Frequently Asked Questions

Program Information

What exactly is a Medical Laboratory Technician and what do they do?

The Associate Degreed Medical Laboratory Technician performs a wide variety of complex biochemical, microbiological, serological, hematological and microscopic tests that lead to the diagnosis of diseases and aids physicians in monitoring the progress of the patient’s health.  In addition, MLT’s cross match blood, perform quality control in the laboratory, maintain complex biological instruments, and perform phlebotomy. Medical Laboratory Technicians work in a hospital, research, veterinary, reference, or physician’s office laboratories, emergency medical centers, public health facilities, for the American Red Cross or industry. With additional education, jobs may be available in areas such as DNA research, transplant and forensic medicine.

When does the Medical Laboratory Technology Program start?

The program begins spring semester January, annually. Application deadline is Aug. 1 of the prior year or until 15 students are admitted. Students are required to take the prerequisite of MLT 1001 Introduction to MLT prior to the spring start.

How long is the program?

The MLT Program (AAS degree) is a 24 month program. You cannot complete the course work in less than 21 months. All MLT courses must be taken in the stated sequence. There is no program summer session between first and second year.

What is the structure of the program?

Many courses are taught in the daytime, however, are dependent on the availability of faculty. Some courses have distance-learning lecture components. All labs are hands-on on campus. There are no program classes during the summer between years one and two. The clinical field experience does meet Monday through Fridays, for eight hours per day.

How many students do you accept each year?

15 students may be accepted per year (contingent upon available clinical sites).

What are the differences between the Short-Term Certificate in Phlebotomy vs. Medical Laboratory Technician Programs?

The Phlebotomy program trains the student to be proficient in blood collection and processing only. The Medical Laboratory Technician Program prepares the student to obtain an AAS degree, and in addition to blood collection, provides training in hematology, urinalysis, problem solving, microbiology, blood bank and serology, and clinical chemistry.

Where is the program held? 

The MLT program’s MLT technical courses are offered at the Metropolitan Campus, and the general education and science courses may be taken at any of Tri-C’s campuses. The hands-on clinical training is performed in hospital laboratories within a 50 mile radius of Metropolitan Campus.

Can I complete it on a part-time basis?

NO. The program is considered a mostly day program and full time due to the hours of the clinical field experience (40 hours per week). Early morning hours may be required at times during the clinical field experience. Entry into the program begins each spring semester only, and must be continuous within a two year period.

Is the program offered in the evenings or weekends? 

General degree courses may be taken on evenings and weekends but the clinical field experience and most the MLT technical courses are only offered during the daytime hours weekday hours. All of the MLT lecture courses are offered online.

Can I work part-time while in the program?

Students enrolled in the MLT Program are cautioned regarding accepting employment. The intensity and continuity of the program is such that employment may negatively impact coursework responsibilities. The second year fall semester of the program consists of a clinical field experience rotation (40 hours a week) in an area hospital in addition to an online seminar and perhaps other associate degree requirement courses.

Is the program accredited?

Yes, Tri-C’s MLT Program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

Essential Functions

What are the essential cognitive and physical functions necessary for successful completion of course objectives?

Essential Functions are physical, intellectual, skills and attitude/behavioral requirements necessary for student admission and successful completion of the MLT program. They are also necessary to acquire and demonstrate competence in the field of Medical Laboratory Technology and secure employment. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences requires essential functions to be available to prospective students and to the public. Students who may require accommodations to meet these Essential Functions should explore available resources at the Student Accessibility Services webpage.

The College establishes health requirements, standards, and/or physical requirements that meet the expectations of the MLT program, field experience locations, employers, and/or clinical sites.

In order to meet the MLT program competencies/objectives/outcomes, a student must possess the following characteristics:

