10 |
Davidson County Community College | Thomasville | North Carolina | www.davidsonccc.edu | 10 |
De Anza College | Cupertino | California | www.deanza.edu | 10 |
Farmingdale State College | Farmingdale | New York | www.farmingdale.edu | 10 |
Fortis College-Landover | Landover | Maryland | www.fortiscollege.edu | 10 |
Georgia Piedmont Technical College | Clarkston | Georgia | www.gptc.edu | 10 |
Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Iowa | www.iowacentral.edu | 10 |
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston | Mississippi | www.mgccc.edu | 10 |
Mitchell Technical Institute | Mitchell | South Dakota | www.mitchelltech.edu | 10 |
Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Wisconsin | www.morainepark.edu | 10 |
Southwestern College | Chula Vista | California | www.swccd.edu | 10 |
Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | Illinois | www.swic.edu | 10 |
Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Weatherford | Oklahoma | www.swosu.edu | 10 |
St Philip's College | San Antonio | Texas | www.alamo.edu/spc | 10 |
Turtle Mountain Community College | Belcourt | North Dakota | www.tm.edu | 10 |
Western Piedmont Community College | Morganton | North Carolina | www.wpcc.edu | 10 |
Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Massachusetts | www.bhcc.mass.edu | 9 |
College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | California | www.canyons.edu | 9 |
Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Texas | www.delmar.edu | 9 |
Lorain County Community College | Elyria | Ohio | www.lorainccc.edu | 9 |
Middlesex County College | Edison | New Jersey | www.middlesexcc.edu | 9 |
Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona | Minnesota | www.southeastmn.edu | 9 |
Monroe Community College | Rochester | New York | www.monroecc.edu | 9 |
North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park | Minnesota | www.nhcc.edu | 9 |
Northeast Texas Community College | Mount Pleasant | Texas | www.ntcc.edu | 9 |
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Wisconsin | www.nwtc.edu | 9 |
Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | Massachusetts | www.necc.mass.edu | 9 |
Oakton Community College | Des Plaines | Illinois | www.oakton.edu | 9 |
Pierpont Community and Technical College | Fairmont | West Virginia | www.pierpont.edu | 9 |
South Central College | North Mankato | Minnesota | www.southcentral.edu | 9 |
Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln | Nebraska | www.southeast.edu | 9 |
Three Rivers College | Poplar Bluff | Missouri | trcc.edu | 9 |
Western Technical College | La Crosse | Wisconsin | www.westerntc.edu | 9 |
Arkansas State University-Beebe | Beebe | Arkansas | www.asub.edu | 8 |
Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | Wisconsin | www.blackhawk.edu | 8 |
Concorde Career College-Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee | 8 |
Dutchess Community College | Poughkeepsie | New York | www.sunydutchess.edu | 8 |
El Paso Community College | El Paso | Texas | www.epcc.edu | 8 |
Heritage University | Toppenish | Washington | www.heritage.edu | 8 |
Howard Community College | Columbia | Maryland | www.howardcc.edu | 8 |
Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Iowa | www.indianhills.edu | 8 |
Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Florida | www.irsc.edu | 8 |
Jackson State Community College | Jackson | Tennessee | www.jscc.edu | 8 |
Lord Fairfax Community College | Middletown | Virginia | www.lfcc.edu | 8 |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls | Minnesota | www.mnwest.edu | 8 |
Nassau Community College | Garden City | New York | www.ncc.edu | 8 |
Northeast Mississippi Community College | Booneville | Mississippi | www.nemcc.edu | 8 |
Nunez Community College | Chalmette | Louisiana | www.nunez.edu | 8 |
York Technical College | Rock Hill | South Carolina | www.yorktech.edu | 8 |
Orange County Community College | Middletown | New York | sunyorange.edu | 7 |
Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | Virginia | www.centralvirginia.edu | 7 |
Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | South Carolina | www.fdtc.edu | 7 |
Louisiana State University-Alexandria | Alexandria | Louisiana | www.lsua.edu | 7 |
Manhattan Area Technical College | Manhattan | Kansas | manhattantech.edu | 7 |
McLennan Community College | Waco | Texas | www.mclennan.edu | 7 |
Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | South Carolina | www.midlandstech.edu | 7 |
North Arkansas College | Harrison | Arkansas | www.northark.edu | 7 |
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas | Helena | Arkansas | www.pccua.edu | 7 |
Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Massachusetts | www.stcc.edu | 7 |
Chattahoochee Technical College | Marietta | Georgia | www.chattahoocheetech.edu | 6 |
Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | Colorado | www.coloradomesa.edu | 6 |
Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Louisiana | www.dcc.edu | 6 |
Hinds Community College | Raymond | Mississippi | www.hindscc.edu | 6 |
Lake Superior College | Duluth | Minnesota | www.lsc.edu | 6 |
Marshall University | Huntington | West Virginia | www.marshall.edu | 6 |
