Medical Laboratory Technician

Program Locations: Grand Island Campus
Program Level: Associate
Department: Health Sciences

Even though they work behind the scenes, medical laboratory technicians play a vital role in the health care industry. Our Medical Laboratory Technician program combines classroom lecture and hands-on learning in laboratory settings. You’ll experience extensive training that will prepare you for employment in research, government and municipal laboratories. Our graduates are eligible to take the Board of Certification (BOC) exam for national certification offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). 

The Medical Laboratory Technician program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS, 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119)(Phone Number: 773-714-8880)

Program Options

Associate of Applied Science

Certificate

program overviewcourse descriptionscourse sequence

Contact

Hailey Morrow, program director
[email protected]
308-398-7485

Janet Rasmussen, instructor
[email protected]
402-461-2578

2020-2021
Graduation Rate: 89%
Placement Rate: 100%
Certification Pass Rate: 100%

2021-2022
Graduation Rate: 88%
Placement Rate: 100%
Certification Pass Rate: 88%

2022-2023
Graduation Rate: 100%
Placement Rate: 100%
Certification Pass Rate: 78%

Admissions

Admissions Requirements

  1. Criminal background checks and drug screens are required.
  2. Applicant must schedule an informational meeting with the MEDT director.
  3. Students on academic probation or students who have a cumulative GPA below a 2.0 will not be considered for admission to the program.
  4. Applicants must have met the following pre-requisites:
    • English: Level 1000 English class or equivalent transfer credit
    • Math: MATH 1130 or equivalent transfer credit
    • The above classes may be fulfilled by meeting assessments scores below:
      ACT TEST NEXT GEN MAPS Accuplacer Placement Test
      English ≥ 19 Reading ≥ 263 Reading ≥ 223 Reading ≥ 74
      Math ≥ 19 Writing ≥ 263 Language ≥ 223 Sent-Skills ≥ 84
      All other areas ≥ 19 Math ≥ 246 Math ≥ 240 Elem Algebra ≥ 57
  5. Complete the immunization form. Students must have a flu shot during each fall semester of the program in order to be offered a clinical internship during the summer semester.
  6. Attend program orientation upon acceptance into the program. Invitation to the orientation will be emailed to the student’s ccneb.edu email address.
Additional Costs
  • Background check and drug screen is currently $92 - $112
  • Student Practicum Liability Insurance is currently $12 per year.
  • Students wear either a lab coat or scrubs during laboratory sessions.
Clinical Rotation

Students are required to complete rotations in various clinical sites. The rotations are set up by the Program Director and may require that the student travel and may require that the student stay at the facility during the week. The facilities provide the housing at no expense to the student.

Because the clinical rotations occur in the summer the program will not be completed until approximately July 1.

  • What will it cost?
  • How long will it take?
What will it cost?
How long will it take?

Finish in 2 years by completing 6-13 credits a semester for 6 semesters

The length of time to complete a program is based on a student taking only the courses required for the program as listed in our online catalog. It does not include the cost of foundations courses that may be required based on assessment scores, retaking courses or taking courses that are not required by your program of study.

Your adviser will develop a plan of study to meet your personal needs.

Medical Laboratory Technician Photos

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Mission, Goals and Competencies

MISSION STATEMENT

The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program will prepare students for employment in a variety of medical facilities such as medical, clinical, research, and public health laboratories.

VISION STATEMENT

The Medical Laboratory Technician program will be the educational choice for MLT students and employers in Central Nebraska. All graduates will attain the appropriate certification and employment in the clinical laboratory field. The program will exceed the standards set forth by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) (5600 N River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, Il 60018-5119, Phone 773-714- 8880)

We value:

  • The use of state-of-the-art equipment in an attractive, safe laboratory environment that is well maintained and reflects a professional working environment.
  • Collaboration with other MLT programs, secondary schools, certified laboratories, and employers.
  • On-going relationships with graduates as life long learners and supporters of the program.

Program Goals and Student Competencies

Program Goals

  1. Achieve and maintain program accreditation.
  2. Actively recruit qualified applicants to the program.
  3. Use state-of-the-art equipment, software, and curriculum in an attractive, safe environment that is well maintained and reflects a professional work environment.
  4. Maintain relationships with clinical sites.
  5. Articulate with four-year institutions.
  6. The Medical Laboratory Technician Program’s curriculum is current and prepares graduates to meet all requirements for the practice of clinical laboratory science and take the Board of Certification exam.
  7. Faculty will demonstrate current knowledge, skills, qualifications, and professional development.
  8. Resources are sufficient to accomplish the Medical Laboratory Technicians program’s purposes.