• Speaking/Writing: Possess oral and written competency in the English language necessary to both understand and communicate with instructors, other health care workers, and patients.
• Hearing: Must be able to hear verbal orders and sounds that indicate changing patient status i.e. breath sounds, blood pressure, pulse. Must be able to hear alarms on instruments and timers
• Mental Ability: Must be able to learn new, understand and apply knowledge, skills, and values learned. Must be able to understand and interpret orders accurately and must be able to accurately perform laboratory duties in a stressful environment. Must be able to recognize emergency situations and take appropriate actions.
• Analyze: Must be able to interpret data used in formulating accurate patient assessments, evaluations, and self-evaluation. Make decisions to sufficiently deliver patient care. Must be able to interpret laboratory results and correlate with clinical significance and interpret quality assurance.
• Visual: Must be able to observe changes in patient status and unsafe environmental conditions. Have visual acuity sufficient to use microscopes to perform analyses requiring distinguishing structural details and staining characteristics of cells and microorganisms, and have the ability to distinguish colors on procedural test strips and color charts.
• Reading: Must be able to read and comprehend written course materials and documentation of patient care and office policies and procedures in the English language.
• Calculating: Must be able to utilize laboratory mathematics in calculations of formulas and reagent preparation.
• Smelling: Must be able to detect odors indicating unsafe conditions.
• Dexterity (locomotion, fine and gross motor skills): Must be able to capably perform medical lab procedures and phlebotomy. The student must have the ability to freely maneuver around the assigned laboratory areas and patient care settings. This includes, but it is not limited to standing, walking, bending, lifting, reaching, hand-eye coordination, and to safely/efficiently perform phlebotomy, handle specimens or reagents, and perform analytical procedures requiring the use of small, delicate tools, equipment, and instruments.
• Objectionable specimens/patients: The student must be willing/able to work with all body fluids (e.g. blood and urine), and all patient types, with no bias.
• Professional skills: Learn and abide by professional standards of MLT, and maintain mature, sensitive, respectful, and effective relationships with patients, students, faculty, staff and other professionals. Accept responsibility for learning, and respond to and accept constructive feedback.

In addition to the essential functions listed above, students are expected to comply with Tri-C student code of conduct and follow all policies and guidelines listed in the MLT program handbook, student handbook and adhere to clinical sites policies and standards of operations. Failure to meet these expectations may result in dismissal from the MLT program.

Getting Started

What steps do I need to take in order to get going?

• First you must apply to the College (www.tri-c.edu/apply.)
• Then either transfer in the appropriate math and English pre-requisites, or visit the assessment center (on each campus) to take the math and English placement tests.
• Make an appointment with an academic counselor to review your placements, further prerequisites, and review the program planner and create a Academic Plan (called Degree Works). Contact Student Services and Resources or call 216-987-4900 to schedule an appointment.
• Take the necessary prerequisites. The MLT 1001 Intro to MLT prerequisite is intended to be taken prior to the spring program start (program only begins in the spring). 

When should I submit an application?

When applying to the MLT Program, you may submit your application during the semester you are finishing your last prerequisite course, or by the summer preceding the fall MLT 1001 course. Completion of the prerequisite courses DOES NOT guarantee acceptance into the program for the current academic year. There is high demand for the program, and applications are accepted on the basis of completion of prerequisites and date of application. The program status is located on the program website, or by contacting the program manager.

How do I apply to the program?

Submit the Health Careers Get Started Interest Form. All communications are sent via Tri-C email, so monitor it carefully.

Is there any reason I may not be accepted into the program aside from not meeting the Program Entrance Requirements?

Yes. All students enrolled in health career programs that require students to complete clinical experiences outside the College must complete and pass a background check that includes finger printing and court search (BCI), and potentially, a drug screen.

How will I know if I have a spot in the Medical Laboratory Technician Program for the upcoming Spring Semester?

Students are admitted to the Medical Laboratory Technician Program in the order in which all complete application packets are received and the entrance criteria have been met. The program begins only in the spring semester annually. Applications are accepted throughout the year, application deadline is Aug. 1 of the prior year unless openings still exist, otherwise, acceptances cease upon reaching the limit of 15 students.

Students are not considered accepted until they receive a conditional “E-Letter of Acceptance” via Tri-C email from the Program Manager. The student then signs and returns the acceptance letter to the program manager by the stated deadline, and the student is placed in the next available class. Acceptance is conditional and not final until the student submits to a background check and is successfully cleared by the College.

Can I transfer credits from another college or university?

Generally, yes.  Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an academic counselor after all transcripts have been forwarded to the College registrar’s office. Students may require a substitution/waiver form in order to match the program requirements.

I already have credits; can I complete the program in less than two years?

The Medical Laboratory Technician Program (AAS degree) is a 21-24 month program; you cannot complete the course work in less than 21-24 months due to the clinical field experience rotations. All MLT courses must be taken in the recommended sequence.

What if I already have a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a scientific field?

Contact the program manager to see if the chemistry or math credits can be accepted for admission.

Can I take the courses Pass/No Pass (P/NP)?

No. The Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) and Laboratory Phlebotomy (LP) programs require a letter grade for all students who are eligible to elect a pass/no pass score.  Credits that are awarded for letter grades are used in the computation of current or cumulative grade point averages needed to progress through these programs.  Therefore, all MLT (field experience exempt) curriculum courses, including general degree requirements must reflect a letter grade.