Meridian Community College | Meridian | Mississippi | www.meridiancc.edu | 6 |
National Park College | Hot Springs | Arkansas | www.np.edu | 6 |
Navarro College | Corsicana | Texas | www.navarrocollege.edu | 6 |
New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich | Rhode Island | www.neit.edu | 6 |
Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Wisconsin | www.ntc.edu | 6 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton | Hazleton | Pennsylvania | hazleton.psu.edu | 6 |
Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Colorado | pmi.edu | 6 |
Platt College-McCann-Lewisburg | Lewisburg | Pennsylvania | www.mccann.edu | 6 |
Reading Area Community College | Reading | Pennsylvania | www.racc.edu | 6 |
Southeastern Community College | Whiteville | North Carolina | www.sccnc.edu | 6 |
Stanly Community College | Albemarle | North Carolina | www.stanly.edu | 6 |
Texas Southmost College | Brownsville | Texas | www.tsc.edu | 6 |
University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | New Mexico | www.gallup.unm.edu | 6 |
Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | North Carolina | www.waynecc.edu | 6 |
Zane State College | Zanesville | Ohio | www.zanestate.edu | 6 |
Blessing Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Technology | Quincy | Illinois | www.blessinghealth.org/careers/schools-and-programs | 5 |
National American University-Zona Rosa | Kansas City | Missouri | www.national.edu | 5 |
CUNY Hunter College | New York | New York | www.hunter.cuny.edu | 5 |
Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Michigan | www.ferris.edu | 5 |
Fortis College-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | www.fortis.edu | 5 |
Fortis Institute-Birmingham | Birmingham | Alabama | www.fortis.edu | 5 |
Halifax Community College | Weldon | North Carolina | www.halifaxcc.edu | 5 |
John A Logan College | Carterville | Illinois | www.jalc.edu | 5 |
Mid-Plains Community College | North Platte | Nebraska | www.mpcc.edu | 5 |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | www.minnesota.edu | 5 |
Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Pennsylvania | www.mc3.edu | 5 |
New River Community and Technical College | Beaver | West Virginia | www.newriver.edu | 5 |
University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage | Alaska | www.uaa.alaska.edu | 5 |
Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Ohio | ysu.edu | 5 |
Bismarck State College | Bismarck | North Dakota | bismarckstate.edu | 4 |
Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Wesson | Mississippi | www.colin.edu | 4 |
River Valley Community College | Claremont | New Hampshire | www.rivervalley.edu | 4 |
Southern Regional Technical College | Thomasville | Georgia | southernregional.edu | 4 |
Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Virginia | sw.edu | 4 |
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | Wisconsin | www.swtc.edu | 4 |
Central Community College | Grand Island | Nebraska | www.cccneb.edu | 3 |
Merritt College | Oakland | California | www.merritt.edu | 3 |
Mount Aloysius College | Cresson | Pennsylvania | www.mtaloy.edu | 3 |
Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Massachusetts | mwcc.edu | 3 |
Otero Junior College | La Junta | Colorado | www.ojc.edu | 3 |
Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin | Virginia | www.pdc.edu | 3 |
Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Missouri | www.stlcc.edu | 3 |
Shawnee Community College | Ullin | Illinois | www.shawneecc.edu | 3 |
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Indiana | www.sf.edu | 3 |
Mercyhurst University-North East Campus | North East | Pennsylvania | www.mercyhurst.edu/mne | 2 |
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | Marion | Indiana | www.indwes.edu | 2 |
Laurel Technical Institute | Sharon | Pennsylvania | www.laurel.edu | 2 |
Moberly Area Community College | Moberly | Missouri | www.macc.edu | 2 |
Southwestern Community College | Sylva | North Carolina | www.southwesterncc.edu | 2 |
Stautzenberger College-Maumee | Maumee | Ohio | www.sctoday.edu | 2 |
Beaufort County Community College | Washington | North Carolina | www.beaufortccc.edu | 1 |
Broward College | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.broward.edu | 1 |
College of Southern Maryland | La Plata | Maryland | www.csmd.edu | 1 |
John Wood Community College | Quincy | Illinois | www.jwcc.edu | 1 |
Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Illinois | www.kaskaskia.edu | 1 |
Rend Lake College | Ina | Illinois | www.rlc.edu | 1 |
Rhode Island College | Providence | Rhode Island | www.ric.edu | 1 |
Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | www.susla.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & Online Medical Lab Technician Programs – MLT Degrees
University of West Florida
Arizona State University
University of Cincinnati Online
Students may be able to find medical lab technician schools throughout the U.S. that offer online or hybrid online programs that offer flexibility for those with work or family obligations. Often, very specific parts of these programs are offered online, typically the didactic learning components, while hands-on clinical work is still required.