Student Competencies

Upon completion of the MLT program of study the graduate will be able to:

  1. Differentiate between principles and methodologies used for all major areas commonly used by a modern clinical laboratory:
    • collect, process and analyze biological specimens and other substances.
    • perform analytical tests of body fluids, cells, and other substances.
    • apply problem solving and troubleshooting techniques.
    • utilize information management to report results.
  2. Correlate laboratory results to diagnosis and treatment.
  3. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct in all forms of communication:
    • demonstrate professional conduct and interpersonal communications 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 jobs and patient care.
    • comply with HIPAA, state and federal regulations.
  4. Evaluate principles and practices of quality management:
    • perform and monitor quality control within predetermined limits.
    • apply principles of laboratory safety and regulatory compliance.
  5. Understand the significance of continued professional development.
Policies and Regulations

Sexual Harassment Title IX

Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other sexual or genderbased verbal, written, online and/or physical conduct. Sexual harassment creates a hostile environment that has the effect of unreasonably interfering with, denying, or limiting employment opportunities or the ability to participate in or benefit from the College’s educational, social and /or residential programs. Sexual harassment will not be tolerated in the Medical Laboratory Technician program.

For more information on sexual harassment or how to report an incident go to the CCC home page (www.cccneb.edu) and on the right side panel click on “Student Services” and then on “Title IX”.

Background Checks and Drug Screens

All students will have a criminal background check and drug screen performed before they can be granted complete acceptance to the MLT program. After the initial registration, the college will send out the forms necessary to complete the background check and drug screen. Acceptance into the program will be provisional until the results of the background check and drug screen are obtained. The cost of the background check and drug screen will be the responsibility of the student.

Immunizations and Flu Shots

All students will follow the immunization requirements as outlined in the Health Sciences Division Handbook. All students will be completing a phlebotomy rotation during the second semester, therefore proof of all immunizations or titers, as well as proof of a flu shot, will be required before the completion of the first semester.

Laboratory Dress Code

Students will be required to wear scrubs (color does not matter), or street clothes and a laboratory coat every scheduled laboratory day. The shoes must be closed toe and composed of primarily leather or other nonporous material.

Calculator

Students will need to have a scientific calculator capable of performing linear regression, simply being labeled as capable of statistics is not enough. If there are any questions about the calculator, keep the receipts until the instructor can verify it’s acceptability. It is recommended the student purchase a Texas Instrument 36X Pro; this calculator can be found in the campus bookstore.

Insurance

All students in the Health Sciences programs who perform invasive procedures are required to carry liability insurance purchased through the college. The cost is $12 per year and will be assessed with the first semester tuition of each school year.

Attendance

The student is required to attend all class sessions. If unable to attend, the student must notify the instructor prior to the regularly scheduled class time; failure to do so will result in an unexcused absence. One point will be earned for each day the student attends class/lab. An excused absence earns 0.7 points; a tardy, 0.5 points. Students with less than an 85 percent overall attendance record will lose an additional 10 percentage points from their attendance grade.

Cheating

Anyone found passing out test information, bringing test information into the testing area, or copying from another person will receive a failing grade of 50 percent for that evaluation and will not be allowed to retake that material.

Laboratory Behavior

All MLT students will be oriented to safe laboratory practices, failure to follow these rules may result in the student being removed from the laboratory for the day, and the laboratory activity in progress will not be made up. Students will also be expected to develop proper respect for the laboratory as a work environment by keeping their work area neat and clean. This is extremely important in a student laboratory where various groups of students will be using the same space. Failure to dispose of used materials in the appropriate manner, returning equipment and supplies to their proper storage area, and cleaning work surfaces with the proper disinfecting solution will result in points being deducted from the laboratory activity.

Smoking

Smoking is a recognized health hazard and most health care facilities are now adopting policies that prohibit smoking by their employees not only within their facilities but often on the entire campus, i.e. outside exits, in parking lots, etc. The MLT program will reflect this workplace policy by enforcing a no smoking policy while the student is in class or on clinical rotations. Students will not be allowed to use tobacco products during class or at clinical sites. If the student uniform smells of smoke and is offensive to patients or peers, the instructor or clinical site supervisor has the authority to request the student to change into a clean uniform.

Acceptable Grades

All final grades in all courses must be at a 70 percent or “C” level. This includes all MLT courses, core requirement courses, and general education courses. In courses that have a theory and laboratory component, the student must achieve a minimum of 70 percent in both the evaluation and lab portions to be allowed to pass the course. MLT courses may only be repeated once.

