Medical Laboratory Technology, Associate in Science

Courses and Requirements

Medical laboratory technicians have an important impact on patient care from behind the scenes. They perform and report laboratory testing on blood and other body fluids, and work in hospitals, clinics and commercial medical laboratories. If you have a love of science, are detail oriented, technically inclined, and can follow established procedures, you have the skills to be a successful medical laboratory technician.

iHealth@NECC’s Medical Laboratory Technology Associate Degree in Science program will prepare you to enter the clinical laboratory as an entry level medical laboratory technician. Through classroom learning and clinical experiences, you will learn how to perform and report laboratory testing on blood and other body fluids in the various departments within the clinical laboratory – hematology, chemistry, microbiology and immunohematology (blood bank). You will be taught how to recognize and interpret normal and abnormal laboratory results, how to resolve abnormal results, and how to troubleshoot quality control and analyzer problems. You will also learn how to draw blood (phlebotomy).

Starting in the fall of 2014, any student enrolled in an associate degree program who is new to NECC and has no academic history at the college, must take at least one course designated as intensive in each of NECC’s six core academic skills in order to graduate. In most cases, the program’s core required courses include these intensive courses. Plan to see an advisor for more complete information about this graduation requirement.

Admission Criteria

Admission Criteria can be found on Health Required Forms.

Students who attend the Medical Laboratory Technology Program through iHealth@NECC will complete most of their course work in online courses and come to our Lawrence campus one or two days a week for in-class meetings and laboratory sessions. The program is presented through a series of lecture, laboratory and hospital/clinic internship experiences.

Program science courses must be completed within five (5) years prior to the anticipated start date of the program to count towards completing an associate degree. In order to progress in the program, a grade of “C” or better is required in each Medical Laboratory course and in the sciences (Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Microbiology). Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in order to graduate. A minimum of 70 credits are required for graduation.

Drug screening

Students enrolled in this academic program may be required to pass a drug screening analysis.

CPR

Students are required to be CPR Certified at the Health Care Provider/Professional Rescuer level prior to the start of clinical courses.

Health

Students are required to complete a health evaluation, including the Hepatitis B immunization series, prior to final acceptance in the Program.

Student Professional Liability Insurance

Students are required to carry professional liability insurance. The premium is to be paid at the time of course registration.

CORI/CHRI/SORI

Students interested in participating in this program may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Criminal Records Central Repository (CHRI) check, and a Sex Offender Record Information (SORI) check. For more information, visit the CORI/CHRI/SORI page on the NECC website.

Northern Essex Community College is committed to the success of every student. Students with legal issues in their background will meet with a committee as part of the CORI/CHRI/SORI process and will receive guidance and counseling throughout the review of their records. NECC personnel make every effort to help students prepare for careers in their chosen field. Students are encouraged to seek assistance and support.

Handbook

Medical Laboratory Technology Student Handbook (PDF)

Accreditation

The Medical Laboratory Technology Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, Phone: 773-714-8880.

Graduation Certification Rates (PDF)

Requirements

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
BIO121	Anatomy & Physiology I	4	Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive
BIO122	Anatomy & Physiology II	4	Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive
BIO220	Microbiology	4	Information Literacy Intensive Science Technology Intensive
CLS101	Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science	3	Information Literacy Intensive Public Presentation Intensive
CLS102	Urinalysis and Body Fluids	2
CLS103	Immunology/Serology	2	Global Awareness Intensive
CLS104	Hematology	3	Written Communication Intensive
CLS105	Immunohematology	4
CLS106	Clinical Practicum I	2
CLS201	Clinical Practicum II	2
CLS202	Clinical Practicum III	2
CLS203	Clinical Microbiology	4
CLS204	Clinical Chemistry I	2
CLS205	Clinical Practicum IV	2
CLS206	Clinical Practicum V	2
CLS207	Clinical Chemistry II	2
CLS210	Medical Laboratory Technology Seminar	2
ENG101	English Composition I	3
ENG102	English Composition II	3
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology	3

Electives

Behavioral/Social Science Electives		6
Humanities Elective		3
Math Elective	MAT120-299	3-4

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)

Program Notes

Recommended Course Sequence Medical Laboratory Technology Associate Degree

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)

Year 1

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)

Fall

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
BIO121	Anatomy & Physiology I	4	Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive
CLS101	Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science	3	Information Literacy Intensive Public Presentation Intensive
CLS102	Urinalysis and Body Fluids	2
ENG101	English Composition I	3
MAT120-299	Math Elective	3-4

Spring

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
BIO122	Anatomy & Physiology II	4	Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive
BIO220	Microbiology	4	Information Literacy Intensive Science Technology Intensive
CLS103	Immunology/Serology	2	Global Awareness Intensive
ENG102	English Composition II	3

Summer

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
CLS104	Hematology	3	Written Communication Intensive
CLS105	Immunohematology	4
CLS106	Clinical Practicum I	2

Year 2

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)

Fall

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
CLS201	Clinical Practicum II	2
CLS202	Clinical Practicum III	2
CLS203	Clinical Microbiology	4
CLS204	Clinical Chemistry I	2

Spring

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
CLS205	Clinical Practicum IV	2
CLS206	Clinical Practicum V	2
CLS207	Clinical Chemistry II	2
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology	3
ANT/PSY/SOC	Behavioral/Social Science	3

Summer

Course Number	Title	Credits	Core Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
CLS210	Medical Laboratory Technology Seminar	2
ANT/PSY/SOC	Behavioral/Social Science	3
	Humanities Elective	3