Because lab and clinical experiences are often part of medical lab technician programs, students may need to be on campus or at a clinical site during some segment or segments of their learning. Here are some schools offering hybrid learning:
Students attending the medical lab technician program at this Littleton, Colorado-based school can work toward an associate of applied science degree over two years time, although a one-year fast-track option is also available. The lab sections that comprise the program are held Friday and Saturday afternoons, but the MLT courses are offered through hybrid instruction, meaning that many are partially online.
Students also do 13 weeks of a clinical internship, occurring at hospital clinical sites. Finally, students who are interested in a bachelor’s degree should speak to school advisors, as they have many transfer agreements in place with four-year schools.
Consisting of 63 credits, the program includes courses such as hematology; immunology/immunohematology; urinalysis; clinical microbiology; parasitology/mycology; clinical chemistry; blood banking.
- Location: Littleton, CO
- Duration: One to two years
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $156.40 per credit (residents); $641.80 per credit (non-residents)
Columbus State Community College
Students in the MLT program at this Columbus, Ohio-based school can complete an associate degree over five semesters. In the fifth semester, students test their skills through hands-on experiences arranged in environments located within 60 miles of Columbus. All of the program’s technical lecture courses are delivered using a Web-based format while lab work is done on campus at the school’s laboratories in Union Hall.
The program provides students with essential knowledge and skills in areas like clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, phlebotomy, and others, and also prepares them to take the certifying exam offered through the ASCP. The 65-credit curriculum of the program includes coursework in basic concepts in health care; venipuncture for health care providers; elements of organic/biochemistry; body fluids; immunology; hematology; immunohematology; med lab case correlations; and elementary statistics.
Graduates will be ready to perform laboratory procedures in a variety of settings such as hospitals, public health, and veterinary facilities, environmental and quality assurance laboratories, and research and reference laboratories. They may also pursue careers in sales, customer service, and marketing.
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Duration: Five semesters
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $172.93 per credit (residents); $353.70 per credit (non-residents)
Located in the midwest, Rasmussen College offers a medical lab technician associate degree in Minnesota at the Lake Elmo/Woodbury campus. Courses can be completed entirely in a hybrid format with many classes being offered online. The program provides hands-on learning to students in areas like blood banking, clinical chemistry, and microbiology.
The program can be completed in 24 months and includes a six-month practicum that occurs at clinical sites. Students should be prepared to sit for the medical lab technician credentialing exam offered through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) upon graduation, and the school even covers the application fee for the first attempt. (See more on certifications in the section further below).
The program comprises 91 credits including courses such as medical terminology; phlebotomy; urinalysis; hematology; clinical microbiology; immunology; immunohematology; computer applications and business systems concepts; career development; structure and function; and clinical chemistry.
- Location: Lake Elmo/Woodbury, Minnesota
- Duration: 21 months
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $269 per credit (full-time); $319 per credit(part-time); $167 per credit (military)
Weber State University’s online associate of applied science degree in medical laboratory technician can be completed in just two years. Graduates of this MLT program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination through ASCP. After completing this degree, graduates interested in continuing their education for a four-year degree can do so by applying and being accepted into the BS in medical laboratory scientist program (MLS).
The curriculum includes courses such as an introduction to medical laboratory practices; principles of hematology and hemostasis; principles of immunohematology; principles of clinical chemistry; and principles of clinical microbiology, among others.