Program Advancement in the Medical Lab Technician Program

If the student fails or withdraws from an MLT course, the student will have the opportunity to retake the course one time only and will be placed on an MLT program academic probation. Failure to pass the course when taken for the second time will result in recommendation for academic suspension from the program. The student will not be able to reapply to the MLT program for two years after the academic suspension date. The 10 student may then reapply through the admission process, meet eligibility requirements and will repeat all MLT course work. A subsequent failure in MLT course work will result in recommendation for permanent dismissal from the MLT program with no possibility of re-entry.

Should a student successfully repeat a course then fail or withdraw from a second course this will result in recommendation for permanent dismissal from the MLT program with no possibility of re-entry.

MLT courses are only offered once a year so failing a course will result in the student being unable to complete their program on a two-year schedule.

Policy for Failure of Clinical Rotations

A student failing the Clinical I rotation will be allowed to remain in the program. The program director and the student will utilize the site evaluation to determine what areas need improvement. The following summer the student will be required to complete the Clinical I rotation before starting their Clinical II rotations. This will result in the student being on rotations from May until August. As per program policy, failure of the Clinical I rotation a second time will result in the student being recommended for suspension from the program for two years and would then need to reapply to the program. A student failing a Clinical II rotation will not be allowed to continue in the program. The student is expected to be able to perform with proficiency as an entry level employee. A failure at this point in the program demonstrates a fundamental lack of either technical ability or behavioral ability to allow them to function in the demanding environment of the clinical laboratory. If the student should desire to continue in the program they would need to repeat the entire Medical Laboratory Technician program of study.

Causes for Dismissal

Behavior

All MLT students will be held to the standards of behavior set forth in the CCC student handbook.

HIPAA Violations

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal regulation that dictates all patient information is confidential and limits who has access to that information. Anytime students are in a health care facility, they will be required to follow this regulation. Any student violating this regulation - obtaining or discussing any form of patient information in a non-official capacity, either in the workplace, at school, in public, or on social media will be recommended for immediate dismissal from the clinical site.

The consequences for failure or dismissal from a clinical site are discussed in the Health Sciences Handbook.

Academic

All MLT students will be held to the Standards of Progress found in the CCC College catalog.

Academic Probation and Suspension

In accordance with college policy, students will be required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. If a student falls below a 2.0 they will be placed on academic probation for the following semester; students failing to achieve a CUMULATIVE GPA of 2.0 during the probationary period will be recommended for suspension from the program for a semester. While the student is on suspension they will have academic goals and progress assigned that must be fulfilled before the student will be allowed to request reinstatement to the program. Students that do not fulfill the requirements of their suspension will be recommended for dismissal from the program and will need to reapply.

Due to the MLT course progression, suspension may result in the student being unable to complete their program on a two-year schedule.

Applied Education Assignments

Phlebotomy Rotation

All MLT students will be required to complete a ten hour rotation at a clinical facility to perform phlebotomy on patients.

Clinical Internships

The student will be required to have a clinical experience in an actual work setting during the summer following the first year of study and the summer following the second year of study. The first summer clinical rotation will be six weeks in length. The second summer clinical rotation will be seven weeks in length. The clinicals are required to be completed within the dates set up by the program director.

Certification

All students will be encouraged to take the Board of Certification exam on completion of the entire MLT program of study. The cost of this exam can be found on the American Society for Clinical Pathology web site www.ascp.org, under “Certification”. It will be the responsibility of the student to register for and pay for this exam. Information on how and when to register will be provided by the director during Clinical II Seminar. Graduation from the program is not dependent on the student taking or passing the certification exam.

Clinical Facilities

Jennie M Melham Memorial Medical Center
Broken Bow, NE

Howard County Medical Center
St. Paul, NE

Fillmore County Hospital
Geneva, NE

CHI Health - Good Samaritan
Kearney, NE

Kearney Reginal Medical Center
Kearney, NE

Family Practice of Grand Island
Grand Island, NE

Mary Lanning Healthcare
Hastings, NE

CHI Health - St. Francis
Grand Island, NE

Brodstone Memorial Hospital
Superior, NE

Kearney County Health Services
Minden, NE

Grand Island Clinic
Grand Island, NE

Henderson Healthcare Services
Henderson, NE

Hastings Internal Medicine
Hastings, NE

York General Hospital
York, NE

Grant funding supported by the Administration for Children and Families and contents are solely the responsibility of the authors.