- Location: Ogden, UT
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Tuition: $291 per credit
By completing Barton Community College’s online medical laboratory technology program, students will receive an associate in applied science degree and will be eligible to take national certification examinations. It is advisable for students to use this degree as a bridge to other medical careers or pathways.
Designed to be completed in a hybrid format, the program will require students to work with an advisor who will help them in creating a tailored plan of study, helping them in meeting their individual needs.
This 68-credit program includes courses such as urinalysis and body fluids; hematology & coagulation; immunology; clinical practicum; clinical chemistry; immunohematology; pathogenic microbiology; human parasitology, mycobacterium & mycology; and laboratory operations and leadership. Tuition assistance is available to Kansas high school graduates.
- Location: Great Bend, KS
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $155 per credit
The Darton College of Health Professions at Albany State University offers an online medical laboratory technology program preparing students to practice as laboratory technicians in hospitals, physicians’ offices, clinics, and other health care facilities. Graduates of this program will be eligible to sit for national certifying exams.
Offered in both a traditional classroom format and a combination of distance learning and online format, this program is made up of 70 credits. Some of the courses in the curriculum include medical laboratory technology; human anatomy and physiology; parasitology, mycology, and virology; and principles of chemistry, among others. The program also includes an externship that provides students with a hands-on learning experience.
- Location: Albany, GA
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $95 per credit (residents); $359.67 per credit (non-residents)
Harcum College’s associate of science degree in medical laboratory technician (MLT) teaches students all the professional and technical skills needed for entering the field. They learn to collect, process, and analyze biological specimens; perform analytical tests on body fluids, blood, and other substances; recognize factors that affect results and procedures; perform and monitor quality control and quality assurance within predetermined limits; and apply principles of safety, among numerous others. Offered in a blended online format, the program requires limited onsite requirements offering maximum flexibility to students.
Additionally, this program qualifies graduates to take the Board of Certification Exam sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). The program consists of 74 credits including courses such as applied lab techniques; microbiology; basic hematology & clinical microscopy; immunology; clinical chemistry; clinical hematology and coagulation; and clinical immunohematology, among others.
As part of the program, students will be required to attend a clinical practicum in a CLIA-approved hospital laboratory where they will gain experience in every aspect of laboratory testing.
- Location: Bryn Mawr, PA
- Duration: Four semesters
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Tuition: $29,500 per year
Minnesota North College’s online AAS Degree in medical laboratory technician offers an opportunity for currently employed professionals to move up their laboratory career ladder without having to quit their jobs, relocate, or go back to a full-time school. Attending this part-time degree that allows students to sit for national certification exams. The didactic component of this program is delivered online, while the laboratory component is completed with the help of designated mentors or facilitators. These mentors or facilitators work with students on assigned lab exercises and serve as proctors for written exams.
The 62-credit curriculum of the program includes courses such as laboratory techniques; medical terminology; clinical chemistry; immunology; blood bank; medical microbiology; urinalysis and body fluids; hematology; human biology; and human anatomy and physiology.
- Location: Hibbing, MN
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $179.13 per credit
Kankakee Community College’s medical laboratory technology AAS degree program offers a sequence of courses and clinical practicum experiences preparing students for technical positions in medical laboratories, industries, and related businesses. Classes in this program are offered in a hybrid online format. In-person meetings will be held every two weeks for hands-on laboratory sessions at KCC. The college also offers an advanced placement sequence designed for those who have already completed general education courses. This advanced placement option allows students to complete the degree requirements in three semesters.
The curriculum consists of courses such as medical laboratory skills; urinalysis and immunology; hematology & coagulation; blood bank; clinical microbiology; and clinical chemistry.
- Location: Kankakee, IL
- Duration: Five semesters
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $146 per credit
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
George Washington University | Washington | District of Columbia | www.gwu.edu | 494 |
Weber State University | Ogden | Utah | www.weber.edu | 166 |
Rasmussen College-Minnesota | St. Cloud | Minnesota | rasmussen.edu | 28 |
Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | Alabama | www.aum.edu | 22 |
Albany State University | Albany | Georgia | www.asurams.edu | 15 |
Lake Area Technical Institute | Watertown | South Dakota | www.lakeareatech.edu | 14 |
Barton County Community College | Great Bend | Kansas | www.bartonccc.edu | 13 |
Hibbing Community College | Hibbing | Minnesota | www.hibbing.edu | 10 |
Rasmussen College-Wisconsin | Green Bay | Wisconsin | rasmussen.edu | 8 |
Siena Heights University | Adrian | Michigan | www.sienaheights.edu | 6 |
Harcum College | Bryn Mawr | Pennsylvania | www.harcum.edu | 5 |
Seward County Community College | Liberal | Kansas | www.sccc.edu | 5 |
Rasmussen College-North Dakota | Fargo | North Dakota | rasmussen.edu | 3 |
Core & Elective Courses in Medical Lab Technician Programs
The educational components of a medical lab tech program should generally be similar across the board since students need to be able to complete the same types of lab tasks no matter where they are employed in the U.S. For this reason, some of the common courses featured in medical lab tech programs include:
- Basic and intermediate lab skills
- Blood banking
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Medical terminology
- Phlebotomy
- Urinalysis
Students working on an associate's degree will also need to complete a broad number of general education courses, usually in the social sciences, liberal arts, and math, or even related to career development. Coursework may include science components in anatomy, chemistry, and physiology.
In addition to general education classes, medical lab tech schools also typically require students to gain hands-on skills through clinical practicums or externships, which often occur during the final semester or semesters of a program.
MLT Program Accreditation
Many medical lab technician programs in the U.S. will have accreditation through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), which accredits a range of allied health programs. Programmatic accreditation through NAACLS requires that a program submit a thorough self-study as well as a site visit from NAACLS experts in the MLT field. Accreditation means that the program curriculum, faculty, and facilities have been evaluated for effectiveness and learning outcomes.
As of May 2023, the NAACLS website lists 243 medical lab technician programs in the US accredited through the institution. Results can be ordered by state or by zip code. The phone number for each school’s MLT program and the e-mail for its director are provided for each search result.
In addition to programmatic accreditation through the NAACLS, applicants should look for institutional accreditation as well. Regionally based organizations such as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) conduct an accreditation process that is similar to that of the NAACLS. However, unlike the NAACLS, regional accreditation will take into account the performance and facilities of an entire school.
Accreditation generally helps assure students that a specific program meets necessary education and training standards, but can also be needed to seek certification through credentialing organizations. Many licensing bodies require that applicants have completed a program that has earned some type of accreditation, although specifics vary depending on the license.
Career Outlook
Job demand for medical and clinical lab technicians is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2021 to 2031, according to the BLS (2023). This job growth is higher than the national average (5 percent) and is expected to create 21,800 additional positions nationally. What are the reasons for this expected job demand?
Access to health insurance, driven by new federal legislation, is providing more people with coverage and leading to a demand for more lab personnel. Additionally, an aging Baby Boomer population should place more demands on the health services industry, as individuals and doctors turn to more laboratory workers to help diagnose diseases or conditions. In all, by 2031, the BLS predicts that 351,000 people in the U.S. will be employed as clinical and medical laboratory technicians, an increase from 329,200 in 2021.
Career Facts | Medical Lab Technician |
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Related Careers | Biological Technician, Chemical Technician, Dental Laboratory Technician, Veterinary Technician |
Common Job Titles | Medical Laboratory Technician, Clinical Laboratory Technician, Medical Technician |
Technology & Equipment | Microscopes, Cell Counters, Computerized Instruments |
Sourced from BLS 2022 |
Licensing & Certification of Medical Lab Technicians
Currently, only 11 states require laboratory personnel, such as medical lab technicians, to be licensed. Licensing requirements can vary by state but typically include education requirements, passing an exam, work experience, a background check, and a drug screening. A full list of states requiring licensure can be found on the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) website.
For example, the requirements to earn a medical laboratory personnel license through the Tennessee Medical Laboratory Board are:
- Pay a $50 application fee
- Complete a NAACLS accredited formal laboratory training program
- Hold an associate’s degree in a laboratory science
- Proof of current national medical lab technician certification
- Pass a background check
Certification, on the other hand, is optional although it may be required for employment and can be a step for licensure in many states. Certification can also lead to opportunities for higher wages and promotions.
“Certification translates to an advantage in the workplace,” the AMT website reads. “Many employers now require certification because they know that individuals who are certified are committed to their profession and to quality patient care.”
Here are three of the major certifications available to medical lab technicians:
American Medical Technologist (AMT) Certification
Eligibility
To be eligible to sit for the Medical Lab Technician (MLT) certification, offered through American Medical Technologists (AMT), candidates must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete an MLT program from an accredited institution, including clinical laboratory experience, less than five years prior
- Complete 60 semester-hours (two years) of coursework from a regionally accredited institution, which includes at least 25 semester-hours in clinical laboratory science and six months of approved clinical laboratory experience
- Complete a 50-week US military medical laboratory training program
- Pass a generalist MLT examination given by another certification organization or state licensure agency
Testing
The exam costs $235 and consists of 200 to 230 multiple choice questions, which must be answered in three hours. Candidates will take their exams at a PearsonVUE test center. Questions in this exam cover the following topics:
- General Laboratory
- Chemistry
- Hematology
- Coagulation and Hemostasis
- Immunology and Serology
- Immunohematology
- Blood Banking and Transfusion Services
- Microbiology
- Urinalysis and Body Fluids
A list of reference materials to study is available on the AMT website to help candidates prepare for this exam. Additionally, there are practice exams available for purchase that can help candidates determine their readiness to sit for the test. Results are available within 48 hours of taking the test with official certificates following in the mail seven to 14 days later.
Renewal
To maintain certification, certificate holders must pay a $110 yearly fee. Every three years, MLT certificate holders must submit 45 continuing education points. These points are earned by completing various educational activities, including authoring articles, completing online courses, working experience, and participating on a professional committee.
American Association of Bioanalysts Certification
Eligibility
The MLT generalist certification offered through the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) requires candidates to meet one of the following requirements:
- Hold a doctoral, master's, or bachelor's from an accredited university or college with a major in chemical, physical, biological, clinical laboratory science, or medical technology
- Hold an associate degree or an associate of applied science degree from an accredited institution with a major in clinical laboratory science or medical technology
- Complete at least 60 semester-hours of coursework from an accredited institution that includes 24 semester-hours of medical laboratory technology courses
Candidates must also supply proof that they completed a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by ABHES, NAACLS, or other accrediting body, or have three months of documented laboratory training completed in the past ten years.
Testing
The MLT generalist certification exam takes five hours to complete and consists of 240 multiple-choice questions. The certification application fee is $115 and the exam fee is $185. Topics covered in this exam include:
- Basic knowledge
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Immunohematology
Candidates in most states can take the exam at any local university that has a testing center. Proctoring fees are the responsibility of the test taker. Exams are scheduled and administered on specific dates in Florida and California. Candidates must score a minimum of 50 percent in each section and 60 percent overall in order to pass this exam. Results are emailed four to six weeks after the exam.
Renewal
AMS certifications must be renewed annually and cost $102. There are no continuing education requirements to renew a certification, although it is highly recommended. The AAB Board of Registry offers a continuing education program.
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Certification
Eligibility
MLT certification is also available through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). To be eligible to sit for this exam, candidates must meet one of the following four pathways:
- Associate degree or 60 semester-hours (or 90 quarter-hours) from a regionally accredited institution with at least six semester or nine quarter-hours in chemistry and biology as well as three years of qualifying experience
- Associate degree or 60 semester-hours (or 90 quarter-hours) from a regionally accredited institution with at least six semester or nine quarter-hours in chemistry and biology as well as an MLT military program
- Associate’s degree of at least 60 semester-hours (or 90 quarter-hours) and completion of a NAACLS or ABHES accredited MLT program
- Be an existing CLA(ASCP) certification (discontinued in 1982) and hold an associate’s degree of at least 60 semester-hours (or 90 quarter-hours)
Testing
Once eligibility has been verified, candidates will be able to schedule their exam at a Pearson VUE test center. This exam costs $225, consists of 100 multiple choice questions, and must be completed in two and a half hours. Topics covered include:
- Blood banking
- Urinalysis and other body fluids
- Chemistry
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Laboratory operations
Study guides are available for purchase from the ASCP to help prepare for this exam. Scores are sent via email shortly after the exam is completed. Wall certificates are sent by mail and arrive six to nine weeks later.
Renewal
In order to renew an ASCP MLT certification, candidates must complete an application, pay a $95 fee, and provide proof of 36 credential maintenance points. These points are earned through continuing education activities. Points must be earned in the following categories: one point must be in the laboratory or patient safety; two each in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, and microbiology; and the remaining points in other areas such as lab specialty, immunology, molecular diagnostics, management, and education.